How To Create Your Own sidebox in v1.3.x

A sidebox consists of three files, which are located in the includes directory:

1. modules/sideboxes/custom/name_of_sidebox.php
2. languages/english/extra_definitions/custom/
   name_of_sidebox_defines.php
3. templates/custom/sideboxes/tpl_name_of_sidebox.php
   You need to replace custom and name_of_sidebox with your template name and the sidebox name respectively.
   For example, let us build a sidebox named my_sidebox. Then, my_sidebox.php file will read like this:

This page actually defines what is to be shown in that sidebox. Note that this page also includes the corresponding template file. Here, we have used a constant BOX_HEADING_MY_SIDEBOX.

You need to define this in the includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/custom/my_sidebox_defines.php file. This file will look like this:

Now, you have to build its template file includes/templates/custom/sideboxes/tpl_my_sidebox.php
which will read as:

NOTE: Remember to replace custom with your over rides template name. And Remember to place them in the right folder paths. PLease comment if this helped you. I will post more on other features later.

... or you could just go HERE

schoolboy:

... or you could just go HERE

Yes you could, but doing it yourself will help you to see how the php code works. Learning by doing. Plus will allow you to see how the overrides work.

I'm not an airline pilot, so if I want to go to New York from London, I buy an air ticket... I don't train to be a pilot.

There may be some merit in the "tutorial" aspect of what you are suggesting, but why re-invent the wheel?

If you do want to build the files yourself, you should leave out the

$left_corner = false;
$right_corner = false;
$right_arrow = false;

as these are from a very old version of the sidebox and not actually used for anything in the current version of Zen Cart.

Actually, I find this board to be helpful, just what I was looking for. Thanks.

Yes good info. This also gives me the info to modify existing sideboxes in a way as now I know how they actually work.. Thanks for the thread..:clap:

Hi there

I so far have been able to follow your thorough and clear instructions and the sidebox is now in my admin panel. I am stuck however on what to do next because I have created a menu using coffecup, which is in text/javascript form and I am not quite sure where I should put this code instead of having the normal catagories sidebox, are you able to advise at all?

Many thanks in advance.

Claire :)

You might try searching the forum for info on using javascript in sideboxes.
What are you trying to achieve with your custom categories-type menu? Unless you have integrated the PHP logic that builds it from the database, your hard-coded menu will be static and need to be edited manually every time a category changes.
There are existing mods in Free Addons for a number of common category menu arrangements.

Hi, is there a way to build multiple sideboxes that will display different EZ page links in each box? Or is there another way of achieving it? My intentions are to have different groups of static page links in different boxes if it is possible at all. I also would be setting different heading names for each box.

Thanks.

Actually, I think it's a good idea to explain the workings of parts of zen cart. It helps when customising your site to see how it works.

I would love to see the various aspects of Zen cart broken down in an easy to understand format - maybe in the wiki.

Just a couple of points I would add to your break down:

Not all side boxes use the following file:
/languages/english/extra_definitions/custom/name_of_sidebox_defines.php

Some boxes have the box title name specified in:
\includes\languages\custom_template\english.php

Paul

Standard sideboxes may have their names specified in english.php; any new custom sideboxes should use a file in extra_definitions for clarity of identifying what is new.

thanks so much for this information, it works perfectly and it was so easy to work through the simple and straightforward instructions, much easier to use and much more educational than the other sidebox download.
cheers

I like it! Instead of adding a box with searching for prices, I was able to adapt my categories box and put the price search inthere!

Thanks!:clap:

I am using v 1.3.9h. I am trying to create a sidebox using the same data as the "Manufacturer" sidebox. I created a new english.php and put it into my includes/languages/english/pure_green/english.php. Please let me know if I have added too many or any suggestions.

I created a file for extra_definitions:
includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/pure_green/health_concerns_defines.php. I used the code in this thread. Does this need to be done or does it mess things up by a duplication in english.php?

I will appreciate any help on getting it completed.

Changes were:

Existing:

// manufacturers box text in sideboxes/manufacturers.php

define('BOX_HEADING_MANUFACTURERS', 'Manufacturers');

**Added: **

// manufacturers box text in sideboxes/health_concerns.php

define('BOX_HEADING_HEALTH_CONCERNS', 'Shop by Health Concern');

Existing:

// manufacturer box text

define('BOX_HEADING_MANUFACTURER_INFO', 'Manufacturer Info');

define('BOX_MANUFACTURER_INFO_HOMEPAGE', '%s Homepage');

define('BOX_MANUFACTURER_INFO_OTHER_PRODUCTS', 'Other products');

Added:

// health_concerns box text

define('BOX_HEADING_HEALTH_CONCERNS_INFO', 'Health Concerns Info');

define('BOX_HEALTH_CONCERNS_INFO_HOMEPAGE', '%s Homepage');

define('BOX_HEALTH_CONCERNS_INFO_OTHER_PRODUCTS', 'Other products');

Existing:

// boxes defines

define('PULL_DOWN_ALL','Please Select');

define('PULL_DOWN_MANUFACTURERS','- Reset -');

Added:

// boxes defines

define('PULL_DOWN_ALL','Please Select');

define('PULL_DOWN_HEALTH_CONCERNS','- Reset -');

I also copies a file and made changes to any references of manufacturers to "health_concerns". The file I copies was:

includes/templates/pure_green/sideboxes/tpl_manufacturers_select.php.

The end result of all my changes:

Layout Boxes Controller - OK
Try to Preview - Error message:

1146 Table 'rem1106609263720.TABLE_HEALTH_CONCERNS' doesn't exist
in:
[select m.health_concerns_id, m.health_concerns_name from TABLE_HEALTH_CONCERNS m order by health_concerns_name]

Did you create a new database table for this sidebox?

That database table would hold the data that the sidebox you are modeling after uses ...

Manufacturers sidebox uses the tables:
manufacturers
manufacturers_info

for gathering all of the information about Manufacturers ...

What are you doing with the Health Concerns sidebox? Are you trying to add new database tables to hold information that you later want to display in this new sidebox?

Or, did you perhaps select a sidebox to model that does not really match what you are trying to do? :unsure:

Perhaps I have not selected the best sidebox to model. I want to list the top 5 health concerns in the box with another link to a page with a listing of all health concerns.
The link from one of the top 5 would search the database for products that match the health concern ie. acne. This is my first attempt at a shopping cart other than using the PayPal cart. I am open to any suggestions.

I thought I was creating the database table when creating and copying the file from Manufacturers:

Existing:

// manufacturer box text

define('BOX_HEADING_MANUFACTURER_INFO', 'Manufacturer Info');

define('BOX_MANUFACTURER_INFO_HOMEPAGE', '%s Homepage');

define('BOX_MANUFACTURER_INFO_OTHER_PRODUCTS', 'Other products');

Added:

// health_concerns box text

define('BOX_HEADING_HEALTH_CONCERNS_INFO', 'Health Concerns Info');

define('BOX_HEALTH_CONCERNS_INFO_HOMEPAGE', '%s Homepage');

define('BOX_HEALTH_CONCERNS_INFO_OTHER_PRODUCTS', 'Other products');

Probably a better choice might be either the More Information or Information boxes as they have links in them that could help you make your new links ...