Template Questions

I looked around for Primer on installing a new template and although there's a lot of info on making custom templates, I didn't see anything regarding installing a template downloaded from zencart.

Got the .zip file uploaded to my host, extracted and placed in the includes/template/ folder.

went back to my admin screen and selected the new template...

Now I get "The website cannot display the page: when I try to look at my site.

So do I just follow these instructions:
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=142

Or is there another "How To" that I overlooked?

Serious:

Got the .zip file uploaded to my host, extracted and placed in the includes/template/ folder.

Not sure, may just be a typing error but should have place the files in the /includes/templates folder

So it should be /includes/templates/CUSTOM_TEMPLATE

CUSTOM_TEMPLATE is obviously the name of your template

When you open the CUSTOM_TEMPLATE should have folders & ONLY 1 file named template_info.php

Hope this helps!

Did the template come with a readme file? They are all supposed to. Well-constructed templates will have all of their files correctly organized under an /includes/ folder, so that you only need to copy the /includes/ and its contents into the root of your site. If there is another location to copy into, the instructions should say what it is.

It would be nice to have a tutorial on installing a template, but unless the third-party templates could be forced to all use the same method, it would not be applicable to some number of them.

rbarbour:

Not sure, may just be a typing error but should have place the files in the /includes/templates folder

So it should be /includes/templates/CUSTOM_TEMPLATE

CUSTOM_TEMPLATE is obviously the name of your template

When you open the CUSTOM_TEMPLATE should have folders & ONLY 1 file named template_info.php

Hope this helps!i did leave the S off of templates, sorry for the confusion.

Not a custom template, rather a downloaded template from this site.

Not sure it that changes your reply or not.

gjh42:

Did the template come with a readme file? They are all supposed to. Well-constructed templates will have all of their files correctly organized under an /includes/ folder, so that you only need to copy the /includes/ and its contents into the root of your site. If there is another location to copy into, the instructions should say what it is.

It would be nice to have a tutorial on installing a template, but unless the third-party templates could be forced to all use the same method, it would not be applicable to some number of them.

No Read-Me file.

This is what was in the Darkness_Template_1.0 .zip. file

Includes/Templates/Darkness

/Darkness contained:
Common Folder
Css Folder
Images Folder
Copyright (Text file)
template_info (php)

Common/
tpl_footer (php)
tpl_header (php)

CSS/
Print_stylesheet (css)
stylesheet (css)
style_css_buttons (css)

Images/
header_bg (jpg)
scr_tmplate_default (jpg)
tile_back (gif)

That's it.

no instructions of any kind.

I suppose if you've been at this awhile this would be a no brainer.
Unfortunetly I'm flyin' blind here folks.

Well, even if it doesn't come with any instructions, it sounds like it has the full correct folder structure. That means you can, in your FTP, select the local template /includes/ folder and upload it to the folder where all of your Zen Cart files are located (/public_html/ or a subfolder, or whatever). This will drop all of the template files into the right places. Then check to see that you have in your server's original /includes/ folder a /templates/darkness/ folder and a /templates/darkness/template_info.php file.

You should not use the Darkness Template. It was designed for ZC v1.3.6 and I sure hope you are using a more recent version.

Website Rob:

You should not use the Darkness Template. It was designed for ZC v1.3.6 and I sure hope you are using a more recent version.

Damnit!!

Thanks for the info, looks like it's back to square one......

So where did you find that tidbit?

So why would it be on the Template switcher for v1.3.9
http://(sorry, site offline)/1-3-9d/index.php?main_page=index&template_dir=darkness

Do you know something about the Darkness template that makes it unsafe or nonfunctional on v1.3.9? That would be good information to share, if so.
A template can be good for later ZC versions if its files are not modified in the later core, and this one apparently has only two relevant PHP files, tpl_header and tpl_footer.

Let's start with the download page for the Darkness template on the zencart site;

Darkness Template - Nov 12 2006 - v1.3.6

Upon seeing the date and Zen Cart version it was designed for, would any experienced Zen Cart coder use such a template or advise using it? I would think not.

Seems we always advise people to use templates that were designed for the version of Zen Cart being used, or close to that version... and with good reason. Even though it is true that in this case, the two files to consider are; common - tpl_footer.php & tpl_header.php, which have not changed in their coding between 1.3.6 and 1.3.9h, does not negate the previous statement.

Something else to consider is the mention of no Readme file. Not a big deal to an experienced coder but for someone new would create all kinds of confusion and frustration. Then there are the missing overrides which is debatable but IMHO are necessary for any template properly using the overrides system.

includes/languages/YOUR_TEMPLATE/
english.php

includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/
header.php
meta_tags.php

includes/languages/english/html_includes/YOUR_TEMPLATE/

• the 12 files from the classic dir.

Is there a "security problem" using the Darkness template? No, that is more dependent upon the ZC version being used. But I would not recommend the current version of this template to anyone using Zen Cart; new or otherwise.

Well, I have looked on here and have not been able to find an answer, and templates seems to be as good as anywhere..... I hope! If wrong thread, please advise. Here is my issue:

Recently upgraded to ZC 1.3.9h and after some bumps in the road I have it up and running, though have found an issue with one (sure there will be more) formatting change from my old 1.2.7 version. When a customer comes to the site and clicks on say, Hats link, the majority of the hats have attribs for color and style, they select the color and style, then add to cart and all is good! Well, in the new ZC the dropdown for the attribs are much lower and I have had 2 people call and ask if they can order in green as all they see it balck, which if they scroll down they would see the options. Rambling now.. If someone can clue me in on what I would need to do to move the dropdowns up or some other more visible it would be appreciated.

The site is http://www.hatnpatch.com

and still a work in progress.

Thanks!

So there is nothing actually wrong in what the template includes; it just doesn't include a number of files and folders you consider that a template should include, and that will eventually be needed by anyone creating/using a custom template (not to mention the lack of a readme).

This thread was for questions about one specific template, and should not become a catchall for random questions.

Search for attributes and product info page layout to find info, or start a new thread.