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I don't think there's any technical limit on the number of levels.

I filled a subset of my data in the database. I immediately found all products are shown in the botom half of the front page. While it shows up there "automatically". A toner site can't display products like that since not too many people remember the part numbers of their toners. Most sites use the same approach to make user select the make, and the printer then the carridge/toners. In other words, I'd like to keep my original design:

1. user selects a make from a group of buttons and gets a list of printers
2. user selects a printer and gets a group of cartridges/toners
3. user picks a cartridge/toner

In both (1) and (2), I need to access ZenCart's tool to get data or a display. Can you point me to the right direction to implement these actions?

Warren

jaguarx:

I filled a subset of my data in the database. I immediately found all products are shown in the botom half of the front page.
If you're referring to the "New Products for November" section, you can turn off that centerbox via Admin->Configuration->Index Listing, along with the other 3 centerboxes which could appear in that space too: featured/specials/upcoming.
Additionally, you can determine "which" products appear in the New Products box by setting the appropriate admin switch, as discussed here: https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=3

With basic admin settings, both 1 and 2 happen automatically. Configuration > Layout Settings > Categories open on main page > set to true
and
Main page - opens with category > set to 0

will show all of your top categories (manufacturers) in the center.
Clicking any one of those will show all its subs (printer models).
Clicking any one of those will show all its subs (toners).

Wow. I begin seeing the features you talk about after trying the few thing you suggest. It seems I can control the layout through admin/configuration/layout setting quite a bit? Things as have 4 products per row, bigger pictures etc.

There is still a design issue I need to resolve. I define my own brand as HOUSE while user selects by their vendor's part number. Once they make their selection of a toner, I'll find out our compatible part number(s) for it. One way is to place all the details in the description section of thier products. I alos need to disable the direct display of my products.

The other issue is how to implement my original search capabilities. I need to show the level of displays based on the selection. If user selects a printer series, I need to show all the printers in that series and so forth. To me, essentially two question:

1. how do I access the database directly or indirectly,
2. How to invoke a display of choice

I'd like to thank those of you helping me down to this level. I have to admit now I can see the power of ZenCat. A little bit more effort, my website can be completely nicely.

Warren

You will benefit from reading the wiki (link at top of page), especially the Developers section with the Database Schema and other detailed modification info.

For your house brand, it would seem that you should know which house part number will substitute for each name brand part number before the customer selection, right? That seems like relevant permanent description info for the name brand part; you can also have the house brand part as a product in the same subcat as its name brand equivalent, perhaps using product sort order to put the house brand after the name brand.

You might also consider a cross-sell mod from Free Addons that would present your house brand equivalent for each name brand item as an alternate at the bottom of the info page.

disable the direct display of my products

OK... this narrows the setup options. I haven't used any cross-sell mod myself, but that might be best for you. You can also have a link to your house brand item in the comparable name brand item's description.

You can put all the house brand products in one category, disable that category, then enable each of the products in the category. This will keep the category and thus its products from displaying in search and category menus, but allow the products to display if called individually.