editing front shop page

I need to call an external script into the main page, what and where would I need to edit to to able to do this if I put the file in the root
directory of the zen cart installation. The script only needs to appear on the front page.

Any help would be great.
Thanks

If to be displayed in the center of only the front page...
paste the code in the define_main_page.php file through the admin > tools > defines page editor

thankyou that worked exactly as I needed.

Is there anyway I can change the query the search performs
as I do not need to search the description etc..

I have all the products we sell in the correct tables but
as the script I have written selects information from extra tables
and I want it to pass an id to the search.

Example

my own script has select options:
car manufacturer -> car model -> car description and year->

This will give an id for the exact car I then intend to pass this id
to the search so that it will pull out any products with a matching
id

Sounds like your search issue will require a total re-write of the search function - - Way too much to be coered in a few posts here

You can write this or can post in the commercial help wanted section

I just need to know which file contains the search function and I may be able to rewrite it myself.

Suggest you use the template override system as one should not edit the corefiles
Start by getting a copy of /includes/templates/template_default/sideboxes/tpl_search.php

I have located that file but it has no sql in it.

If this is basically going to be difficult or not recommended
would it be better for me to pull the products out from my own script
and try to add the add to cart button and quantity options to those.

This would remove the need for me to touch the core serach files
and I would remove the default search box from showing.

I have located that file but it has no sql in it.
Others to check

/includes/classes/db/mysql/query_factory.php
/includes/modules/pages/advanced_search/jscript_main.php

If this is basically going to be difficult or not recommended
would it be better for me to pull the products out from my own script
and try to add the add to cart button and quantity options to those.
That would be even more difficult as ZenCart is not designed to be used in pieces

I think I found the file that I may need to edit.

/includes/modules/pages/advanced_search_result/header_php.php

As it has all the error checking for the search form

I will make a backup of it before I start playing around with it.

Is there anyway I can change the query the search performs
as I do not need to search the description etc..

As it has all the error checking for the search form
No sql either

But hopeful you are on a correct track for what you want

I have also noticed that there is a hidden field called zendid that is passed through the search
form. Is this essential for anything and if so does anyone know how I could put this into may own form.

Is this essential for anything and if so does anyone know how I could put this into may own form.
Use only if you need to control/track the users session ID with your action appended and an else

if (isset($_SESSION['customer_id']) and $_SESSION['customer_id'] != '')

No sql either

But hopeful you are on a correct track for what you want

I think its around line 304 of

/includes/modules/pages/advanced_search_result/header_php.php

If the zendid is not essential to the performance of the shopping cart
and does not hinder the ability for customers to add products
to their cart from the search results then I do not believe I would
need to add it to my own form.

Thankyou for the help kobra