side boxes won't display in custom template

Using v1.3.9h. Sideboxes display properly and can be controlled from admin. Installed template (Darkness), wich installs with all sideboxes disabled, some boxes display when enabled, some do not!? Seems about fifty-fifty.

Yes, I read the Faqs, tutorials, even have the Hoek manual. I've done a directory comparison with hard drive and server looking for missing php files. Can't find the issue.

Have the sort order set to 10, 20 etc. for EZ pages - which not only won't display in a sidebox, but not in header or footer either when I enable those options.

Would dearly love some suggestions. Been fightlng this since last night.

Thanks,

Bruce

Assuming you've gone to Admin - Tools - Layout Boxes Controller and clicked Reset after selecting the darkness template, some of the sideboxes (like Reviews and Bestsellers) don't display untill there is some content for them. What boxes aren't displaying ?

Had not done that, But did not help. Have NO products uploaded yet. So wondered about empty items displaying, but the categories box shows. Boxes that are working are - Categories, reviews, information, and more information, Enabled but not displaying are - What's New, Featured, Shopping Cart, Tell a Friend, and EZ Pages. And yes I have created several EZ Pages.

Switched templates to Classic. Boxes still don't display.

All the boxes you mentioned will not display until there is content for them, by default. You can set in admin > Configuration for the shopping cart sidebox to display always.

You gave the ez-pages sort orders; did you also click "yes" for the locations?

Tell a Friend has a php file with default text. Why will it not display?

Yes I did check yes for all display options. No EZPages links in footer, header, or side box.

I believe Tell a Friend only displays on product info pages. If you don't have products yet, there is nowhere for it to display.

Can we see your site? The link in your sig doesn't work.

What do you have for Configuration > EZ-Page Settings >
EZ-Pages Display Status - HeaderBar
EZ-Pages Display Status - FooterBar
EZ-Pages Display Status - Sidebox