How to find where (category descriptions) are located?

I did not do the original install of the product but have tried to dig thru finding where 'stuff' lives. I can add products with no problem but if I need to make a change to the html page to add info or change what's displayed; I have a terrible time trying to find the suckers! I've been looking for a specific page for a couple of hours now and still have not found it!!! How the heck do you find the path to the different html files that make up each page that is displayed on the website? It should NOT be this hard to find something, what am I missing that makes this task so difficult?????? Please someone, enlightened me.
I want to upgrade to the newest version but reading the doc files, I'm not sure I want to tackle this but know it has got to be done. I'm not a newbie to webdesign but this is my first shopping cart and I am quickly becoming overwhelmed with the enormity of doing this upgrade. Especially when it's so difficult just finding the files I need!!!
Sharon
Oh shoot! I failed to tell details. Using V1.3.0 on a Windows Server, yea I know, it's a very old version....hence why I'm looking into upgrading to the newest version.

There aren't any "html" pages.
The HTML output to the browser is generated dynamically via PHP scripts.

So the real question is ... what exactly are you wanting to edit/change, and why?

Developer's tool kit is your friend. To find which files are generating which pages, use it to search on the content contained within the page you'd like to find.

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

Thanks, That is exactly what I was trying to find out!!! I've been trying to get this site upgraded and moved to a new server for a while now. I tried to move it first but had to abandon that (recommendations from this forum) and am now trying to upgrade on the old site, then move it. But in the meantime, I've found a couple of things I want/need to change on a couple of pages but couldn't find where they lived.
Thanks again!
Sharon

RescoCCC:

Developer's tool kit is your friend. To find which files are generating which pages, use it to search on the content contained within the page you'd like to find.

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

I followed this suggestion and tried every file catagory offered but it couldn't find the selected text that I had copied to the clipboard from the webpage.:oops:
Any other suggestions?

What exactly was the text you copied, and what page was it on? If the text was generated by more than one PHP statement or element, it will not exist as a whole anywhere. Try the smallest distinctive snippet, and use what would be created/stored as one "chunk", like the text that comes before or after a variable bit of output.

Exactly: 'The Order of the Eastern Star' is the search text and it's on the first page of the Eastern Star product page. I've tried the above search text and I've also tried just 'Eastern Star'. The first text I listed is not on any other page but 'Eastern Star' is....
Since 'Eastern Star' is on other pages, should I try some other criteria? While waiting for a reply I'm going to try that..
Thanks
Sharon

That sounds like a product or category name; those are stored in the database, not in files. If this is the case, you will find the text in admin > Catalog > Categories/Products, when you edit whatever item it is.

Sorry, no it's not a product, it's describing what Eastern Star is. Don't know if it's allowed but here is a link to the page I'm trying to find.
https://www.ruthsdesigns.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

Maybe this will better explain...
Sharon

Okay, that is part of a category description, as I suspected. "Eastern Star" is the category name. Go edit that category and change the description.

I've never considered myself 'dumb' but this program is sure making me look that way! I have spent days and still I haven't found where this page is defined. I have looked everywhere but I can not, for the life of me, find where I can change some of the verbage on this page. Can someone **please **take me by the hand and specifically help me find this page definition? Please..

Admin > catalog > categories/products. On the left you will see the name of the category, it this case Eastern Star. Over on the right on the same line you will see a little round green image with an E in it. Click that image. On the next page you will find a categories description box.

https://www.zen-cart.com/book

That's the problem, I don't have the path you mention (Admin > catalog > categories/products). the two pics I've inserted shows the folder structure and note that I renamed admin to duty for security. This different structure is why I haven't found the sucker as yet. Hope they're big enough for you to read.
Sharon

You don't access it through file manager, you access it by logging in to your Zen Cart admin.

Yes, I know that and that's what I've been doing; I was just showing you the structure and the easist way was to do a screen shot of the file manager.

I'm afraid you are misunderstanding. Your Zen Cart admin is accessed via https://www.ruthsdesigns.com/store/RENAMED_ADMIN/

You are looking at your website Control Panel, which is a different thing altogether.

I am so sorry that it doesn't seem to make sense to me. When I was told to go to zen-cart admin and go to catalog area then select catagories/products, that's where I'm trying to find the page I want to change. It's not a product description I want to change, it's the 'home page' of the Eastern Star catagory I want to change. There's a paragraph on that page & a link that I need to change; so it's not a product description but the page.
Thank you all so much for your kind patience in trying to help me and again I'm sorry that I don't seem to understand. I do want to purchase the zencart book but just can't do that right now.
Sharon

TzuLady:

It's not a product description I want to change, it's the 'home page' of the Eastern Star catagory I want to change.
We know that.

Take a deep breath.

1. Log in to your Zen Cart admin. Such as the link you just posted.
2. Now you have a menu across the top of the page: Configuration, Catalog, Modules, Locations/Taxes, etc etc etc.
3. Hover over Catalog, and you'll see the Categories/Products option appear. Click on that.
4. Now you see your list of Categories. Find Eastern Star in that list, and take your mouse over to the little green "e" on the button bar way over to the right, on the same line as Eastern Star. Click on that "e".
5. Now you can edit that category's description, title, etc.

ie:

RescoCCC:

Admin > catalog > categories/products. On the left you will see the name of the category, it this case Eastern Star. Over on the right on the same line you will see a little round green image with an E in it. Click that image. On the next page you will find a categories description box.

Well praise the Lord!!! Thank you all again for your patience!!! I have never edited a page like that before and just couldn't get it into this thick head what you guys were trying to explain. Oh mercy, it's easy once you know how to get to it!!
Thank you, thank you!!!!!!!
Sharon
:clap: