Interesting Page Layout Problem

Hi all,

I have an interesting layout problem that I have been unable to solve. When I have an item without attributes, the product information lines up appropriately:

http://ourcollegetown.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=44

However, when I introduce attributes into the product, I get a large block of whitespace between the attributes and product information:

http://ourcollegetown.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_10&products_id=47

My TPL Product Display is below. You will notice that I have moved the add to cart and attributes to the top of the page. When I remove the attributes block, the white space disappears:

<?php
/**
 * Page Template
 *
 * Loaded automatically by index.php?main_page=product_info.<br />
 * Displays details of a typical product
 *
 * @package templateSystem
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2006 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: tpl_product_info_display.php 5369 2006-12-23 10:55:52Z drbyte $
 */
 //require(DIR_WS_MODULES . '/debug_blocks/product_info_prices.php');
?>
<div class="centerColumn" id="productGeneral">

<!--bof Form start-->
<?php echo zen_draw_form('cart_quantity', zen_href_link(zen_get_info_page($_GET['products_id']), zen_get_all_get_params(array('action')) . 'action=add_product'), 'post', 'enctype="multipart/form-data"') . "\n"; ?>
<!--eof Form start-->

<?php if ($messageStack->size('product_info') > 0) echo $messageStack->output('product_info'); ?>

<!--bof Category Icon -->
<?php if ($module_show_categories != 0) {?>
<?php
/**
 * display the category icons
 */
require($template->get_template_dir('/tpl_modules_category_icon_display.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_modules_category_icon_display.php'); ?>
<?php } ?>
<!--eof Category Icon -->

<center>

<!--bof Product Name-->
<h1 id="productName" class="productGeneral"><?php echo $products_name; ?></h1>
<!--eof Product Name-->


<br class="clearBoth" />
<center>
<!--bof Main Product Image -->
<div style="text-align: center;">
<?php
  if (zen_not_null($products_image)) {
  ?>
<?php
/**
 * display the main product image
 */
   require($template->get_template_dir('/tpl_modules_main_product_image.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_modules_main_product_image.php'); ?>
<?php
  }
?>
<!--eof Main Product Image-->

<br class="clearBoth" />

<!--bof Product Price block -->
<h2 id="productPrices" class="productGeneral">
<?php
// base price
  if ($show_onetime_charges_description == 'true') {
    $one_time = '<span >' . TEXT_ONETIME_CHARGE_SYMBOL . TEXT_ONETIME_CHARGE_DESCRIPTION . '</span><br />';
  } else {
    $one_time = '';
  }
  echo $one_time . ((zen_has_product_attributes_values((int)$_GET['products_id']) and $flag_show_product_info_starting_at == 1) ? TEXT_BASE_PRICE : '') . zen_get_products_display_price((int)$_GET['products_id']);
?></h2>
<!--eof Product Price block -->
<!--bof Additional Product Images -->
<?php
/**
 * display the products additional images
 */
  require($template->get_template_dir('/tpl_modules_additional_images.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_modules_additional_images.php'); ?>
<!--eof Additional Product Images -->

</center></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--bof free ship icon  -->
<?php if(zen_get_product_is_always_free_shipping($products_id_current) && $flag_show_product_info_free_shipping) { ?>
<div id="freeShippingIcon"><?php echo TEXT_PRODUCT_FREE_SHIPPING_ICON; ?></div>
<?php } ?>
<!--eof free ship icon  -->



</center>

<!--bof Add to Cart Box -->
<?php
if (CUSTOMERS_APPROVAL == 3 and TEXT_LOGIN_FOR_PRICE_BUTTON_REPLACE_SHOWROOM == '') {
  // do nothing
} else {
?>
            <?php
    $display_qty = (($flag_show_product_info_in_cart_qty == 1 and $_SESSION['cart']->in_cart($_GET['products_id'])) ? '<p>' . PRODUCTS_ORDER_QTY_TEXT_IN_CART . $_SESSION['cart']->get_quantity($_GET['products_id']) . '</p>' : '');
            if ($products_qty_box_status == 0 or $products_quantity_order_max== 1) {
              // hide the quantity box and default to 1
              $the_button = '<input type="hidden" name="cart_quantity" value="1" />' . zen_draw_hidden_field('products_id', (int)$_GET['products_id']) . zen_image_submit(BUTTON_IMAGE_IN_CART, BUTTON_IN_CART_ALT);
            } else {
              // show the quantity box
    $the_button = PRODUCTS_ORDER_QTY_TEXT . '<input type="text" name="cart_quantity" value="' . (zen_get_buy_now_qty($_GET['products_id'])) . '" maxlength="6" size="4" /><br />' . zen_get_products_quantity_min_units_display((int)$_GET['products_id']) . '<br />' . zen_draw_hidden_field('products_id', (int)$_GET['products_id']) . zen_image_submit(BUTTON_IMAGE_IN_CART, BUTTON_IN_CART_ALT);
            }
    $display_button = zen_get_buy_now_button($_GET['products_id'], $the_button);
  ?>
  <?php if ($display_qty != '' or $display_button != '') { ?>
    <div id="cartAdd">
    <?php
      echo $display_qty;
      echo $display_button;
            ?>
          </div>
  <?php } // display qty and button ?>
<?php } // CUSTOMERS_APPROVAL == 3 ?>
<!--eof Add to Cart Box--><br />


<!--bof Attributes Module -->
<?php
  if ($pr_attr->fields['total'] > 0) {
?>
<?php
/**
 * display the product atributes
 */
  require($template->get_template_dir('/tpl_modules_attributes.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_modules_attributes.php'); ?>
<?php
  }
?>
<!--eof Attributes Module -->


</center>
 <!--bof Product description -->
<?php if ($products_description != '') { ?>
<div id="productDescription" class="productGeneral biggerText"><?php echo stripslashes($products_description); ?></div>
<?php } ?>
<!--eof Product description -->
<div style="text-align: center;">



<!--bof Product details list  -->
<?php if ( (($flag_show_product_info_model == 1 and $products_model != '') or ($flag_show_product_info_weight == 1 and $products_weight !=0) or ($flag_show_product_info_quantity == 1) or ($flag_show_product_info_manufacturer == 1 and !empty($manufacturers_name))) ) { ?>
<ul id="productDetailsList" class="floatingBox back">
  <?php echo (($flag_show_product_info_model == 1 and $products_model !='') ? '<li>' . TEXT_PRODUCT_MODEL . $products_model . '</li>' : '') . "\n"; ?>
  <?php echo (($flag_show_product_info_weight == 1 and $products_weight !=0) ? '<li>' . TEXT_PRODUCT_WEIGHT .  $products_weight . TEXT_PRODUCT_WEIGHT_UNIT . '</li>'  : '') . "\n"; ?>
  <?php echo (($flag_show_product_info_quantity == 1) ? '<li>' . $products_quantity . TEXT_PRODUCT_QUANTITY . '</li>'  : '') . "\n"; ?>
  <?php echo (($flag_show_product_info_manufacturer == 1 and !empty($manufacturers_name)) ? '<li>' . TEXT_PRODUCT_MANUFACTURER . $manufacturers_name . '</li>' : '') . "\n"; ?>
</ul>
<br class="clearBoth" />
<?php
  }
?>
<!--eof Product details list -->


<!--bof Quantity Discounts table -->
<?php
  if ($products_discount_type != 0) { ?>
<?php
/**
 * display the products quantity discount
 */
 require($template->get_template_dir('/tpl_modules_products_quantity_discounts.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_modules_products_quantity_discounts.php'); ?>
<?php
  }
?>
<!--eof Quantity Discounts table -->

<!--bof Prev/Next bottom position -->
<?php if (PRODUCT_INFO_PREVIOUS_NEXT == 2 or PRODUCT_INFO_PREVIOUS_NEXT == 3) { ?>
<?php
/**
 * display the product previous/next helper
 */
 require($template->get_template_dir('/tpl_products_next_previous.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_products_next_previous.php'); ?>
<?php } ?>
<!--eof Prev/Next bottom position -->

<!--bof Tell a Friend button -->
<?php
  if ($flag_show_product_info_tell_a_friend == 1) { ?>
<div id="productTellFriendLink" class="buttonRow forward"><?php echo ($flag_show_product_info_tell_a_friend == 1 ? '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_TELL_A_FRIEND, 'products_id=' . $_GET['products_id']) . '">' . zen_image_button(BUTTON_IMAGE_TELLAFRIEND, BUTTON_TELLAFRIEND_ALT) . '</a>' : ''); ?></div>
<?php
  }
?>
<!--eof Tell a Friend button -->

<!--bof Reviews button and count-->
<?php
  if ($flag_show_product_info_reviews == 1) {
    // if more than 0 reviews, then show reviews button; otherwise, show the "write review" button
    if ($reviews->fields['count'] > 0 ) { ?>
<div id="productReviewLink" class="buttonRow back"><?php echo '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_PRODUCT_REVIEWS, zen_get_all_get_params()) . '">' . zen_image_button(BUTTON_IMAGE_REVIEWS, BUTTON_REVIEWS_ALT) . '</a>'; ?></div>
<br class="clearBoth" />
<p class="reviewCount"><?php echo ($flag_show_product_info_reviews_count == 1 ? TEXT_CURRENT_REVIEWS . ' ' . $reviews->fields['count'] : ''); ?></p>
<?php } else { ?>
<div id="productReviewLink" class="buttonRow back"><?php echo '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_PRODUCT_REVIEWS_WRITE, zen_get_all_get_params(array())) . '">' . zen_image_button(BUTTON_IMAGE_WRITE_REVIEW, BUTTON_WRITE_REVIEW_ALT) . '</a>'; ?></div>
<br class="clearBoth" />
<?php
  }
}
?>
<!--eof Reviews button and count -->


<!--bof Product date added/available-->
<?php
  if ($products_date_available > date('Y-m-d H:i:s')) {
    if ($flag_show_product_info_date_available == 1) {
?>
  <p id="productDateAvailable" class="productGeneral centeredContent"><?php echo sprintf(TEXT_DATE_AVAILABLE, zen_date_long($products_date_available)); ?></p>
<?php
    }
  } else {
    if ($flag_show_product_info_date_added == 1) {
?>
      <p id="productDateAdded" class="productGeneral centeredContent"><?php echo sprintf(TEXT_DATE_ADDED, zen_date_long($products_date_added)); ?></p>
<?php
    } // $flag_show_product_info_date_added
  }
?>
<!--eof Product date added/available -->

<!--bof Product URL -->
<?php
  if (zen_not_null($products_url)) {
    if ($flag_show_product_info_url == 1) {
?>
    <p id="productInfoLink" class="productGeneral centeredContent"><?php echo sprintf(TEXT_MORE_INFORMATION, zen_href_link(FILENAME_REDIRECT, 'action=url&goto=' . urlencode($products_url), 'NONSSL', true, false)); ?></p>
<?php
    } // $flag_show_product_info_url
  }
?>
<!--eof Product URL -->

<!--bof also purchased products module-->
<?php require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_modules_also_purchased_products.php', DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/' . 'tpl_modules_also_purchased_products.php');?>
<!--eof also purchased products module-->

<!--bof Form close-->
</form>
<!--bof Form close-->
</div>

My TPL Module Attributes is below. You will notice a string of <br> tags that I have used to move the attributes box below the add to cart box. Removing the string of BR tags does not resolve my problem.

<?php
/**
 * Module Template
 *
 * Template used to render attribute display/input fields
 *
 * @package templateSystem
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2005 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: tpl_modules_attributes.php 3208 2006-03-19 16:48:57Z birdbrain $
 */
?>
<div id="productAttributes">
<?php if ($zv_display_select_option > 0) { ?>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<h3 id="attribsOptionsText"><?php echo TEXT_PRODUCT_OPTIONS; ?></h3>
<?php } // show please select unless all are readonly ?>

<?php
    for($i=0;$i<sizeof($options_name);$i++) {
?>
<?php
  if ($options_comment[$i] != '' and $options_comment_position[$i] == '0') {
?>
<h3 class="attributesComments"><?php echo $options_comment[$i]; ?></h3>
<?php
  }
?>

<div class="wrapperAttribsOptions">
<h4 class="optionName back"><?php echo $options_name[$i]; ?></h4>
<div class="back"><?php echo "\n" . $options_menu[$i]; ?></div>
<br class="clearBoth" />
</div>


<?php if ($options_comment[$i] != '' and $options_comment_position[$i] == '1') { ?>
    <div class="ProductInfoComments"><?php echo $options_comment[$i]; ?></div>
<?php } ?>


<?php
if ($options_attributes_image[$i] != '') {
?>
<?php echo $options_attributes_image[$i]; ?>
<?php
}
?>
<br class="clearBoth" />
<?php
    }
?>


<?php
  if ($show_onetime_charges_description == 'true') {
?>
    <div class="wrapperAttribsOneTime"><?php echo TEXT_ONETIME_CHARGE_SYMBOL . TEXT_ONETIME_CHARGE_DESCRIPTION; ?></div>
<?php } ?>


<?php
  if ($show_attributes_qty_prices_description == 'true') {
?>
    <div class="wrapperAttribsQtyPrices"><?php echo zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_ICONS . 'icon_status_green.gif', TEXT_ATTRIBUTES_QTY_PRICE_HELP_LINK, 10, 10) . ' ' . '<a href="javascript:popupWindowPrice(\'' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_POPUP_ATTRIBUTES_QTY_PRICES, 'products_id=' . $_GET['products_id'] . '&products_tax_class_id=' . $products_tax_class_id) . '\')">' . TEXT_ATTRIBUTES_QTY_PRICE_HELP_LINK . '</a>'; ?></div>
<?php } ?>
</div>

I am using the latest version of zen cart with a number of add-ons. Any suggestions or observations will be greatly appreciated

You will notice that I have moved the add to cart and attributes to the top of the page.
There is just so much relestate so when you add an attribute your description is pushed down. Also, by default the image is first which you have also changed. Other things do not look like they are displayed in proper order as you have them???

What do you expect it to look like?
I would order it as you want it displayed
Your add to cart is after the additional images

kobra:

There is just so much relestate so when you add an attribute your description is pushed down. Also, by default the image is first which you have also changed. Other things do not look like they are displayed in proper order as you have them???

What do you expect it to look like?
I would order it as you want it displayed
Your add to cart is after the additional images

I have the items in the order I would like them to display. Are they not showing up in that order? And, I understand there is only so much real estate, but why would there be SO much whitespace between the attributes and the product information?

I have the items in the order I would like them to display. Are they not showing up in that order?
No they are not especially on your first link as add to cart is early in display but late in the code after the additional images

What could be causing it to not show up appropriately? How do I fix the problem if I have it in the order I would like to to show up.

From your OP

When I have an item without attributes, the product information lines up appropriately:
What you are stating
How do I fix the problem if I have it in the order I would like to to show up.
And I am stating that it is not in the order as you suspect is correct

I'm not sure I follow you, since the items show up in the places I want them to, except for the whitespace between the attributes and product information.

If I move the add to cart and/or attributes info any closer to the top of the document, Zen kicks them to the left side and under the main product image. If I move them any lower, they are moved below the product information.

Another interesting twist to this is if I add an additional attribute box, such as at http://ourcollegetown.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_14&products_id=48 , the second attribute box is kicked way down also.

Look for yourself that the add to cart's order in the code is AFTER your additional image code and through some code quirk it is where you want it and not due to the order.

I am only suggesting doing it right where you will then have some control versus relying on a "quirk" that gets upset when something else changes as you now have

But, do you see that when I put it in the "right" order, the entire layout is thrown off. And the cart is moved to the left hand side?

What is the best way to get it in the correct order with the layout acting appropriately?

Well I am not sure where to start.
You are trying to force styling in the PHP file when you are suppose to style in the CSS. I understand you are trying to have the add to cart button in the top of the page so the customer can easy find it but you are hiding the price between the images it took me a while to find it.

Just like Kobra said you will need to start with your default tpl_product_info_display.php and use the CSS that is associate with each div to style them. Also you might need to add new tags to the CSS to get the final look you want.

I would recommend using the developer toolbar in FF to identify the div ids and classes.

hope that was helpful good luck.

This is the current order with some clear both between them that forces a new line and I am not positive what you are seeking

productName
productMainImage
productPrices
productAdditionalImages
cartAdd
productAttributes
productDescription

#productAttributes {
        float: right;
        width: 40%;
        }

cartAdd is the only one aligned right

You can add this to your style sheet to right align these

#productDescription {
        width: 40%;
        float: right;
        }

If the current order is not what you want you will have to rearrange it and then watch the clear both's and usee css as in above to move/refine

Tried to add the product attributes and added to wrong box and ran out of time.....move both or apply both code segments to your stylesheet