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is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

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25 Aug 2011, 1:44 PM
#1
mybiz9999 avatar

mybiz9999

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is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

I have 2 categories, the scarf, and cloth

I need that the sidebox displays different contents(tags) for scarf and cloth.

how to do it, please help.

thank you very much.

25 Aug 2011, 2:38 PM
#2
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Re: is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

This is too vague to answer. We need more info on what kind of content you are looking for. Seeing your site live would also help.

26 Aug 2011, 12:49 AM
#3
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Re: is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

Thank very much for reply.

Take this site for example:
http://www.affordablescarves.com/

There are contents on the left sidebox:

Season

Special

Shape

Colour

etc.

my question 1: how to define these contents at Zen-cart?

And those contents are all for 'Scarf' , I want other contents displayed when the categories change, for example ,when visitor goes to the 'Computer' category.

The sidebox would be:

Fashion computer

child computer

etc

Then it brings my second question: how to make the sidebox changes based on the categories?

Thanks a lot!!

26 Aug 2011, 1:56 AM
#4
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Re: is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

So you are looking to translate the look of your non-Zen Cart site into a new ZC site, with perhaps some tweaks to behavior.

The best way to do this without writing major custom code for your specific site would be to use Categories Dressing from Free Addons, with one of the "active/level" settings to show only the current category group. You would need to put your categories under main categories like Scarf and Cloth to use this facility.
Season, Special, Shape and Colour would be subcategories of Scarf, and Summer, Fall, Seasonless and More Seasons would be subcats of Season.

26 Aug 2011, 2:41 AM
#5
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Re: is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

Thank you very much.

It's non-ZenCart site, but it's a normal web-shop with normal functions.

I will try it with the category-dress.

But I do think that the 'tags' are more flexible, do you think it's possible to get it through 'tags'?

anyword would be greatly appreciated.

gjh42:

So you are looking to translate the look of your non-Zen Cart site into a new ZC site, with perhaps some tweaks to behavior.

The best way to do this without writing major custom code for your specific site would be to use Categories Dressing from Free Addons, with one of the "active/level" settings to show only the current category group. You would need to put your categories under main categories like Scarf and Cloth to use this facility.
Season, Special, Shape and Colour would be subcategories of Scarf, and Summer, Fall, Seasonless and More Seasons would be subcats of Season.

26 Aug 2011, 3:10 AM
#6
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Re: is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

What do you mean by "tags"? What I see in your current shop is groups of categories organized under headings which are effectively the same as top categories. If you really want the headings non-clickable so nobody can visit Shape or Colour as such, that can be done with Categories Dressing, though it would be more complicated than using straight category names.

26 Aug 2011, 3:43 AM
#7
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Re: is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

By the way, I note that the "More Colors" and similar links actually are the main category links for the respective groups, just arranged to conceal that fact.

The "Filter by" feature would require custom javascript coding to automatically display some of the other main categories and their subs as criteria.

26 Aug 2011, 5:46 AM
#8
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Re: is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

Hi,thank you!

http://www.affordablescarves.com/

this site is just for help explain my requirements. I don't want the same site as it.

'tags' are related with each product, and you can add 'tags' more easily than adding new category.

Such as , 10 scarves will be chosen as the recommended gifts for Christmas. then I can add tags 'Christmas gift' to the 10 products.
And the 'Christmas gift' will be added on the sidebox links to the list of 10 products with tag of 'Christmas gift'

This makes the sidebox very flexible rather than the fixed category.

Please help, any word will be greatly appreciated.

mybiz9999:

Thank you very much.

It's non-ZenCart site, but it's a normal web-shop with normal functions.

I will try it with the category-dress.

But I do think that the 'tags' are more flexible, do you think it's possible to get it through 'tags'?

anyword would be greatly appreciated.

31 Aug 2011, 1:04 AM
#9
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Re: is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

That sounds like you would need to add a new field to the product type, either one or several depending on exactly how it is handled, and add the field to the search code. This is not a small job, and would only be possible for an experienced PHP coder who knows the structure of Zen Cart.

If you are not using the Manufacturer field for anything, you could transform that into your tag and use the built-in facilities for manufacturer sorting, searching, etc.

31 Aug 2011, 1:10 AM
#10
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Re: is there anyway to define the category-based content at sidebox?

'tags' are related with each product, and you can add 'tags' more easily than adding new category.Actually, adding a new category and linking products into it can be a very simple task, not necessarily more difficult or time-consuming than adding tags and setting up a tag to be featured.