Shopping cart content

On the shopping cart it says:
'You may want to add some instructions for using the shopping cart here. (defined in includes/languages/english/shopping_cart.php)'

Don't these type of revisions require override files for custom template? Or changes are made in includes/languages/english/shopping_cart.php?

If an override is not necessary, what is the reason for includes/languages/english/Your_template/ folder, which contains and "emty.txt" file?

The original language file is displayed in the text so that you can locate the file that you need to change and, yes, you should use your templates and overrides for your custom changes ...

Good to hear from you again Linda. Please excuse me as my brain is not functioning properly this morning!

So is it safe to say, for any change whatsoever (from simple text to code change), one should create an override structure?

And in this case the override should be includes/languages/english/Your_template/shopping_cart.php.

Yes, and yes. Some files can't be overridden, but it's a good idea to use the override function when possible.

stevesh:

Yes, and yes. Some files can't be overridden, but it's a good idea to use the override function when possible.
Thank you.

The GENERAL RULE for whether a file has an over-ride capability is to check if there is a "classic" folder visible.

Wherever you see a "classic" folder (be it in LANGUAGES, MODULES or TEMPLATES), you can safely put in another folder named after your CUSTOM folder set.

EG:

/includes/modules/classic/

allows for:
/includes/modules/YOUR_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_NAME/

and

/includes/languages/english/classic/

allows for:
/includes/languages/english/YOUR_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_NAME/

and

/includes/languages/english/html_includes/classic/

allows for:
/includes/languages/english/html_includes/YOUR_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_NAME/

NB: Do not RE-NAME "classic"... ADD your custom folder at the same directory level...

Great advise.

I have not added any custom templates. I am working and revising the stock template from 1.5.1 called "Classic Contemporary Green" and as you know the template directory is called "classic".

Thank you.

Kevin205:

Great advise.

I have not added any custom templates. I am working and revising the stock template from 1.5.1 called "Classic Contemporary Green" and as you know the template directory is called "classic".

Thank you.

ER... not a good idea...

CLASSIC is a useful diagnostic tool... when a CUSTOM template gives problems, reverting to "classic" often helps point to the problem.

You can CLONE classic and then build your own template (with overrides), but it is not a good idea to tamper with classic.

You should use a separate template folder for your custom template, even if it starts from the Classic design. Copy all /classic/ folders to /your_template/ folders (whatever name you want to use) and start with new modifications there.

You could then upload new copies of /classic/ folders from a fresh download of Zen Cart, to give you a clean Classic template to use in debugging if necessary.

schoolboy:

ER... not a good idea...

CLASSIC is a useful diagnostic tool... when a CUSTOM template gives problems, reverting to "classic" often helps point to the problem.

You can CLONE classic and then build your own template (with overrides), but it is not a good idea to tamper with classic.

gjh42:

You should use a separate template folder for your custom template, even if it starts from the Classic design. Copy all /classic/ folders to /your_template/ folders (whatever name you want to use) and start with new modifications there.

You could then upload new copies of /classic/ folders from a fresh download of Zen Cart, to give you a clean Classic template to use in debugging if necessary.

Since I have been working on it for a while now, I guess I have to rename "classic" to "My_Custom_Template" and possibly re-install the the "classic" template?

Any suggestion on the best way to accomplish that task?

Thank you.

gjh42:

You should use a separate template folder for your custom template, even if it starts from the Classic design. Copy all /classic/ folders to /your_template/ folders (whatever name you want to use) and start with new modifications there.

You could then upload new copies of /classic/ folders from a fresh download of Zen Cart, to give you a clean Classic template to use in debugging if necessary.

I guess you answered my question already. Thanks.

Okay, good to see you on your way! Be sure to remember, when copying/changing foldernames/whatever method you use, to update the /includes/templates/your_template/template_info.php file with distinct info for your template name, so you can distinguish it in admin > Tools > Template Selection.
Refer to the tutorials about template creation for more details...

Kevin205:

Since I have been working on it for a while now, I guess I have to rename "classic" to "My_Custom_Template" and possibly re-install the the "classic" template?

Any suggestion on the best way to accomplish that task?

Thank you.

Not quite this straight-forward... A major "controller" of how the site interprets what template is being applied is the template_info.php file - AND this integrates with a few things in the database too (such as layout boxes).

SO... here's the procedure...

1. RE-NAME all the current CLASSIC folders to a name of your choice (and I mean ALL the folders - so navigate through ALL LEVELS of languages : modules : templates and wherever you see classic, re-name it. (The languages folder is the one with the most... of course the templates folder will only have ONE instance of classic.

Then, go to includes/templates/YOUR_RENAMED_TEMPLATE/template_info.php (and make the obvious changes).

<?php
/**
 * Template Information File
 *
 * @package templateSystem
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2005 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: template_info.php 2306 2005-11-05 21:34:28Z wilt $
 */
$template_name = 'My New Template';
$template_version = 'Version 1.0';
$template_author = 'ME - 2013';
$template_description = 'This is My New Template';
$template_screenshot = '';
?>

BEFORE you do any thing else, you need to PUT BACK the core classic folders and files, so open your unzipped copy of zencart program, and FTP all the classic folders back to their relevant locations.

NOW... when you go to you site, you will see it back to CORE CLASSIC, and it will stay that way until you select your NEW TEMPLATE under the TOOLS >>> TEMPLATES menu option.

After you select your NEW template, you may need to RE_SET the layout boxes. (sideboxes). This is done under layout boxes controller and just scroll to the bottom of that screen and click RESET

schoolboy:

After you select your NEW template, you may need to RE_SET the layout boxes. (sideboxes). This is done under layout boxes controller and just scroll to the bottom of that screen and click RESET

Your last advise saved me hours of going through files and code, trying to figure out why my boxes are not showing up. No way I would have remembered to go to the "Layout Boxes Controller" under Admin's Tools, to turn them back on.

Everything went smoothly and looking good. it took about 30 minutes to backup, transfer and regenerate. I can now fall back on the original "classic" files if I have to. Thank you.