Editable Home Page Centerboxes [Support]

DivaVocals:

Can't help if you don't stick it through.. You say you are not proficient with merging, but so far you've not provided ANY DETAILS on what you did.. What merging tools are you using??? are you using a merging tool at all?? Are you getting errors (on-screen in the error logs)?? What are those errors???

You want "bouncing ball" instructions??? I have provided that with regards to what has to be done.. If you are looking for "bouncing ball" instructions for your selected file merging program, this forum has NEVER been the place to get those kinds of "bouncing ball" instructions.

and NONE of this matters if you keep saying "I tried, it's broken.. help me" without providing any of the TINIEST bit of information to help determine what went wrong to get you on track..

All this to say that if you want help, then help the community help you.. Otherwise you can simply wait and hope someone using both of these mods comes along an posts the code you need all the while blaming ME for you not getting this worked out...

Would love to help.. you gotta meet me halfway..

Diva, I have no time for rhetoric or control play. Why is it you ask for these details now? Why ask again for something you already know?

merge tool = WinMerge ... I did not ask for nor do I want instructions on using WinMerge
files merged = as per post to Anne > Here is what I have done on my latest attempt; merged includes/templates/abbington_mega/templates/tpl_index_default.php from Abbington Mega template with file of same name from Editable Home Page Centerboxes plugin and, merged includes/templates/abbington_mega/templates/tpl_index_categories.php from Editable Home Page Centerboxes plugin with the file of same name written by GAM as posted in the Tabbed Home Page Modules thread. This resulted in the blank page.
result of last merge = as per above ... have also merged /tpl_index_default.php from template with tpl_index_categories.php from the plugin with no resultant effect, status quo (tabs missing)
am I merging the files correctly = I believe so
am I getting errors = no
am I merging the correct files = not really sure - this is I think the main issue
do I think I could get a good result after being shown/told exactly which files from where to merge = yes ... if not then I will pay someone to do it, but not before I can tell them exactly which files need merging
am I confident I can compare the install files for EHPCB version for 1.3.9h to v1.5.1 as you suggested previously = no not really, not a set of folders with so many files
do I blame you for not getting a result by now = yes, because you have persisted on lecturing rather than teaching, there is a difference. It is obvious I do not know which files, "exactly, specifically, from where exactly, specifically" ... to merge ... I have merged the ones I believe I should have but to no avail. I followed these instructions from the installation guide but there is nothing here that says what to merge /tpl_index_categories.php if it is not already installed in the template. > If your template already has the following files included includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/templates/tpl_index_default.php, includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/templates/tpl_index_categories.php you will need to use a tool like Winmerge or Beyond Compare to merge your template's file with the one included in this module ... yes I know we are past that now, but I use it as an example of lack of specifics for dummies like me, i.e. what to do next if that isn't the case.

I do not want my hand held, I simply want clear and concise instructions on what where how when and why - not generalities of look in this folder or that module, its there (not an accurate facsimile of what you actually said but you get my drift). I get the help to a degree then self help is a great teacher thing but it is not working in this instance.

I have seen literally hundreds of your posts over the past 3 years or so, most of them so specific, even with code included and highlighted but all I seem to be getting is generalities, getting the chapter but not the paragraph.

I can copy and send you the merged files if you wish - just ask - I purposely haven't done that because I didn't see it as necessary but maybe it is.

cheers,
Mike

URL = http://www.dazzlers.net.au AND http://www.treeoflifejewellery.com for actual installations of EHPCB

shags38:

Diva, I have no time for rhetoric or control play. Why is it you ask for these details now? Why ask again for something you already know?

merge tool = WinMerge ... I did not ask for nor do I want instructions on using WinMerge
files merged = as per post to Anne
result of last merge = as per above ... have also merged /tpl_index_default.php from template with tpl_index_categories.php from the plugin with no resultant effect, status quo (tabs missing)
am I merging the files correctly = I believe so
am I getting errors = no
am I merging the correct files = not really sure - this is I think the main issue
do I think I could get a good result after being shown/told exactly which files from where to merge = yes ... if not then I will pay someone to do it, but not before I can tell them exactly which files need merging
am I confident I can compare the install files for EHPCB version for 1.3.9h to v1.5.1 as you suggested previously = no not really, not a set of folders with so many files
do I blame you for not getting a result by now = yes, because you have persisted on lecturing rather than teaching, there is a difference. It is obvious I do not know which files, "exactly, specifically, from where exactly, specifically" ... to merge ... I have merged the ones I believe I should have but to no avail. I followed these instructions from the installation guide but there is nothing here that says what to merge /tpl_index_categories.php if it is not already installed in the template. ... yes I know we are past that now, but I use it as an example of lack of specifics for dummies like me, i.e. what to do next if that isn't the case.

I do not want my hand held, I simply want clear and concise instructions on what where how when and why - not generalities of look in this folder or that module, its there (not an accurate facsimile of what you actually said but you get my drift). I get the help to a degree then self help is a great teacher thing but it is not working in this instance.

I have seen literally hundreds of your posts over the past 3 years or so, most of them so specific, even with code included and highlighted but all I seem to be getting is generalities, getting the chapter but not the paragraph.

I can copy and send you the merged files if you wish - just ask - I purposely haven't done that because I didn't see it as necessary but maybe it is.

cheers,
Mike

URL = http://www.dazzlers.net.au AND http://www.treeoflifejewellery.com for actual installations of EHPCB

Right.. and I have nottime to be TOLD that I'm not helping along with all the MANY accusations you keep leveling at me in this entire exercise.. sigh

So let me start with this salient point.. Part of the reason NO ONE ELSE has responded to your pleas thus far is that either NO ONE is using both of these modules together or they don't want to share how they've gotten them to work together.. I am in the former category.. So that DETAILED code you are looking for I cannot give you.. I don't use these modules together and would have to setup a test instance JUST to provide you with the detailed code you say I am purposely not posting (ie: provide you with the already merged code). I am pretty tied up right now on other projects and just don't have time to do this, but I CAN try and help YOU work through this which I have said REPEATEDLY I will do..

Now after this post if you still want to accuse me of posting rhetoric, lecturing rather than teaching, generalities, not wanting to help, and every other accusation you have made, then I'm gonna simply move on and you can simply WAIT for someone who happens to use BOTH of these add-ons together to happen along and post the code you need in full..

That said, go back to my earlier posts.. I explain which files these two modules have in common.. I explain that one of these files does not exist in the Home Page Tabs module, BUT that the post by GAM shows how to create that file.. ONCE you have GAM's changes in place and have tested that they work with the Home Page Tabs, then you need to merge the Home Page Tabs modules with this module..

After that you need to post the results.. You said you are getting blank pages.. usually that means an error log would be generated.. what did the error log say?? What else happens after you merge the code??

Now perhaps this isn't the detail YOU need/want.. I've posted similar kinds of instructions many time on this forum, and no one has had an issue with this or accused me of lecturing/withholding information.. Perhaps what you are looking for/need is someone to post the merged code.. I cannot do that right now.. I CAN and will help walk you through this if you follow these instructions and post your results so I can try and help you troubleshoot this. If isn't what you want/need, then I don't know how else I or anyone else who doesn't have this merged code working can help you..

Hi there
I'm installing this mod into a new responsive template I'm developing on the advice of gjh42 here http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?211254-Sidebox-Anywhere-Addon-from-Dr-Byte&p=1229221#post1229221.

I want to put my editable boxes into a footer area and so am trying to follow the advice on the Additional Information tab of the readme on how to add more middleboxes. However, I hit a bit of a wall when I looked for the place_middleboxes() function statement to move and it doesn't seem to appear anywhere. I've done a find in files search with NotePad++, a search using the Developers Toolkit in Zen Cart and checked through the files individually to try to make sure I'm not being totally dumb here, but can't find it.

Please can anyone advise me

Thanks

RoPey:

Hi there
I'm installing this mod into a new responsive template I'm developing on the advice of gjh42 here http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?211254-Sidebox-Anywhere-Addon-from-Dr-Byte&p=1229221#post1229221.

I want to put my editable boxes into a footer area and so am trying to follow the advice on the Additional Information tab of the readme on how to add more middleboxes. However, I hit a bit of a wall when I looked for the place_middleboxes() function statement to move and it doesn't seem to appear anywhere. I've done a find in files search with NotePad++, a search using the Developers Toolkit in Zen Cart and checked through the files individually to try to make sure I'm not being totally dumb here, but can't find it.

Please can anyone advise me

Thanks

The current code is all Glen's baby and a LOT over my head :laugh: so I can't answer many specifics about modifying the core code, BUT it seems to me you may be attempting to modify the core code of this module when it isn't necessary.. Can't you simply use the default settings for this module and use middlebox location setting #9 for each of your middleboxes (9=All pages, below individual page content) and then you could simply use a little CSS magic to get what you are after??

See this site: http://www(dot)eyeitalia(dot)com/shop/

The sideboxes just above the footer are the Editable Middleboxes (Latest Blog Posts, Our Bestsellers, Blog Tag Cloud). If I had wanted to, I could have made the middleboxes the footer for this site VERY easily using this module WITHOUT having to hack/modify ANY of the default code at all. I could have used a combination of the centerbox defines for footer content that is NOT a sidebox (Addresses, phone numbers, other links, etc..) and calls to specific sideboxes. This module allows you options for what is displayed in each middlebox.

The ENTIRE point of the current version of this module and the changes Glenn made to support this was to provide more flexibility than my initial release. More options for middlebox content, more options for locating the middleboxes on the page, etc..

DivaVocals:

Can't you simply use the default settings for this module and use middlebox location setting #9 for each of your middleboxes (9=All pages, below individual page content) and then you could simply use a little CSS magic to get what you are after??

Thank you so much! I had missed that small, but very important point, so I really appreciate you pointing me in the right direction. They're appearing just where I want them now, all I have to do is style them :D

Love the EyeItalia site by the way!

Good point on using location #9. With some CSS styling, you could make that look like part of the footer and not even need to relocate a middlebox group "require()" block.

RoPey:

Thank you so much! I had missed that small, but very important point, so I really appreciate you pointing me in the right direction. They're appearing just where I want them now, all I have to do is style them :D
This is an under-rated add-on IMHO.. It gives shop owners another level of control over their site's look/feel, and adds some much needed creativity in the look of most stores. 3 column layouts are getting a LOT dated looking IMHO yawn..

Sure if one understands how to modify the right template file, they could create the content boxes no problem, but if I did that, my clients would ALWAYS be dependent on me to make changes to the content boxes for them. Perhaps other web dev/designers are okay with this, but I don't like crippling my clients by making them have to DEPEND on me to make what SHOULD be a simple change to their site that they could make themselves.

My ORIGINAL vision when I submitted this module was to just be able to have some editable content boxes on the home page center content area which a shopowner could EASILY edit themselves..

The improvements Glenn made to this module BLOW AWAY the original version.. His improvements REALLY gives folks the ability to REALLY do some cool stuff with their store layout.. Things WAY beyond the stock 3 column layouts.. This module gives one the ability to create Zen Cart templates with looks/layouts very similar to some of the slick looking Joomla and WordPress themes I've seen out there.

I've played around with this module and have created layouts VERY similar to this for example using this module: http://www(dot)shape5(dot)com/demo/index.php?big_picture

RoPey:

Love the EyeItalia site by the way!

HA! Thanks:blush: a lot of LOVE an work went into that site.. The owner is THRILLED!! Her previous template was over 6 years old, and the WordPress side always looked BETTER than the Zen Cart side.. Now the WHOLE site has a nice UNIFORM look/feel..

gjh42:

Good point on using location #9. With some CSS styling, you could make that look like part of the footer and not even need to relocate a middlebox group "require()" block.

And good for you for adding this feature.. Hell... good for you for EVERYTHING you've done to this module.. :hug:makes this module really a thing of beauty!!:smile:

Thought I would post another site that is using this module: http://laserdiscvault(dot)com

Great mod, it's perfect for what I need. I have it installed fine, just wondering if there is a good way to display it only on the product listing page? I have it above the main bit with position 8 at the moment, but I don't want it displaying on the other pages. I know I can create separate stylesheets for the pages with display:none in them, but is there a simpler way, something like the if statement in tpl_main_page which disables left and right columns on certain pages?
Thanks

kitten091182:

Great mod, it's perfect for what I need. I have it installed fine, just wondering if there is a good way to display it only on the product listing page? I have it above the main bit with position 8 at the moment, but I don't want it displaying on the other pages. I know I can create separate stylesheets for the pages with display:none in them, but is there a simpler way, something like the if statement in tpl_main_page which disables left and right columns on certain pages?
Thanks

Hello Kitten,

My experience with this mod has not been so good as far as modifications to it goes, it has limitations that are hopefully going to be addressed soon.

I have used this mod Short Descriptions for Categories 1.2 (in v1.3.9h), for categories, but if I remember correctly it can be modified to use on the product description page(s) - as an alternative to EHPC. (please do not shoot the Messenger if I am wrong)

cheers, Mike

The best way to limit the middleboxes to the product listing page will be to move the middlebox code from /includes/templates/your_template/common/tpl_main_page.php to /includes/templates/your_template/templates/tpl_index_product_list.php.

Delete this from tpl_main_page.php:```php

<div class="centerColumn" id="indexProductList">
to get this: ```php
<div class="centerColumn" id="indexProductList">
<?php 
$box_loc = '8';//middlebox group
require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_middleboxes.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_middleboxes.php');
?>
<h1 id="productListHeading"><?php echo $breadcrumb->last(); ?></h1>

(You can put it just above

shags38:

Hello Kitten,

My experience with this mod has not been so good as far as modifications to it goes, it has limitations that are hopefully going to be addressed soon.
"Limitations"?? Editable Homepage Midleboxes works EXACTLY as described. It installs and configures easily.. So what "limitations" are you referring to??

shags38:

I have used this mod Short Descriptions for Categories 1.2 (in v1.3.9h), for categories, but if I remember correctly it can be modified to use on the product description page(s) - as an alternative to EHPC. (please do not shoot the Messenger if I am wrong)

cheers, MikeThis is like comparing apples to oranges.. Editable Homepage Midleboxes works and looks NOTHING like Short Descriptions for Categories.

My experience with this mod has not been so good as far as modifications to it goes, it has limitations that are hopefully going to be addressed soon. Could you explain what you feel the shortcomings of this mod are, and how you think it could be improved? I can't fix any user issues or address user wishes if I don't know what they are.

DivaVocals:

"Limitations"?? Editable Homepage Midleboxes works EXACTLY as described. It installs and configures easily.. So what "limitations" are you referring to??

This is like comparing apples to oranges.. Editable Homepage Midleboxes works and looks NOTHING like Short Descriptions for Categories.

gjh42:

Could you explain what you feel the shortcomings of this mod are, and how you think it could be improved? I can't fix any user issues or address user wishes if I don't know what they are.

Exactly!!

and let me add to this.. having issues merging this mods functionality with another mods functionality is NOT a "limitation" of this module by a LONG SHOT..

Maybe one day someone may revise the module such that it can integrate automatically with any template (if that is at all possible :) ). Such a thing is not possible in any case where a mod alters a stock template file which a third-party template also alters. If the template does not alter that file, there is no issue. The only way this can ever change is if/when there are notifier hooks in all the places needed to modify the site's behavior without touching any existing files. This can be done now in certain places, but by no means all, and there will always be situations where the only solution is to alter a stock file.

Meanwhile, the alterations from this mod to only three existing files are minimal and self-contained additions. It is hard to make files easier than this to merge.

gjh42:

Such a thing is not possible in any case where a mod alters a stock template file which a third-party template also alters. If the template does not alter that file, there is no issue. The only way this can ever change is if/when there are notifier hooks in all the places needed to modify the site's behavior without touching any existing files. This can be done now in certain places, but by no means all, and there will always be situations where the only solution is to alter a stock file.

Meanwhile, the alterations from this mod to only three existing files are minimal and self-contained additions. It is hard to make files easier than this to merge.

nods in agreement :yes:

Honestly unless Zen Cart adopts a plugin and templating system which separates plugins and templates from the application core this is how templates and modules will continue to work for the most part in Zen Cart.. The best that mod authors can do is to make sure changes are as clearly marked as possible so that when folks are doing file comparisons the modifications are clear..

gjh42:

The best way to limit the middleboxes to the product listing page will be to move the middlebox code from /includes/templates/your_template/common/tpl_main_page.php to /includes/templates/your_template/templates/tpl_index_product_list.php.

Delete this from tpl_main_page.php:```php

> <div class="centerColumn" id="indexProductList">
> to get this: ```php
<div class="centerColumn" id="indexProductList">
<?php 
$box_loc = '8';//middlebox group
require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_middleboxes.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_middleboxes.php');
?>
<h1 id="productListHeading"><?php echo $breadcrumb->last(); ?></h1>

(You can put it just above

<div class="centerColumn" id="indexProductList"> if that suits your pirposes better.) Putting it inside the listing code is tricky; if you want to do that, ask for help. I believe I helped someone else with that before.

That worked perfectly! Thanks for your help

gjh42:

Could you explain what you feel the shortcomings of this mod are, and how you think it could be improved? I can't fix any user issues or address user wishes if I don't know what they are.
Hello Glenn,

I have tried without success to have this mod work as intended with Abbington_Mega template. My comments were out of frustration as it does not work, even with the code mod done by Gam ( I think ?). Diva has tried to help but even that didn't give the desired result. I appreciate the issues of having mods / plugins work with core programs vs altered versions. I now have 5 ZC sites, I love ZC and promote it to many people but my biggest, nay only disappointment is not being able to get this very good and very valuable mod to work with that template - and I cannot solve the 'issue', which is not a mod issue but is an issue to me and I think possible to other users of that template and possibly others.

I have your mod installed on one site but in doing that it allows only 'featured products' and not new or specials which is a pity - I am persisting with it partially working for SEO purposes and the reasons you developed it in the first place.

Not your problem.

cheers, Mike

Thanks for ALL of your comments Diva - very useful.

cheers, Mike