header & breadcrumb parts

Hello,

I managed to turn sideboxes off and also move the navmain link from left to right.

I have search, login, shop cart and amount on nav right side. I want to move search down next to logo - how to do that?

Breadcrumb - I want it to be second main navigation where I could put icons of products with text for nav links - how to do that?

I have searched through forum but the answers are not exactly what I want. I also tried alternative header but it doesn't fit in the picture I have for two main navigation.

wonder if there is a way for me to set the content part to the position: center and certain width? is it .center in stylesheet?

The help will be very much appreciated.

Do you have an example of what you're working with?

hey i managed to remove things that I don't want on certain pages. it took me a long time than expected.

i tried layout box controller to turn off the left and right column on secondary pages (not homepage) for an example, product pages - it still shows two columns. Is there another way to turn them off?

I am not familiar with PHP or the way zencart is set. I am very newbie and it overwhelms me..

Question:
I am frustrated with having to find files that I need to edit products etc. I also don't understand what ez page does even though i read tutorial. I wanted to make some new templates in html code and I am wondering if it will override everything? If so, where should I put them? in common folder? how will zencart know that they are needed for the website?

I am frustrated with having to find files that I need to edit products etc. I also don't understand what ez page does even though i read tutorial. I wanted to make some new templates in html code and I am wondering if it will override everything? If so, where should I put them? in common folder? how will zencart know that they are needed for the website?

Yes, it's a little frustrating getting into Zen Cart, but it's worth it.

EZ pages are simply a way to create pages with arbitrary content that you put in. The way they're created within admin means that all the bits and pieces that you'd otherwise have to manually place and understand are taken care of in the background for you. Try one; it's easy.

You do not use HTML code to create templates. A ZC template is a set of files, mostly php files, along with one or more stylesheets. They are put into a folder in the templates folder, and that's how ZC knows where they are and what they are. Complete instructions for creating a template are in the wiki (link at top). But most people find it easier to use an existing template and customize it. I used the Sage template for both my sites (links below) though the author of Sage might not recognize it any more. :lookaroun

Rob

dreamlex:

i tried layout box controller to turn off the left and right column on secondary pages (not homepage) for an example, product pages - it still shows two columns. Is there another way to turn them off?

Yes. The layout boxes controller is used to set which sideboxes you want and where and in what order they will appear. But as you discovered, even if you turn off all the sideboxes in the right column, there will still be an empty right column taking up space. You deal with that in Configuration/Layout Settings. There's a lot there to look at, so I won't spoil your fun by telling you which ones. :D

Rob

thank you for quick replies. i seriously feel like giving up on zencart but i couldn't.
it would be nice if zencart has organized files for each page: homepage, products, shopping cart, check out etc
and then we could just modify the html parts. i found that by layout setting i can turn right column off.
Seriously.. it gives me headache. :cry:

one more question:
on the homepage, it shows "New Products For December" with pictures which I put for test. wonder whether it could be turned off?
Because I am planning to have a homepage heavy with images (I assume I could go to lay box controller and define page with some html code?)

Thank you again for your help! :hug:

on the homepage, it shows "New Products For December" with pictures which I put for test. wonder whether it could be turned off?

admin/Configuration/Index Listing - set the first one to zero
(Index is the name of that home page.)

Because I am planning to have a homepage heavy with images (I assume I could go to lay box controller and define page with some html code?)

admin/Tools/Define Pages Editor

• select a file to edit: define_main_page.php

You can put HTML in that field. I used that to put the large image and the text blocks on both my home pages (links below). Just remember you can't put the whole HTML page in there. You can only put in the parts of an HTML page that would be inside the <body> </body> tags, nothing else. Zen Cart will then assemble the page around this material.

Rob

admin/Configuration/Index Listing - set the first one to zero
(Index is the name of that home page.)

Thank you, rstevenson for your help! :) I saw on index listing that there are option for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 - does it mean 1st - 4th pages after homepage?

You can put HTML in that field. I used that to put the large image and the text blocks on both my home pages (links below). Just remember you can't put the whole HTML page in there. You can only put in the parts of an HTML page that would be inside the <body> </body> tags, nothing else. Zen Cart will then assemble the page around this material.

Yes sir! :) I only need to have image and text in div with classes.

I tried to use alternative header add-on which would allow me to put search box next to logo in same area, but it doesn't work. Do you know of the better way to do that?

Thank you again so much! you really help me to be able to move on with small parts to put together. it is much better than fighting zencart alone :D

Thank you again! :hug:

Thank you, rstevenson for your help! :) I saw on index listing that there are option for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 - does it mean 1st - 4th pages after homepage?
No, but I can't remember what the numbers mean exactly. Try them and see. I'm sure it has to do with various ways of showing listings on the main / home / index page.

I tried to use alternative header add-on which would allow me to put search box next to logo in same area, but it doesn't work. Do you know of the better way to do that?
I don't know, but I've seen the question before. Have a search of the forum.

Thank you again so much! you really help me to be able to move on with small parts to put together. it is much better than fighting zencart alone
You're welcome. So many people here helped me, and I'm glad to help others in return.

Rob

thank you again.
i did search for the search next to logo but couldn't find the one in the way i want. i am experimenting to see if i can force search to be in logo area.

right now i am puzzled. i am using cPath for each nav item. If I click on first nav item or the same item name on category sidebox, it shows the page with Available Products/New Products For December heading when it should have just the number / images of products under same category displayed on page. could you please kindly guide me on this one if you have experienced it before?

i have problem - i turned new product off from indexlisting. i place image and text on main_php define page and it appears on the front just fine but it appears on secondary pages, i.e. product pages -- why? so i am stuck - how to make images and text stay on main page only, not everywhere else.

i have huge problem: i click on nav item link and it takes me to "dress" page but dress images are not appearing right - only I see available/new products --I have already turned it off. Then there are no images seen anywhere I click on nav item links or category links.
do you have any idea to why it behaves like that.

thank you and help is appreciated.

For this sort of problem-specific help, we'll need the site URL. It's the only way we have any hope of figuring out what's wrong.

Rob

sure - you will see ugly pages - it is still at test stage.
http://peepahole.lifeisaboutloving.com/shop/

for now you will see image with text (just picture for now to test).

thank you again and again

Very strange! :dontgetit

I only see the home page image when I click any of the categories, whether I use the top nav bar (very nice by the way) or the left column nav.

But, if I click New Products in the left column (you have to get into a category first) then I can see the products listed there and can get to a product page with those as links.

I'm wondering about your product set up in admin. The rule is that a category can contain sub-categories OR it can contain products. It cannot contain both. Any chance you've set up both somehow in one category?

The way you should do it is to have your dresses (for example) as products in the dresses category, your pants as products in the pants category, and so on. Is that how you've set it up so far?

Another question: have you set up a category image for each category?

Also, check all the parts of admin/Configuration that apply to categories. You may be able to spot an odd one which I can't see from the front end, of course. For example, have you enabled a listing for your categories? (I know, that seems obvious, but I have to ask.)

Finally, what happens if you switch back to the classic template for a test. (Don't forget to reset the sideboxes when you do, and when you switch back to your custom template.)

Rob

Very strange! :dontgetit

I only see the home page image when I click any of the categories, whether I use the top nav bar (very nice by the way) or the left column nav.

I don't get it either :no: thank you for the compliment on nav bar.
Same for me, I click any category link or nav item link and I see homepage image on all pages.

But, if I click New Products in the left column (you have to get into a category first) then I can see the products listed there and can get to a product page with those as links.

yes - but that shouldnt be just new products on left column - will remove them as soon as everything else goes right.

I'm wondering about your product set up in admin. The rule is that a category can contain sub-categories OR it can contain products. It cannot contain both. Any chance you've set up both somehow in one category?

The way you should do it is to have your dresses (for example) as products in the dresses category, your pants as products in the pants category, and so on. Is that how you've set it up so far?
I set two categories for baby dolls and dresses for test: yes, I places baby doll product images under baby dolls category and dress product images under dresses category

Another question: have you set up a category image for each category?
What will it do? I don't want any category image. Just links on category box on left side will do?

Also, check all the parts of admin/Configuration that apply to categories. You may be able to spot an odd one which I can't see from the front end, of course. For example, have you enabled a listing for your categories? (I know, that seems obvious, but I have to ask.)

I am not sure which one is the listing for categories. I went in admin/configuration/layout setting - all I found are Categories - Always Show on Main Page (on), Main Page - Opens with Category (0), Categories - Always Open to Show SubCategories (0), Categories/Products Display Sort Order (1). you see (__) - it is turned to 0 or 1 according to instructions.

Finally, what happens if you switch back to the classic template for a test. (Don't forget to reset the sideboxes when you do, and when you switch back to your custom template.)

I switched back to classic (you can take a look at the website). It is almost same as my theme. when you click on category links to products, it still shows image (zencart) on main page.

Should I re-install the zencart over again and start from there and build small components slowly?

dreamlex:

Should I re-install the zencart over again and start from there and build small components slowly?

That might seem to be a drastic solution, but I have the feeling you've made some basic mistake in there and I can't see where. Besides, it's good practise. :D I made three attempts before getting my first store right. The second one was far easier and faster to set up than the first.

I like the very basic and clean look you're going for.

Rob

rstevenson:

That might seem to be a drastic solution, but I have the feeling you've made some basic mistake in there and I can't see where. Besides, it's good practise. :D I made three attempts before getting my first store right. The second one was far easier and faster to set up than the first.

I like the very basic and clean look you're going for.

Rob

thanks for the compliment. i have re-installed zencart over again. i hope that I won't have the same "broken" layout. :D

A good way to proceed would be to add your products while using the default Zen template. Turn off sideboxes as needed. Set up your top navigation across the header. Make sure it all works as you intend.

Then and only then, start customizing the appearance using your custom template folder overrides. Take that one step at a time, checking functionality at each step - especially when you add the home page image using the Define Pages Editor.

This will either result in a working store, or it will at least tell you at what step the problem lies.

Good luck!

Rob

actually i jumped straight to custom folder to work on :-S

but i have been careful not to put many add-ons or turn some stuff off.

thank you for the advice!