Mobile Friendly

Thanks!!!! This is what I need to do.. If it's not too much to ask, a few questions...

rbarbour:

The CSS is designed to make your template fit the screen size but has included code to restrict the templates width to a fixed px.

So if your desktop monitor is 1024 wide, the template will fill the screen but if your current template was designed with a fixed with of 980px, simply un-commenting 1 line of CSS code and adding your templates width is all that is needed from preventing it from filling the entire screen.

CSS tweeks will most likely be needed, I couldn't account for every template designers added HTML divs, tables and code. Most tweeks will involve removing "fixed widths" or "forced widths (!important)".
My site was a floating size of 93%, but I just changed it to 960pix so that I could put an image/advertise slider at the top of my home page. I sell DJ and Pro Lighting, and I REALLY need some graphics etc. on home page. My home page looks horrible. How, or will, this work with a slider? and if so, what should I do about page width in combination with a slider? Could I make my slider images WAYYYY wide, and keep my floating 93% size?.. or is there a particular slider plugin that I need to use? or, can I simply not use a slider?.. I'm sure you get my point

rbarbour:

-Create a sub-directory and upload the latest version of zen-cart to it.
Where? Just make a folder in my root? next to admin, includes, images, cache, etc? What should I name this folder that contains the new 1.5.4?

rbarbour:

-With a fresh copy of your current template package, merge the The Responsive DIY Template Default code

-Upload your newly coded template
Upload my new template, complete with your merged DIY package, into the New folder, with the New Zen Cart 1.5.4? Can I point this new ZenCart 1.5.4 to my current database, or is your easypopulate suggestion going to do the same thing as far as making this new site emulate my site? Sorry, I'm not familiar with easypopulate OR pointing two different sites to the same database.

rbarbour:

-Install easyPopulate or a comparable plugin and upload your categories and products
I'm not sure exactly what you mean, in that,,, upload my categories and products from my other (original, current website)? That's what easyPopulate does?

rbarbour:

-Activate your template and see what CSS tweeks will be needed
Are you saying do this, but don't actually use this 'new' zencart,,, and when I get it working like I want, make those same (CSS, etc) changes to my active, current site? In other words use what you have told me to do only as a test? .. NOTE: I have Zen 1.50 and will, at some point need to upgrade.. but I'm not worried about that right now. If I use your DIY code on my current site, will I be able to upgrade to 1.5.4 at some point?

I hope that I'm not over-complicating this, but I have to be very careful about understanding exactly what you say, or I may goof something up. PS. Thanks for the long, detailed, reply. I'm sure that took time and I appreciate it.

Ok, I uploaded the Responsive DIY Template Default for 1.5.x files into {another} ZenCart and did the sql patch. It's not the exact setup of my other site, but similar. With the Includes folder, I uploaded into the directory structure like I would on any other plugin. Where the folders in the plugin said "/responsive_template_default", I put those files in my template folder (crista_pink). Where the plugin folder said zadmin, I put those files in my admin folder. My original zencart didn't have admin/includes/installers , so I uploaded and left the folder in it named "responsive_defaut" .. (should I have changed that to "crista_pink"?) In my "Admin-Tools-Template Selection", the Template Name for my crista_pink changed to "Responsive Template Default", but the Directory still says "crista_pink". This template is by "pixemus" and it installs 4 templates with different colors, so I can easily switch between "pink, violet, grey, and blue" templates, which allow me to "A - B" my results, and since I installed into Pink, I can switch back and fourth with the other colors to compare.
Now... I'm not sure if I'm in over my head or not, and when it comes to my columns instead of rows SNAF, and Lightbox, which aren't installed in this template, and getting them adjusted. As stated on the download page, my colors need fixing, and some of the alignment isn't right. When I scroll to the right on a mobile device, there's a big blank area. On a mobile device, the top categories, and things are placed to the upper left the respect that they are on the mobile screen. The text seems to be squeezed together in the middle of the screen. I'm not sure if this is how it's supposed to look or not, and I'm not sure if that big blank area and the other alignment issues can be fixed via CSS Stylesheet.. I just don't know. I hope that I installed it properly. I did make sure not to miss any files in my upload, and the sql patch went through. I have the demo version of ZenCart installed, so there are products on there. Main thing is that I want this to be acceptable for Google. Is there any way someone could look at this? The url is wholesalebodyboards dot com/dealers ... Thanks!!

posted this by mistake

Empty space on the right is the space for the right sideboxes. Admin-Tools-Layout Boxes Controller, when all sideboxes are set to "ON" or "OFF" for show sidebox @ min width, the space still shows up. Even when I disable all right sideboxes, that space is still there. How do I adjust/fix that? Thanks!

10 Minutes

http://www.zcadditions.com/01012015-520/

I made not 1 CSS tweek, some will be needed but this is what I got only by merging the files in /includes/templates/responsive_template_default/common/ with:

/includes/templates/crista_pink/common/
"tpl_box_default_left.php"
"tpl_box_default_right.php"
"tpl_footer.php"
"tpl_header.php"
"tpl_main_page.php"

and Uploading the: /includes/templates/responsive_template_default/common/ renaming responsive_template_default to crista_pink

"html_header.php"

and Uploading the /includes/templates/responsive_template_default/css renaming responsive_template_default to crista_pink

"responsive.css"
"responsive_default.css"
"responsive_mobile.css"
"responsive_tablet.css"

and Uploading the
\includes\auto_loaders\ files
\includes\classes\ files
\includes\init_includes\ files
\includes\modules\responsive_template_default\ files renaming responsive_template_default to crista_pink

I uploaded all ADMIN files
\zadmin\ files

Choose the crista_pink template
Reactivated the sideboxes
Activated the responsive template

Done

Johnnycopilot:

Thanks!!!! This is what I need to do.. If it's not too much to ask, a few questions...

My site was a floating size of 93%, but I just changed it to 960pix so that I could put an image/advertise slider at the top of my home page. I sell DJ and Pro Lighting, and I REALLY need some graphics etc. on home page. My home page looks horrible. How, or will, this work with a slider? and if so, what should I do about page width in combination with a slider? Could I make my slider images WAYYYY wide, and keep my floating 93% size?.. or is there a particular slider plugin that I need to use? or, can I simply not use a slider?.. I'm sure you get my point

Where? Just make a folder in my root? next to admin, includes, images, cache, etc? What should I name this folder that contains the new 1.5.4?

Upload my new template, complete with your merged DIY package, into the New folder, with the New Zen Cart 1.5.4? Can I point this new ZenCart 1.5.4 to my current database, or is your easypopulate suggestion going to do the same thing as far as making this new site emulate my site? Sorry, I'm not familiar with easypopulate OR pointing two different sites to the same database.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, in that,,, upload my categories and products from my other (original, current website)? That's what easyPopulate does?

Are you saying do this, but don't actually use this 'new' zencart,,, and when I get it working like I want, make those same (CSS, etc) changes to my active, current site? In other words use what you have told me to do only as a test? .. NOTE: I have Zen 1.50 and will, at some point need to upgrade.. but I'm not worried about that right now. If I use your DIY code on my current site, will I be able to upgrade to 1.5.4 at some point?

I hope that I'm not over-complicating this, but I have to be very careful about understanding exactly what you say, or I may goof something up. PS. Thanks for the long, detailed, reply. I'm sure that took time and I appreciate it.

Johnnycopilot:

Ok, I uploaded the Responsive DIY Template Default for 1.5.x files into {another} ZenCart and did the sql patch. It's not the exact setup of my other site, but similar. With the Includes folder, I uploaded into the directory structure like I would on any other plugin. Where the folders in the plugin said "/responsive_template_default", I put those files in my template folder (crista_pink). Where the plugin folder said zadmin, I put those files in my admin folder. My original zencart didn't have admin/includes/installers , so I uploaded and left the folder in it named "responsive_defaut" .. (should I have changed that to "crista_pink"?) In my "Admin-Tools-Template Selection", the Template Name for my crista_pink changed to "Responsive Template Default", but the Directory still says "crista_pink". This template is by "pixemus" and it installs 4 templates with different colors, so I can easily switch between "pink, violet, grey, and blue" templates, which allow me to "A - B" my results, and since I installed into Pink, I can switch back and fourth with the other colors to compare.
Now... I'm not sure if I'm in over my head or not, and when it comes to my columns instead of rows SNAF, and Lightbox, which aren't installed in this template, and getting them adjusted. As stated on the download page, my colors need fixing, and some of the alignment isn't right. When I scroll to the right on a mobile device, there's a big blank area. On a mobile device, the top categories, and things are placed to the upper left the respect that they are on the mobile screen. The text seems to be squeezed together in the middle of the screen. I'm not sure if this is how it's supposed to look or not, and I'm not sure if that big blank area and the other alignment issues can be fixed via CSS Stylesheet.. I just don't know. I hope that I installed it properly. I did make sure not to miss any files in my upload, and the sql patch went through. I have the demo version of ZenCart installed, so there are products on there. Main thing is that I want this to be acceptable for Google. Is there any way someone could look at this? The url is wholesalebodyboards dot com/dealers ... Thanks!!

Johnnycopilot:

posted this by mistake

Johnnycopilot:

Empty space on the right is the space for the right sideboxes. Admin-Tools-Layout Boxes Controller, when all sideboxes are set to "ON" or "OFF" for show sidebox @ min width, the space still shows up. Even when I disable all right sideboxes, that space is still there. How do I adjust/fix that? Thanks!

forgot,

I installed the:
sql_new_install.sql patch

after

I uploaded all ADMIN files
\zadmin\ files

What you did looks great. That' what I need. I don't know why mine didn't come out like that. I have been over and over this a dozen times, and I have uploaded all of those files several times, uninstalled all of the files, re-uploaded them, twice... In my Admin-Tools-Template Selection, my crista_pink template still says "Responsive Template Default". It's more than likely something that I screwed up, deleted something by accident,,, who knows. Probably one little simple thing I did wrong. Question.. When you say "merge" do you mean "replace"? In the case with files of same name, I REPLACED the existing file with file from DIY. At this point, I think I'll start with another fresh install of ZenCart and try it again. Once I can get it right on a test site, I'll try it on my lighting site. Can you think of anything obvious that I may have done wrong? Another Question.. What do you mean by you "Activated the responsive template"? How do you activate it? and by "reactivating the sideboxes", so you mean simply turn them on in Admin? Thanks!

Johnnycopilot:

What you did looks great. That' what I need. I don't know why mine didn't come out like that. I have been over and over this a dozen times, and I have uploaded all of those files several times, uninstalled all of the files, re-uploaded them, twice... In my Admin-Tools-Template Selection, my crista_pink template still says "Responsive Template Default". It's more than likely something that I screwed up, deleted something by accident,,, who knows. Probably one little simple thing I did wrong. Question.. When you say "merge" do you mean "replace"? In the case with files of same name, I REPLACED the existing file with file from DIY. At this point, I think I'll start with another fresh install of ZenCart and try it again. Once I can get it right on a test site, I'll try it on my lighting site. Can you think of anything obvious that I may have done wrong? Another Question.. What do you mean by you "Activated the responsive template"? How do you activate it? and by "reactivating the sideboxes", so you mean simply turn them on in Admin? Thanks!

No, merge means merge the responsive_template_default file with the crista_pink file

Find all instances that look like this in the mentioned files:

CODE

and copy it to the crista_pink files

Question: When merging files, where BOF's have the same description, do I REPLACE all of the existing code between the BOF's and EOF's with DIY code,, or add DIY code to the other code keeping all DIY code between BOF and EOF and keeping original code intact,, or add the entire DIY BOF thru EOF beginnings, code, and end of file, below the existing code, leaving the original code start to finish intact? (see first example)

I understand what I need to do and why I need to do it, but I'm not sure where to start and stop and exactly what to add and/or replace.

I don't want to say this is confusing to me, but because I don't know what the code is saying, it all looks like unrecognizable digits, one following the other. I do understand that BOF means beginning of file, and EOF means End of file... Sorry I'm having so much difficulty understanding what to do. I've never merged 2 php files together... I took these few examples (below) from the first two files I tried to merge and I don't know what to do. I haven't even looked at the rest of them. Thanks
Original Code...

<!--// bof: <?php echo $box_id; ?> //-->
<div class="leftBoxContainer" id="<?php echo str_replace('_', '-', $box_id ); ?>" style="width: <?php echo $column_width; ?>">
<div class="sidebox-header-left <?php echo $header_left; ?>"><h3 class="leftBoxHeading <?php echo $header_right; ?>" id="<?php echo str_replace('_', '-', $box_id) . 'Heading'; ?>"><?php echo $title; ?></h3></div>
<?php echo $content; ?>
</div>
<!--// eof: <?php echo $box_id; ?> //-->

Code from DIY...

<!--// bof: <?php echo $box_id; ?> //-->
<?php if (COLUMN_WIDTH == '0'){ ?>
<div class="leftBoxContainer" id="<?php echo str_replace('_', '-', $box_id ); ?>" style="width: <?php echo $column_width; ?>">
<?php }else{ ?>
<div class="leftBoxContainer <?php echo $minWidthHide; ?>" id="<?php echo str_replace('_', '-', $box_id ); ?>">
<?php } ?>
<h3 class="leftBoxHeading" id="<?php echo str_replace('_', '-', $box_id) . 'Heading'; ?>"><?php echo $title; ?></h3>
<?php echo $content; ?>
</div>
<!--// eof: <?php echo $box_id; ?> //-->

Or here, this is even more confusing to me..
My original Code..

<div id="navSuppWrapper">
		<!--bof-navigation display -->
		<?php if (EZPAGES_STATUS_FOOTER == '1' or (EZPAGES_STATUS_FOOTER == '2' and (strstr(EXCLUDE_ADMIN_IP_FOR_MAINTENANCE, $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'])))) { ?>
		<?php require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_ezpages_bar_footer.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_ezpages_bar_footer.php'); ?>
		<?php } ?>
		<!--eof-navigation display -->

DIY code is

<!--bof-navigation display -->
<!--(BOF - 2.1) Responsive DIY Template Default for 1.5.x (65)-->
<div id="navSuppWrapper" class="<?php echo $fluidisFixed; ?>">
<!--(BOF - 2.1) Responsive DIY Template Default for 1.5.x (65)-->

<div id="navSupp">
<ul>
<li><?php echo '<a href="' . HTTP_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . '">'; ?><?php echo HEADER_TITLE_CATALOG; ?></a></li>
<?php if (EZPAGES_STATUS_FOOTER == '1' or (EZPAGES_STATUS_FOOTER == '2' and (strstr(EXCLUDE_ADMIN_IP_FOR_MAINTENANCE, $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'])))) { ?>
<li><?php require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_ezpages_bar_footer.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_ezpages_bar_footer.php'); ?></li>
<?php } ?>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<!--eof-navigation display -->

And here, there is a 4 word addition, in the MIDDLE of existing code ```php
ENT_COMPAT, CHARSET, TRUE);

original code
```php
<?php
  // Display all header alerts via messageStack:
  if ($messageStack->size('header') > 0) {
    echo $messageStack->output('header');
  }
  if (isset($_GET['error_message']) && zen_not_null($_GET['error_message'])) {
  echo htmlspecialchars(urldecode($_GET['error_message']));
  }
  if (isset($_GET['info_message']) && zen_not_null($_GET['info_message'])) {
   echo htmlspecialchars($_GET['info_message']);
} else {

}

?>

DIY code is here

<?php
  // Display all header alerts via messageStack:
  if ($messageStack->size('header') > 0) {
    echo $messageStack->output('header');
  }
  if (isset($_GET['error_message']) && zen_not_null($_GET['error_message'])) {
  echo htmlspecialchars(urldecode($_GET['error_message']), ENT_COMPAT, CHARSET, TRUE);
  }
  if (isset($_GET['info_message']) && zen_not_null($_GET['info_message'])) {
   echo htmlspecialchars($_GET['info_message'], ENT_COMPAT, CHARSET, TRUE);
} else {

}
?>

In tpl_box_default_left.php , there is no

<!--(BOF - 2.1) Responsive DIY Template Default for 1.5.x (65)-->

CODE

<!--(EOF - 2.1) Responsive DIY Template Default for 1.5.x (65)-->

But there is

<!--// bof: <?php echo $box_id; ?> //-->

CODE

<!--// eof: <?php echo $box_id; ?> //-->

Which matches code in my file, except some additions. I would imagine that I can't have BOTH $box_id; ? files,, or can I? I'm not sure what to merge and what not to merge.

same thing with tpl_header.php, no ```php

and in my stylesheet.css do I simply add all of the DIY styles, not worrying if there are any duplicate styles already in there?

Or do I simply ignore any place that doesn't have ```php
<!--(BOF - 2.1) Responsive DIY Template Default for 1.5.x (65)-->
``` and copy only those files? So, for example, I wouldn't do anything as far as merging tpl_box_default_left.php and tpl_box_default_right.php and tpl_header.php   Thanks!!!!! I really appreciate it !!

Thanks schoolboy, gilby, jeking, picaflor-azul, RixStix, Merlinpa1969, and rbarbour. I appreciate ALL of your help. I am going to follow the advice of Y'all and use a responsive template. If I were better at PHP, rbarbour has a great solution. I've realized that getting 'help' with merging this code would essentially be the same thing as someone else DOING the work for me. Hopefully this thread will help someone that is going through the same thing I am going through, and help them make some decisions. I have said this before, but I REALLY appreciate and enjoy this ZC Forum, and the awesome, polite, information and help that I get here. :cheers:

I ran across this tonight. I thought it only fair that I post this, for anyone who has been reading and/or following this thread. 12leaves has Mobile (only) Themes. They install in the root, and don't effect your current site. Their description of the Mobile Only themes is... "There is no duplicate content after you install our mobile theme. Only look and feel changes when you visit the site via mobile device, so all the settings, products and other content are exactly the same as you have for your regular desktop theme. It works as just you change your theme via admin area, but it automatically changes for mobile devices." I am more than likely going with a responsive template, but I wanted to share this in case this may work better for someone. http://blog.12leaves.com/2012/11/22/mobile-zen-cart-template/

I'm tardy to this party, but wanted to add my three cents in case someone else stumbles here..

rbarbour:

What the Responsive DIY Template Default CSS framework was built for....

1.) Creates a Responsive Template as a starting point for those designing their own website templates.

2.) Allows one to easily adapt the HTML necessary to convert an existing website template.
a.) The included CSS framework does the magic! :smile:

3.) Includes google Mobile Detect which allows Mobile users to view Full Website (desktop version) if they choose too.

4.) Includes php and css code to hide sideboxes on mobile devices which would otherwise clutter screen and slow loads.
Raymond's framework is a fantastic starting ground for someone who has an existing template they are happy with, and wants to "convert" it to responsive.. I was one of his guinea pigs for the pre-first-gen of this framework.. From the earliest versions of this framework, it was a LIFE & TIME SAVER.. After merging the files from his framework with my existing template, I saw my non-responsive template become responsive pretty much instantly.. I say "pretty much" only because I still had to do a little work (very little) to tweak the various device views to my client's liking, and I had to make some tweaks to other appearance modules that weren't responsive (at that time), and needed some nudging to work responsively. Additionally I found that media queries alone weren't enough to do everything I needed to do so I incorporated the MobileDetect script to fill in that gap there.. But the BIG game changer was Raymond's framework.. It did most of the heavy lifting for me.. The latest versions of his Raymond's framework now include the MobileDetect script, and a TON of out the box hints/helps/samples to get you off the ground and running.. He made a good thing even better IMHO..

rbarbour:

Everyone here will give you good advice (but different) advice on how to proceed.

I will advise this, if you plan to DIY:

-Create a sub-directory and upload the latest version of zen-cart to it.

-With a fresh copy of your current template package, merge the The Responsive DIY Template Default code

-Upload your newly coded template

-Install easyPopulate or a comparable plugin and upload your categories and products

-Activate your template and see what CSS tweeks will be needed

This will:

A) familiarize you with the files that need merging
B) give you an idea of what CSS tweeks will be needed

If you do that and get stuck, share a link and I'm positive that someone or myself will chime in and help!

From there you can start uploading your plugins, all of which you listed, I don't see any major appearance issues that will need CSS tweeks, I cannot say they are or will be compatible with the latest version of zen-cart though.
Your advice mirrors what I would have suggested as well.. Doing all of this work in a test/dev environment will give the OP an opportunity to make all of his/her changes without interfering with the live site.. I would only make one additional suggestion, and that is create a sub-domain for this test store.. This way any if the live store is working from the top level of the hosting space, the dev store will behave the same (ie: behavior/paths when the store is operating from a sub-domain will be different) This will be important if the OP is doing anything that makes changes to the root level .htaccess file.. (and before anyone turns this ONE statement into an off topic URL re-writer discussion, take a pill and relax :smile:.. there are OTHER useful things one MIGHT be adding to their root level .htaccess file)

Johnnycopilot:

Thanks schoolboy, gilby, jeking, picaflor-azul, RixStix, Merlinpa1969, and rbarbour. I appreciate ALL of your help. I am going to follow the advice of Y'all and use a responsive template. If I were better at PHP, rbarbour has a great solution. I've realized that getting 'help' with merging this code would essentially be the same thing as someone else DOING the work for me. Hopefully this thread will help someone that is going through the same thing I am going through, and help them make some decisions. I have said this before, but I REALLY appreciate and enjoy this ZC Forum, and the awesome, polite, information and help that I get here. :cheers:Glad my other post about someone "DOING" the work was accepted in the spirit in which it was intended:smile:.. (some folks get bent out of shape when I inform them of this..:smile:) Wanted to add one more thing.. You do not have to be good necessarily at PHP, but you do need to understand the structure of the default template files to understand how to properly merge in Raymond's framework.. Time and practice will make this better for you.. Having a development store will give you that luxury..

OR

you can hire someone to do that work for you and save you a few gray hairs..:smile: You can use those files to help you learn and understand what needs to be done..

That said I need to add one IMPORTANT caveat.. drumroll

For you poor souls who now have a Template Monstrosity or Theme Forrest or (yeah have to add them to "the list") a 12 Leaves template. You will have your own special brand of "fun" merging Raymond's framework with one of these beasts.. to be clear I am **not **saying you cannot incorporate Raymond's framework with one of these templates.. I AM saying that many of these templates already hack and crack the hell out of the Zen Cart core template structure (ALWAYS un-necessarily BTW!) to the point of making many of the core files unrecognizable, which then in turn will make the job of merging Raymond's framework an exercise insanity for vets and newbies alike..

So yeah.. while Raymond's framework is the BOMB, it can't fix BAD/CRAP templates on contact.. Kinda like how lipstick and designer clothes can't turn a pig into a super model..

One more thing I ran across. (I put this in my other thread too) Quote from Google "Google recognizes three different configurations for building mobile sites... Responsive web design, Dynamic serving, Separate URLs, ..... Responsive design is Google’s recommended design pattern." More information here https://developers.google.com/webmasters/mobile-sites/mobile-seo/overview/select-config?hl=en

I do have another question or two. I am going to use a responsive template, but for future reference, and perhaps even with my new responsive template, at some point I am going to need to merge some complicated (for me) php files. I wasn't aware of this the other day, but there are PHP Merging programs out there. Some free, some not. My questions... (1) is there one (that anyone here is aware of) that is particularly better than the others? and (2), how accurate (for lack of a better word) are these programs? Thanks

Johnnycopilot:

I do have another question or two. I am going to use a responsive template, but for future reference, and perhaps even with my new responsive template, at some point I am going to need to merge some complicated (for me) php files. I wasn't aware of this the other day, but there are PHP Merging programs out there. Some free, some not. My questions... (1) is there one (that anyone here is aware of) that is particularly better than the others? and (2), how accurate (for lack of a better word) are these programs? Thanks

Beyond Compare.. PERIOD.. It's commercial, but worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY!!! (and let's be clear.. it's NOT expensive..) Skip the standard version.. Get the Pro version..

Winmerge is free and it SUCKS.. PERIOD.. You WILL get what you pay for with Winmerge.. nothing..:laugh:

Johnnycopilot:

I do have another question or two. I am going to use a responsive template, but for future reference, and perhaps even with my new responsive template, at some point I am going to need to merge some complicated (for me) php files. I wasn't aware of this the other day, but there are PHP Merging programs out there. Some free, some not. My questions... (1) is there one (that anyone here is aware of) that is particularly better than the others? and (2), how accurate (for lack of a better word) are these programs? Thanks

Beyond Compare was well. Been using it for years!

Thanks, I'll take Y'all's word and get it. Thank you verrrrrrrrrrry much

So , in summary, converting an existing 1.5.1. Zen template to a responsive theme (for mobile ready) is the recommended and easier solution , than a separate mobile template that mobile visitors are redirected to? Is the Responsive conversion fairly simple, withotu needing a complete template redesign?

kevinmc3, I'm sure that I'm not the best person to answer this, but I have learned a few things I would like to share. Google says the preferred method is a responsive template over the other two 'types'. Converting my existing template with the DIY responsive code did not work for me, because I was not able to merge the code with the highly modified 12 Leaves Template that I am already using; however, the people at 12 Leaves claim their responsive templates will work with Zen Cart with no core changes, so the conversion (Template install) is supposed to be very simple. I know that picaflor-azul (Anne here on the forum) has a ton of very very nice looking and working templates. I'm sure if you ask her or look around here on the forum, or go look at her demo's you can find out how they work and install. So, in summary, I am going to use a responsive template instead of converting my existing template. Also, I know that 12Leaves has some Mobile ONLY templates that you put in your root folder, in which you don't do anything to your existing template, that will make your site 'work' on mobile devices, and your existing template is still used when people view your site from a large screen; About the Mobile only templates, 12 Leaves says "They install in the root, and don't effect your current site. There is no duplicate content after you install our mobile theme. Only look and feel changes when you visit the site via mobile device, so all the settings, products and other content are exactly the same as you have for your regular desktop theme. It works as just you change your theme via admin area, but it automatically changes for mobile devices." ..... but like I said, Google claims that the Responsive site is preferred. I don't know if Picaflor-azul (Anne) has any mobile only templates, but I know has plenty of Responsive templates. Go to her site and check it out. Hope this helps.