Blank page after installing new template

Hi there... totally new to websiting and all of this stuff confuses me.

Anyway, I have installed and customised the zj_silver template on zencart 1.3.8. I followed the instructions perfectly on the "10Things" tutorial page for customising your header etc...

So I installed the template, changed it in admin and went to the site to check it out and got a blank pge. I read the blank page sticky and assumed that perhaps I made a mistake when changing the copyright footer so I re-uploaded the english.php file from my pc to my server so it would go back to how it was. Still a blank page...

I downloaded the enable_error_logging.php file and uploaded it, but Im confused as to how this works. I dont really understand how to run the debug program thinggy....

Please explain to me how to either fix the problem or run the debug program. I wont take it as an insult if you explain it as if you were speaking to a baby. I have no fricken idea here.... Im kinda pulling my hair out a bit.... :wacko: :frusty:

Thanks in advance for the assistance... it would be much appreciated!!

I read the blank page sticky and assumed that perhaps I made a mistake when changing the copyright footer so I re-uploaded the english.php file from my pc to my server
Go back and retrace what you have done & where...the english.php you should have edited should have been located in /includes/languages/zj_silver/english.php - - If this is the files you edited is this also the file & location you re-uploaded???

Okay, so there isnt an english.php file in includes/languages/zj_silver do I create it? do I need to make a zj_silver directory in every folder? I am confused... :wacko: Im sorry I am just really not understanding. Ive been at this thing for 3 weeks and once I start to understand (or I think I do) another thing is just wrong... :cry:

I edited the includes/languages/english.php file, but I deleted it from the ftp server and then re-uploaded it from the original fileset as I was scared that I had stuffed it up...

I just realised that I moved the includes/languages/english/header.php file... I have now re-uploaded it again from the original file set and deleted the one I moved/edited. I will re-edit and see what happens....

Be back soon if it doesnt work... Im not even sure if what I have done makes sense to you....

alright, so I've gone back over everything I did, checked that I didnt change anything I wasnt supposed to and checked that all of my files were uploaded correctly and in the right directories etc.... I even crossed my fingers when I went to look to see if it had worked... but nope... nothing! :no: Im going crazy here! Im sure Ive made some teeny weeny mistake thats just gonna make me go :doh: but I have no idea what that is or how to figure it out....

Okay, so there isnt an english.php file in includes/languages/zj_silver do I create it? do I need to make a zj_silver directory in every folder? I am confused
Well if you look through an expanded set of the template files you will see that there is an includes/languages/zj_silver folder and that it contains an english.php file....

So you must have not uploaded the template set correctly???:unsure:
And knowing this it is suspect if other files are uploaded correctly

yes, after posting that, i realised that perhaps I had uploaded the files wrong so I deleted them from the server and re-did it, making sure that I did it correctly this time... expanding the files and putting them in the right spot... I thought for sure it would work this time... but nope...

All of the original files are uploaded correctly, it was only when I edited the file text that the page started coming up blank....

I have no bloody idea... help?

it was only when I edited the file text that the page started coming up blank....
What file & what edit?
Post the line edited

Sorry i have probably worded that wrong... You know when you go and change your tag line etc? It was after that that I started getting the blank page... I have probably changed something that I shouldnt have... I might go back and check everything again and see what happens... I am honestly just going to crack it any minute now for some reason every step of the way has been a bloody challenge for me...

I really appreciate you helping me though :)

Okay, so I may have located the problem.... I have one question though...

I am in the includes/languages/english/index.php file editing the "congratulations message". The code says this....

// This section deals with the "home" page at the top level with no options/products selected
/Replace this text with the headline you would like for your shop.
For example: 'Welcome to My SHOP!'/
define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Congratulations! You have successfully installed your
Zen Cart™ E-Commerce Solution.');
} elseif ($category_depth == 'nested') {
// This section deals with displaying a subcategory
/Replace this line with the headline you would like for your shop. For
example: 'Welcome to My SHOP!'/
define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Congratulations! You have successfully installed your
Zen Cart™ E-Commerce Solution.');

So it says the bit ('HEADING_TITLE','Congratulations! You have successfully installed your Zen Cart E-Commerce Solution') bit twice. Does that mean I write my message twice?

I think this is the source of my problem.... as initially I had thought it was 2 different places writing would go and had different things written there.... I know this sounds like Im a bimbo... blame lack of sleep and baby brain...:shocking:

Okay so also had an ' without a / before it...

Okay so also had an ' without a / before it...
Don't know where that might be but should not be editing anything that looks like that!!
Rather than read through yours here is the code directly from that core file.....the only thing you need/should edit is in red.....PLEASE NOTE that this is contained between single quotes that MUST remain

  // This section deals with the "home" page at the top level with no options/products selected
  /*Replace this text with the headline you would like for your shop. For example: 'Welcome to My SHOP!'*/
  define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Congratulations! You have successfully installed your Zen Cart™ E-Commerce Solution.');
} elseif ($category_depth == 'nested') {
  // This section deals with displaying a subcategory
  /*Replace this line with the headline you would like for your shop. For example: 'Welcome to My SHOP!'*/
  define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Congratulations! You have successfully installed your Zen Cart™ E-Commerce Solution.'); 
}
?>

Don't know where that might be but should not be editing anything that looks like that!!

Im sorry you have me all confused and your not really understanding what I am saying. This is probably my fault as I dont know the correct terms for things....

I DID only edit things that were written in red... My question was whether both of those need to say the same thing for it to work. There was an ' in my text that i added. thus my comment of there was an '.I have replaced the...

'Congratulations! You have successfully installed your
Zen Cart™ E-Commerce Solution.'

with...

Welcome to the WeePantz Website. Everyone/'s solution for their cloth diapering needs! Have a look through the products in our diaper store!'

The ' in Everyone's was the ' that I was talking about. But my question is
is how I have done this correct? and do I have to repeat it for the second lot of

'Congratulations! You have successfully installed your
Zen Cart™ E-Commerce Solution.'

// This section deals with the "home" page at the top level with no options/products selected
/*Replace this text with the headline you would like for your shop.

// This section deals with displaying a subcategory
/*Replace this line with the headline you would like for your shop.

Each one has a purpose that is referenced....most just replace both...

I would suggest using the ASCII code

'Welcome to the WeePantz Website. Everyone's solution for their cloth diapering needs! Have a look through the products in our diaper store!'

OPPS!!! the forum parsed the code - - & # 0 3 9 ;
spaces are mine

Thats not my problem then... I have no idea... Can you please explain in layman's terms how to run the debugger?? It might tell me what is wrong. Im sick of staring at the same pieces of code over and over again and not being able to see what the problem is. I am getting tired of it...

What program are you using to edit these files?

I am using notepad (as in the one that comes with my computer). is that what the problem is? I just right click on the file and then click 'view/edit' it just automatically opens in notepad.

I am using notepad (as in the one that comes with my computer). is that what the problem is? I just right click on the file and then click 'view/edit' it just automatically opens in notepad.
Are you first FTP'ing the file from your server to your local?

What I generally do is...

I view/edit the file in the FTP side of filezilla. I then make the changes and 'save as' in the local directory. I then upload it to where it is meant to be... is this right?

As this is a blank page issue and this normally is from a mis-edit, or the adding of space/lines where they are not allowed.

I suggest that you change your procedure to one of FTP the file to your local, open in a "plain text" editor, make changes, save, FTP back to the server.

Plain text editors: Note Pad is OK but you may want the additional function of a "code" editor if you plan on much customization.
Free alternatives and there are others:
Crimson Editor
Note Pad++

I will do that today. I do have Notepad++ on my computer so I will do that. Thankyou for your help.

Ahahahahaah!!! it works!!!! :clap: I procrastinated doing it as I was scared of the blank page remaining, but fixed it up this morning like you said and now it works!!! YAY!!!

Thankyou sooooo much for your help! :D