Contest System [support thread]

I dropped in all the files.. Could it be the install file (install-sql-contest-v1.6.php) that should have been run?

Back around page 10 of this thread there was someone else that had a smiler error and they found out that it was there SEO.

I made a discovery just now by turning my SEO url to false and my contest entry worked

I am saying this because you are using one of the seo mods.

Skip

skipwater:

Back around page 10 of this thread there was someone else that had a smiler error and they found out that it was there SEO.

I am saying this because you are using one of the seo mods.

Skip

Yeah, I am.. but I am hesitant to turn that off due the that fact that It will screw up my traffic witch is generated by those links

Yes I understand.

But that is my best guest as to why it is acting the way it is.

Skip

wagnerguy:

Yeah, I am.. but I am hesitant to turn that off due the that fact that It will screw up my traffic witch is generated by those linksCan't you exclude the contest page??

DivaVocals:

Can't you exclude the contest page??

I am not sure if I can, I will try though.

So your issue was that the SEO addon interfered for the contest addon.

do you still use the seo addon with the contest?

wagnerguy:

I am not sure if I can, I will try though.

So your issue was that the SEO addon interfered for the contest addon.

do you still use the seo addon with the contest?I use Ceon's SEO module and I have NO ISSUES with it interfering with any of my other add-ons.. I believe Skip was referring to another person having SEO conflict issues..

skipwater:

Yes I understand.

But that is my best guest as to why it is acting the way it is.

Skip

DivaVocals:

Can't you exclude the contest page??

Hey folks, I turned the SEO off, and added the exception to the page..

I also tried another template and reloaded the files, the contest page did not budge.. any suggestions on what else I can look at. I am going to try to add it to another domain with less add-ons and see how that works..

what could I be missing, the weird thing is everything works(besides the stated) and it looks and behaves great

What SEO mod are you using can you give us a link.
Because when I use index.php?main_page=contest to access the contest it reverts to contest using seo code.

Skip

skipwater:

What SEO mod are you using can you give us a link.
Because when I use index.php?main_page=contest to access the contest it reverts to contest using seo code.

Skip

I am using simple SEO mod..It was actually turned on..

try it now..

even turning it off did not fix the page sideboxes

skipwater:

What SEO mod are you using can you give us a link.
Because when I use index.php?main_page=contest to access the contest it reverts to contest using seo code.

Skip

wagnerguy:

I am using simple SEO mod..It was actually turned on..

try it now..

even turning it off did not fix the page sideboxes

is there a way i can adjust the coding to get the SEO and the contest to work together

As of now there seems to be more then just the screen layout.

Your custom template and configuration is setup in away that I can not debug your issue. You have your left and right columns turning on and off based on what page is displayed.

There is an error with your checkout button when a customer is not logged in and has a empty cart.

In the end yes you can edit the contest pages to display correctly on your page.

Skip

skipwater:

As of now there seems to be more then just the screen layout.

Your custom template and configuration is setup in away that I can not debug your issue. You have your left and right columns turning on and off based on what page is displayed.

There is an error with your checkout button when a customer is not logged in and has a empty cart.

In the end yes you can edit the contest pages to display correctly on your page.

SkipI agree..

This module doesn't overwrite core files, and if you follow the install instructions that come with the readme file, it should just install with no issues.

In your setup it's not just the placement of the sideboxes that's an issue, what your contest page displays in general is NOT how this module is designed to work. The link I posted earlier (and the links from other successful installs posted in this support thread) reflect what you should see when this module is installed correctly.

There is something in your custom template and setup which is creating an issue that's never been reported before, and therefore I believe is NOT caused by this module at all.. Even if SEO was one issue, (and I don't believe that is your issue here) excluding the contest page from your SEO should resolve any SEO issue..

I think if you tested this with a different template, you would find the problem no longer exists.

skipwater:

As of now there seems to be more then just the screen layout.

Your custom template and configuration is setup in away that I can not debug your issue. You have your left and right columns turning on and off based on what page is displayed.

There is an error with your checkout button when a customer is not logged in and has a empty cart.

In the end yes you can edit the contest pages to display correctly on your page.

Skip

DivaVocals:

I agree..

This module doesn't overwrite core files, and if you follow the install instructions that come with the readme file, it should just install with no issues.

In your setup it's not just the placement of the sideboxes that's an issue, what your contest page displays in general is NOT how this module is designed to work. The link I posted earlier (and the links from other successful installs posted in this support thread) reflect what you should see when this module is installed correctly.

There is something in your custom template and setup which is creating an issue that's never been reported before, and therefore I believe is NOT caused by this module at all.. Even if SEO was one issue, (and I don't believe that is your issue here) excluding the contest page from your SEO should resolve any SEO issue..

I think if you tested this with a different template, you would find the problem no longer exists.

something is definitely wrong with my temp.. when I switch temps it screws up.. I need to work on the actual template

wagnerguy:

something is definitely wrong with my temp.. when I switch temps it screws up.. I need to work on the actual template
My suggest is always to start with one of the "endorsed" templates that aare supported here on this forum..

Even better??? Create your own template from scratch. I know most folks like templates because they "think" it saves them time.. But I have seen more posts related to template issues than I care to shake a stick at.. IMO most of the time unless it's a properly constructed template, most folks spend more time trying to get their template to work than they would have if they had constructed the template themselves..

All the templates out there (yes including the dread Template Monster templates) can EASILY be re-created following Zen standards without all of the hacks and junk many of these plug-n-play templates offer..

Backed up before installing contest system. Tried it the first time exactly like the install instructions stated. I renamed all YOUR_TEMPLATE folders to the name of my template (template_default). This resulted in a working product, except that the headings were screwed up. Click here for previous post with pictures. Ok, did database restore which removed all contest system stuff off server. Also removed table "contest". Ok I tried a different method this time. I copied all the files from the zip to the exact folder/location on server. So basically I have installed this contest system 2 different time, two different ways, all files in readme are in the exact right spot. Every time I try an add-on it takes 3-4 days of hair pulling to get it working, what is the deal, what am I missing? I had a reply from DivaVocals and they said "Simple.. You haven't uploaded all the module files.. Specifically the language files.. " I say BS. I have even gone out and applied the template files to my (template_classic, and template_custom) folders. But the one I use is template_default, and not working. Anyone with a clue. Am I not installing this correctly?

Never mind, I found out the major problem. I was putting includes\languages\english\YOUR_TEMPLATE\contest.php inside my template folder, but when i moved it to the "english" folder, everything shows up like it is supposed to. Also the includes\languages\english\extra definitions\contest.php &contest_sidebox_defines.php out of "my template" folder and into the "extra definitions" folder, it also fixed those pages. Maybe I just thought that when it said to put it into "YOUR_TEMPLATE" folder, I shouldn't have. Or maybe I have everything so screwed up on my end that I'm the only one that has ever had this problem. Sorry for all the confusion.

cuttinboards

I am glad you worked it out.

Normally "YOUR_TEMPLATE" folder indicates that you would rename the mods folders with this name. To the template that the site is using folder name.

Sample:

The mods directory tree looks like

includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/contest.php

Your site is using the classic template so you would rename the mods directory tree to match your site.

includes/languages/english/classic/contest.php

Skip

sigh My answer wasn't BS at all..:no: You really didn't have the language files installed correctly.. I see you have it all worked out, but the way you've resolved the issue is incorrect and will cause issues down the road. You are using the template folders and the ZenCart overrides system incorrectly and that is a huge part of the issue you had installing this module to begin with. (Based on what you posted, you are using the default template as your main template) If you install other modules you will continue to have similar issues, and if you ever need to upgrade your cart you will find yourself in a bind as well..

In short the default_template is NOT a template that you should EVER be using as your primary template AT ALL.. I suggest that you read the following FAQ articles to get a sense of how the templates and override system works..

1. What is "template_default"?
2. The Override System really simplified
3. Understanding the Override System
4. Template Files - What are they and how are they used?
5. How do I set up the template overrides?

   cuttinboards.com:

Backed up before installing contest system. Tried it the first time exactly like the install instructions stated. I renamed all YOUR_TEMPLATE folders to the name of my template (template_default). This resulted in a working product, except that the headings were screwed up. Click here for previous post with pictures. Ok, did database restore which removed all contest system stuff off server. Also removed table "contest". Ok I tried a different method this time. I copied all the files from the zip to the exact folder/location on server. So basically I have installed this contest system 2 different time, two different ways, all files in readme are in the exact right spot. Every time I try an add-on it takes 3-4 days of hair pulling to get it working, what is the deal, what am I missing? ** I had a reply from DivaVocals and they said "Simple.. You haven't uploaded all the module files.. Specifically the language files.. " I say BS. I have even gone out and applied the template files to my (template_classic, and template_custom) folders. But the one I use is template_default, and not working. Anyone with a clue. Am I not installing this correctly?**

While moving it to the english folder might appear to work it is not the right way to do this. Skip is right, (as the readme indicates) you should have renamed the YOUR_TEMPLATE folders to match the name of the template you are using which looking at you site looks like it is** classic**. Please check out the FAQs I listed above.. It'll help you understand template overrides and why some modules include folders named **YOUR_TEMPLATE **and how you should deal with them.

cuttinboards.com:

Never mind, I found out the major problem. I was putting includes\languages\english\YOUR_TEMPLATE\contest.php inside my template folder, but when i moved it to the "english" folder, everything shows up like it is supposed to.

cuttinboards.com:

Never mind, I found out the major problem. I was putting includes\languages\english\YOUR_TEMPLATE\contest.php inside my template folder, but when i moved it to the "english" folder, everything shows up like it is supposed to. Also the includes\languages\english\extra definitions\contest.php &contest_sidebox_defines.php out of "my template" folder and into the "extra definitions" folder, it also fixed those pages. Maybe I just thought that when it said to put it into "YOUR_TEMPLATE" folder, I shouldn't have. Or maybe I have everything so screwed up on my end that I'm the only one that has ever had this problem. Sorry for all the confusion.

skipwater:

cuttinboards

I am glad you worked it out.

Normally "YOUR_TEMPLATE" folder indicates that you would rename the mods folders with this name. To the template that the site is using folder name.

Sample:

The mods directory tree looks like

includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/contest.php

Your site is using the classic template so you would rename the mods directory tree to match your site.

includes/languages/english/classic/contest.php

Skip

DivaVocals:

sigh My answer wasn't BS at all..:no: You really didn't have the language files installed correctly.. I see you have it all worked out, but the way you've resolved the issue is incorrect and will cause issues down the road. You are using the template folders and the ZenCart overrides system incorrectly and that is a huge part of the issue you had installing this module to begin with. (Based on what you posted, you are using the default template as your main template) If you install other modules you will continue to have similar issues, and if you ever need to upgrade your cart you will find yourself in a bind as well..

In short the default_template is NOT a template that you should EVER be using as your primary template AT ALL.. I suggest that you read the following FAQ articles to get a sense of how the templates and override system works..

2. What is "template_default"?

3. The Override System really simplified

4. Understanding the Override System

5. Template Files - What are they and how are they used?

6. How do I set up the template overrides?

While moving it to the english folder might appear to work it is not the right way to do this. Skip is right, (as the readme indicates) you should have renamed the YOUR_TEMPLATE folders to match the name of the template you are using which looking at you site looks like it is** classic**. Please check out the FAQs I listed above.. It'll help you understand template overrides and why some modules include folders named **YOUR_TEMPLATE **and how you should deal with them.

I think I have made the same mistake.. I thought that the "your template" meant to put the files in the folder of the template I am using..

so to be extra clear(possibly dense, sorry) where it says "your template" I should change the name to the name of my template, then move the entire folder over to server?