Require login to browse question

Hello,

Is there a way to do this? I want customers to view a page with just links to information pages (about us, shipping, etc.) when they hit the home page. Also on the home page will be a login link. I want to require customer to login before they get to browse all the categories and products.

Currently I set admin>config>customer details>customer shop status to must login to browse. However this makes the home page the login page and I rather have a page before that if possible.

Thanks in advance for any help.

admin > config > customer details > Customer Shop Status - View Shop and Prices >

Optionas are:
Customer must be approved to shop
0= Not required
1= Must login to browse
2= May browse but no prices unless logged in
3= Showroom Only

Hi kobra,

Thanks for the reply. I know about that option but my question is regarding a page that shows up before the login page. When a customer visits the website, I don't want the home page to be a login page. I rather it be informational page and also have a login link. Is this possible?

Thanks.

have look at the contents & commented directives in a copy of ypl_main_page.php and you will see many options for "this is home page"

kobra,

where is this page located at?

thanks.

nevermind, I think you meant tpl_main_page.php :)

Hello,

So I read tpl_main_page.php, but still not sure how to accomplish this. I'm just trying to have the home page be a informational page instead of a login in page. My website is set to require customer authorization before browsing, so it currently automatically goes to the login page when someone visits the website. I don't want the login page. Only after they click a login link are they presented with the login page. Any ideas to get me going?

Thank you.

Create an index.html page where you have your Zen Cart installed. Zen Cart uses index.php and browsers will pick up the index.html file first. Use the index.html page as the "information" page you require with a link to the index.php page.

Thank you very much afo, I will try that.

Use the "2" setting in Customer Approval Status - Authorization Pending
Edit the tpl_main_page.php file to drop left & right columns
Move your desired links to be internal ezpage links that show in header
Edit your define mainpage through admin to state what you want

This presents a page different than the login page while still hiding your categories etc from view

Kobra's solution may be much more elegant than mine. :smile:

thanks kobra and afo, I appreciate the help. I think I need to elaborate on what I'm trying to do.

1. First I want to keep the feature of "Must be Authorized to Browse". So setting the Approval Status to "2" is not gonna work because that allows them to browse.

What I want is:

2. When someone visits the website, the first page they will see is just an informational page with a login link and possibly a few other links that just goes to a static page.

3. Once they click login, they are presented with the login page (the login page that currently pops up right now since approval status is set to "1" must be authorize to browse)

4. Once they are logged in, everything behaves as normal with header and footer links loaded dynamically and customers are able to browse and checkout.

I want to do in the way that stays in the framework of how zen is setup. However, it seems that the index.html way that afo suggested is a lot easier.

Kobra, I don't 100% understand the solution you gave. Its my fault because I'm still learning zen and the framework of which files gets loaded first and called and how everything is put together. Is the solution you gave me gonna work for what I want? I appreciate your help.

Thanks.

I think I found out an area I can play with. In tpl_main_page.php, I can change the the code where it displays the center column depending if the user is logged in or logged out. Around line 243.

require($body_code); displays the center column. I can put a

and display the page accordingly.

Don't know if this will work, but I'm gonna try.

Yes! I think I found a solution. Will test more tonight to make sure it really works before posting. It has to do with creating a new variable and passing it through the url. Base on the value of the variable, it will display the main info page or the login page. Also this solution stays in the framework of zen!:clap:

Might also reference this and create a case or if for your condition
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=164253