total newbie-text editor questions

version 1.3.9h
I use fatcow as my domain server and weebly drag and drop as my site editor.

I've done pretty well learning my way around the zen cart as far as adding products, categories, etc. But I've hit a brick wall in trying to understand and follow the instructions for changing text.

I've found the basic pages in the text editor but beyond that I can't figure out what to do. Your most frequently asked question "how to remove the 'sales message goes here'" text for example. I've read the answer but I don't where to find file or folder to edit that text. There are several other similar things "Congratulations! You have successfully installed your Zen Cart™ E-Commerce Solution." on the main page, " NOTICE: This website is scheduled to be down for maintenance on: 15/05/2003 2-3 PM", one zen cart ad button I can't remove although I've removed all the rest of the them.

I'm not computer illiterate, but I don't do code at all; so maybe I am computer illiterate. Anyway, I've spent the past 3 days banging my head against my computer screen and I'm not going to figure this one out on my own. I need help.

If you need to see the page it's
http://www. f o r t h e m e m o r i e s . u s /index.php?main_page=

I use fatcow as my domain server and weebly drag and drop as my site editor.
weebly is fine for html files BUT don't use it to edit any php files

notepad++ or crimson editor as free code editors you can use

To use them you MUST transfer the file to your PC first
Edit it - - save - - and transfer it back to the server

I don't where to find file or folder to edit that text
The tutorials you are referencing state the file to be edited

Other tutorials
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=38
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=39

honestly, I feel like I've stepped into another language here! OK, I've stumbled across the Developer's tool kit before, and tried to use it, but didn't know how. So you're saying I enter the phrase I want to change into the search. When the code comes up I copy it and paste it into notepad on my computer. I change the phrase to what I want, then I upload that file in the upload files section of weebly? But I need to rename it? Will I rename just once or will I have to rename each file I change? Also, I'm prompted to back up my changes but I don't see anywhere in zen cart to do that. Does it mean just a general backup of my computer files or is there a specific backup for the zen cart I should be doing?
Thank you so much for your prompt reply.

Say you want to change this text on the Create Account page:

Create a customer profile with which allows you to shop faster, track the status of your current orders and review your previous orders.

Select a part of the text that seems like it would be unique to that statement (like 'create a customer profile') and enter that in the bottom entry box in the Developers Tool Kit. Then select something from the dropdown to the right (I selected 'All Files - Catalog/Admin'). Click 'Search' and you'll receive a list of files which contain that text.

In this case, you'll have one file returned - includes/languages/english/login.php.

Using your FTP program, drag that file to your local computer, open it in your text editor, and find the text you want to change. Make your edits, save the file, then upload it back to the server.

Since that file is overridable, you want to upload it to the includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE_NAME folder on the server.

so, I'm worse off than I was before. I at least had a page up and running before. Now I have nothing up. I tried to make those few changes, thought I made them. But now, my page isn't online, just a blank page comes up. I'm just sick to my stomach!
Surely somewhere there are step by step instructions written in non geek speak? I've really screwed up now and undone all the work I've put into the site up to this point. I can't believe I got this close, figured this much of it out, and am knocked back on my ######## over a little bit of text in the wrong place!

Did you edit this file:

includes/languages/english/login.php.

Did you upload the new file to your custom folder and KEEP the original on the server (unchanged)?

Revert back to the original file and start over. You probably just dropped a ' from the file.

Tina

What file did you try to edit ?

What file did you try to edit ? It's unlikely you've 'undone' everything up to now, but you've made a simple mistake somehow.

I change the phrase to what I want, then I upload that file in the upload files section of weebly?
See my post and QUIT using weebly to edit php files

kobra:

See my post and QUIT using weebly to edit php files

I've seen your post and I've done nothing in weebly. As a matter of fact, I can't even get back into weebly! Now I don't know how to do anything, anywhere. Nothing that I was familiar with is working. Nothing you guys are saying makes any sense to me.
How do I get the files to revert back to before I did whatever I did?
Once I get that done and get my store page back up and running, I'll be more than happy to spend all my time here trying to learn zen speak and figure out how to do whatever it is you're trying to explain to me. For now, if you will, help me roll back to around 24 hours ago.
What I can't understand is how I built the entire site, complete with products and categories and pricing and images, coupons and everything else you can think of. I learned how to get around the site bit by bit and was able to find where to remove all the zen banners I didn't want, etc. But then when I'd almost finished, there are two lines of text that don't belong, and in trying to remove those I've ruined the whole thing. Just makes no sense...

Since we don't know exactly what you did, we can't tell you exactly what to change or undo. Describe in as much detail as possible the last process you performed before it broke.

Also, remember that you haven't lost any of the work you have done; as stevesh said, you probably made a simple mistake that triggered a PHP error, and when you get that fixed, it will all come back.

Most of the store setup and management can be done through the admin panel, but some things need to be edited in PHP files.

How do I revert a file back to it's original state and start over?
How do I make my custom folder for edits if I don't do it through the file manager in weebly?
I understand that I can use notepad to copy and paste the code and make the edits. How do I upload them back to the server if not through the file manager in weebly?
How do I make backups before edits so I can go back to them if I mess something up again?
I know that I edited the file that says "sales message goes here". I'm not even sure if I edited another one.
I am sure I've made a big mess! I stepped away for a few hours and now I'm ready to try and tackle it again.
I do appreciate everyone's help.

charmedbytina2:

Did you edit this file:

includes/languages/english/login.php.

Did you upload the new file to your custom folder and KEEP the original on the server (unchanged)?

Revert back to the original file and start over. You probably just dropped a ' from the file.

Tina

I've seen your post and I've done nothing in weebly

How do I make my custom folder for edits if I don't do it through the file manager in weebly?
You continue to want to use a html editor for php files

The answer to how is to NOT use weebly

Use a dedicated FTP client like filezilla and you can creatre them where needed