Problem with sidebox image

I am lost.

I need to add an image into the sidebox with a header over it and some text under it. The image is a book (like eBooks)

For this I used Banner Box 2
I defined the header for it in English.php - That is ok.
Now I cannot find where to change the image source, change title or change the alt. Right now it references a redirect to zen cart

Searches only recover to possible places, banner_box2.php and tpl_banner_box2.php. I tried both of those and I think I have looked in every other folder but php is all gobbledygook for me.

Can someone please help me.

thank you
Ivanna

I looked at tpl_banner_box2.php again and I think I must change a "$content" line

$content = '';
// if no active banner in the specified banner group then the box will not show
if ($banner = zen_banner_exists('dynamic', $banner_box_group)) {
$content .= '<div id="' . str_replace('_', '-', $box_id . 'Content') . '" class="sideBoxContent centeredContent">';
$content .= zen_display_banner('static', $banner);
$content .= '</div>';

But I am not sure which line or what I must change it to.

thank you
Ivanna

I may not understand, but in Admin - Tools - Banner Manager, there is a box in each banner setup page where you can enter your HTML for that banner.

I would use the Blank Sidebox mod for what you're describing, though.

Hi Steve,
I was not sure if I am doing it correct, so I look everywhere before asking for help.
I looked at the Banner manager but was not sure if this was correct. I thought this is only for zen cart banners.
Also, I looked in Tools/layout box controller but I do not see Blank Sidebox. I am using Barebones template.

thank you
Ivanna

Blank Sidebox is a mod you can download from Free Addons at the top of this page. It is ideal for new content like you want.

Install it and modify / add content as you like.

Everything on my site disappeared

I have a problem with Blank Sidebox Mod even so I follow all the instructions.

I think the problem is because when I make changes in Crimson Editor, I did not save with an extension name
I did not know this until after I upload everything to the server. :oops:

Even so I remove the bad files and replace with proper files with extension .php, the Admin still says "Missing" and in two instant show Box File Name of files without the extension.

I delete these files with Filezilla and also go into cPanel to search and delete them.
A file search in cPanel now only shows correct files in correct places but Admin does not update.

One box file name shows Red. The file name is sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php - sideboxes/barebones/ is Red. When I turn this file on, I lose everything. When I turn it off, everything comes back.

There are two sideboxes/ebook_sidebox that have red highlight and the words MISSING - these files should be gone.

I have also loaded from last nights backup and re-added the sidebox files, but it is still the same.

(I only do this today so the backup is clean)

I think Admin should update when I have deleted the files. It still shows the old files.

The correct files should be:
includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/barebones/ebook_sidebox_defines.php
includes/modules/sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php
includes/templates/barebones/sideboxes/tpl_ebook_sidebox.php

How can I update Admin to show me the correct files?

thank you
Ivanna

I have found how to delete the MISSING files but I still have the sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php as RED
When I turn this file on everything disappears.

I think it must be something in the path that is wrong (because it is red)

The instruction say use this path
includes/modules/sideboxes/YOUR_TEMPLATE_NAME/blank_sidebox.php

I use
includes/modules/sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php

thank you
Ivanna

The sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php is meant to be red, because it is a custom template file and not a default file. That is not related to the problem.

Thank you gjh42,

the red words make sense, I understand that now. what I do not understand is what I do wrong!

In all three files, I change each instant of blank_sidebox to ebook_sidebox and **BLANK_SIDEBOX to EBOOK_SIDEBOX
**
I have put original code beside my changes and check it word for word and do not see a difference (only ebook for blank and EBOOK for BLANK)

I have checked the path for each file with the instruction they are:

includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/barebones/ebook_sidebox_defines.php
includes/modules/sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php
includes/templates/barebones/sideboxes/tpl_ebook_sidebox.php

When I turn it ON in Admin, I lose everything except the page header.
I see I have not set a sort order, so I give it sort order of 2. Now I see the sidebox that is set to sort 1, but I do not see my new sidebox or any other side boxes or the main page area or footer.

Now I make sort to 10.
Now I see all sideboxes except mine and I still do not see the main page area or footer.

From my troubleshooting, I see one of the files is stopping everything else on the page from working but I do not understand PHP very well. I have looked at all the code and what I make out of the code is this:

ebook_sidebox_defines.php, I can define any words within ' ' this is title and text
tpl_ebook_sidebox.php, I can make changes within <p> tags line 19 & 20
ebook_sidebox.php calls /tpl_blank_sidebox.php and pulls $title from ebook_sidebox_defines.php

So if I understand this correctly, then I do not know what is wrong. The only thing I think of is the path but I have checked it 1000 times already. (well, not 1000 but many times :smile:)

Your help is very appreciated.

thank you
Ivanna

I downloaded this blank_sidebox and configured it as (I think) the instructions but I do not see it in the sidebar. I changed the name from "blank" to "ebook" and changed all instants of those words.

Problems encountered are loss of all website that comes after this file.

For instance, when I go into Admin/Tools/Layout Boxes Controller I make these settings:
Left/Right column Status = On
Left or Right Column = Left
Left/Right column Sort Order = 15
Single Column Sort Order = 0
Single Column Status = Off

This is the same configuration for all my side boxes, the only difference is Sort Order.

When the sort order for ebook_sidebox is 0, I can only see the header section of the webpage, no more.
When I change the sort order, the boxes with a lower sort number will show but not the boxes with a higher number or the content page or the footer. It seems that no more php files are including. (is that right?)
When I set to the highest sort number (15) everything on the sidebar shows but no more.

When I turn the Left/Right column Status = Off, I can see all the webpage.

I changed the file names and put them in the correct paths as instructed. I do not know if I have read this right and perhaps the path is not the correct one. The paths are:

includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/barebones/ebook_sidebox_defines.php
includes/modules/sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php
includes/templates/barebones/sideboxes/tpl_ebook_sidebox.php

Can somebody please tell me if these are correct paths?

I can show the edits to these pages also if it will be helpful.

thank you
Ivanna

Those look like appropriate filepaths. Seeing your edits to the files would let us figure out what is wrong.

Thank you.
These are the files.

includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/barebones/ebook_sidebox_defines.php

line 12 & 13

define('BOX_HEADING_EBOOK_SIDEBOX', 'The Gardeners Guide');
define('TEXT_EBOOK_SIDEBOX', 'Get your copy of The Gardeners Guide to Growing Hardy perennial Orchids.');

====================================================

includes/modules/sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php

lines 13 - 20

$show_ebook_sidebox = true;

if ($show_ebook_sidebox == true) {
require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_ebook_sidebox.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'sidebox'). '/tpl_ebook_sidebox.php');
$title = BOX_HEADING_EBOOK_SIDEBOX;
$title_link = false;
require($template->get_template_dir($column_box_default, DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'common') . '/' . $column_box_default);
}

====================================================

includes/templates/barebones/sideboxes/tpl_ebook_sidebox.php

Lines 12 - 26

$content = '';
$content .= '<div id="' . str_replace('_', '-', $box_id . 'Content') . '" class="sideBoxContent">';

// Replace the text and HTML tags between the apostophes on lines 19 and 20.
// Use as many or as few lines using this model as you need for your custom content.
// If you have a multilingual site define your text in the languages/YOUR_LANGUAGE/extra_definitions/blank_sidebox_defines.php and include it as shown in line 19.
// If your site is monolingual, you can put the text right here as shown on line 20 (and nobody will know!)
$content .= '<p>'TEXT_EBOOK_SIDEBOX'</p>';
/* $content .= '<p>' <img width="175" height="211" title=" The Gardeners Guide " alt="the gardeners guide to growing hardy perennial orchids" src="/images/woc-book-cover.jpg"> '</p>'; */
$content .= '<p>Get your copy of The Gardeners Guide to Growing Hardy Perennial Orchids </p>';

$content .= '</div>';
?>

/* <a target="_blank" href="../catalog/images/woc-book-cover.jpg"> */

======================================================

I hope you will find the problem :smile:

thank you
Ivanna

$content .= '</div>';
?>

/ <a target="_blank" href="../catalog/images/woc-book-cover.jpg"> /

You are using PHP comment tags, but the PHP has ended here. You need to use HTML comment tags <!-- -->

I have removed all of these tags /* */ but still the problem persists. All data that comes before the sort number is ok but all other data is gone.

$content .= '<p>'TEXT_EBOOK_SIDEBOX'</p>';
$content .= '<p>' <img width="175" height="211" title=" The Gardeners Guide " alt="the gardeners guide to growing hardy perennial orchids" src="/images/woc-book-cover.jpg"> '</p>';
$content .= '<p>Get your copy of The Gardeners Guide to Growing Hardy Perennial Orchids </p>';

$content .= '</div>';
?>

I only have four column boxes

sideboxes/categories.php sort = 10
sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php sort = 14
sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php sort = 50
sideboxes/more_information.php sort = 200

When sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php does not work, I try to use sideboxes/banner_box2.php (sort = 14) as another option and I can see it.

What more information can I give you?

thank you
Ivanna

sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php sort = 14
sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php sort = 50

How do you have the same sidebox file listed twice? Something related to this is quite possibly the cause of your problem.

I am sorry, that is a typographic mistake. I have this:

sideboxes/categories.php...............................ON LEFT 10 10 ON
sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php.....OFF LEFT 14 14 ON
sideboxes/banner_box2.php........................ON LEFT 15 15 ON
sideboxes/information.php..........................ON LEFT 50 40 ON
sideboxes/more_information.php.................ON LEFT 200 200 ON

Please notice that ebook_sidebox.php is off in this instant. When it is on, everything with bigger numbers is lost.

My other option is to use banner_box2.php (which I can see). The reason I do not use this is because I am advised blank_sidebox is a better option. Also because I cannot find where to change the file to change path and attributes for the banner image.

thank you for helping me
Ivanna

$content .= '<p>'TEXT_EBOOK_SIDEBOX'</p>';
/* $content .= '<p>' <img width="175" height="211" title=" The Gardeners Guide " alt="the gardeners guide to growing hardy perennial orchids" src="/images/woc-book-cover.jpg"> '</p>'; */
```The problem was very subtle, nothing more than dots . and quotes ' missing or extra.
Both the short "constant" line and the commented-out long line are incorrect. It needs to be ```php
$content .= '<p>' . TEXT_EBOOK_SIDEBOX . '</p>';
/* $content .= '<p> <img width="175" height="211" title=" The Gardeners Guide " alt="the gardeners guide to growing hardy perennial orchids" src="/images/woc-book-cover.jpg"> </p>'; */

Thank you g,

Again, when I turn it on, everything disappears.

I copied the code to lines 19 & 20.
Line 19 was my fault. I removed the . because I think it is only text inside the <p> tags. I did not know it is code.
On line 19 you write '<p>' but on line 20 you write '<p> is the second ' not necessary in this instant?
On line 20, does it really matter at all because it is commented out?

I think I must download blank_sidebox one last time and start it all again.

I cannot think of anything else to do.

thank you
Ivanna

Line 20 does not matter as long as it is commented out, but this case has straight HTML output between the <p> tags. Line 19 has a PHP constant holding the HTML output value.

The define file is not the problem, because everything in /extra_definitions/ is loaded no matter whether the sidebox is on or off. It might help to post your entire module and template files. Use ```
[php] and [/php]

thank you again g,

includes/templates/barebones/sideboxes/tpl_ebook_sidebox.php

<?php
/**
 * blank sidebox - allows a blank sidebox to be added to your site
 *
 * @package templateSystem
 * @copyright 2007 Kuroi Web Design
  * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003-2007 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @license [url]http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt[/url] GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: blank_sidebox.php 2007-05-26 kuroi $
 */

  $content = '';
  $content .= '<div id="' . str_replace('_', '-', $box_id . 'Content') . '" class="sideBoxContent">';

  // Replace the text and HTML tags between the apostophes on lines 19 and 20.
  // Use as many or as few lines using this model as you need for your custom content.
  // If you have a multilingual site define your text in the languages/YOUR_LANGUAGE/extra_definitions/blank_sidebox_defines.php and include it as shown in line 19.
  // If your site is monolingual, you can put the text right here as shown on line 20 (and nobody will know!)
  $content .= '<p>' . TEXT_EBOOK_SIDEBOX . '</p>';
/* $content .= '<p> <img width="175" height="211" title=" The Gardeners Guide " alt="the gardeners guide to growing hardy perennial orchids" src="/images/woc-book-cover.jpg"> </p>'; */
  $content .= '<p>Get your copy of The Gardeners Guide to Growing Hardy Perennial Orchids </p>';

  $content .= '</div>';
?>

includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/barebones/ebook_sidebox_defines.php

<?php
/**
 * blank sidebox definitions - text for inclusion in a new blank sidebox
 *
 * @package templateSystem
 * @copyright 2007 Kuroi Web Design
  * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003-2007 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @license [url]http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt[/url] GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: blank_sidebox.php 2007-05-26 kuroi $
 */

define('BOX_HEADING_EBOOK_SIDEBOX', 'The Gardeners Guide');
define('TEXT_EBOOK_SIDEBOX', 'Get your copy of The Gardeners Guide to Growing Hardy perennial Orchids.');

?>

includes/modules/sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php

<?php
/**
 * blank sidebox - allows a blank sidebox to be added to your site
 *
 * @package templateSystem
 * @copyright 2007 Kuroi Web Design
  * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003-2007 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @license [url]http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt[/url] GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: blank_sidebox.php 2007-05-26 kuroi $
 */

  // test if box should display
  $show_ebook_sidebox = true;

  if ($show_ebook_sidebox == true) {
      require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_ebook_sidebox.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'sidebox'). '/tpl_ebook_sidebox.php');
      $title =  BOX_HEADING_EBOOK_SIDEBOX;
      $title_link = false;
      require($template->get_template_dir($column_box_default, DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'common') . '/' . $column_box_default);
 }
?>

thank you
Ivanna