Serious problem with customizing my online store

Hi,

I'm new to zen cart and i have been trying to customize my store by creating templates... the issue is that i have tried all the suggestions given in differents forums but it wouldn't just work :(

My zen carf doesn't have Custom in the template drop down... infact i do not have any drop down. just the Classic Contemporary Green template which can not be edited.

I need help !!!

I am a complet novice to e-commerce and would appreciate a lay man's explanation and where and how i can reach necessary information.

Thanks

You have to create template_info.php for each template you create which will load the information about the template.

If you follow the article in the tutorial or the wiki it should work. You just have to follow the instructions and read them more the once.

thanks for your reply but the thing is i've gone through the tutorials, it all says the same thing but it never says where and how u can get to these pages where you would have to include/template etc...

I try doing this through filezilla but guess since i don't have the basics i have been doing rubbish as it has not been working :(

can someone PLEASE help me by telling me how to find these pages where i have to include/templates etc.... and the right STEPS

This is one of the very basics, I don't think anybody will want to rewrite the Zen Cart document in this thread.

You can read the wikis and tutorials, even buy the Zen Cart book to learn the basics.

Or you could download a template and start from there.

Using your FTP program (Filezilla), look through the folders on your server and everywhere you see a 'classic' folder, create a folder named whatever you want your custom template to be called, at the same level. There should be ten altogether. - this shows you where they should be:

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=143

Then copy the template_info.php file from the includes/templates/classic folder into the includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE_NAME folder, and edit it to change the template name (Classic Contemporary Green) to the name of your template. It will then show up in the drodown in Admin - Tools - Template Selection

Another way to go would be do look through the free template packages and use one that has the same layout or features that you want. You can then use it as a framework for adding in your own customizations.

Thanks,

Anne

I've tried it all to no avail... Can anyone recommend someone to help me with it?

It's quite urgent !

Thanks

I know it seems impossible to you, but it's really not that difficult.

You can use one of the free templates available for Zen Cart to get you started. Even if you decide not to use the template itself, they're great learning tools and can serve as an example of how to setup a custom template. You can see the templates in action at http://(sorry, site offline)/ and select "go to demo". Use the pull down menu to change templates and see what they'll look like on a live site.

This list is a bit outdated, but it'll give you an idea where to start to create a very basic custom template (you can build from there):

• includes/languages/YOUR_TEMPLATE/english.php
• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/index.php
• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/meta_tags.php
• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/header.php (to change the logo and header text)
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_header.php <- may not be necessary
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_footer.php <- may not be necessary
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/images/logo.gif (or .jpg or .png)
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/css/stylesheet.css

Anywhere you see a /classic/ folder, you can create a folder for your custom template. You can copy the necessary files from either the /classic/ folder, the /template_default/ folder or the parent folder.

Edit includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php to give your template identifying information so you'll recognize it in the admin under tools->template selection.

Note: if you've changed the height of the logo in header.php, you may need to change it in your stylesheet as well:

#logoWrapper{
background-image: url(../images/header_bg.jpg);
background-repeat: repeat-x;
background-color: #ffffff;
height:75px; <-adjust this line if necessary
}

beautynexus:

I've tried it all to no avail... Can anyone recommend someone to help me with it?

It's quite urgent !

Thanks

Erm, silly question, but have you bought the book yet?

Helped me through all my learning curves a few years back and now while I refresh my work I'm dipping back in.

:smartalec:

Lessons:-

1. Do you have access to a text editor, plain text to mess around with the php and other files? You can play around with these to learn how it's all laid out, but it will still take you a few very long days to get it all right on your head.
2. If you have the whole cart unpacked on your PC you can begin by copying and renaming the key "Classic" template folders. Copy to MY_TEMPLATE or whatever into the same locations so they sit on the same level as the "Classic" folders. This will be the basis for your template.
3. Look into these new copies and see how they relate to the output on the live cart. Thus you learn the differences and contributions each file makes to the overall style.
4. Delete those files from your new TEMPLATE you are not going to edit.
5. Modify those you ARE going to use and upload into new online copies of your new TEMPLATE folders.
6. Keep copious notes of each step so you don't get lost.
7. Play with your test site after making and uploading each change.
8. Don't scream too loudly when it goes wrong at this stage.

You activate your new template when the cart recognises its presence, through your TEMPLATE folder and the edited template_info.php file, which sits in the root of your TEMPLATE folder, with your name and details.

(should have added all this above, but ran out of time to make the edit) :lookaroun