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any chance of a Visual Composer plugin for admin?

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14 Apr 2015, 6:32 AM
#1
zenartman avatar

zenartman

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any chance of a Visual Composer plugin for admin?

Recently i was working on a wordpress site and got into their Visual Composer plugin.
This thing seems to give very good flexibility and responsiveness. I wish I had this thing for zencart. then I would discard all else and stick with zencart for even non-ecommerce sites. Just an idea.

check from 7:06 time of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z408pYYdSWM

15 Apr 2015, 3:21 AM
#2
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Re: any chance of a Visual Composer plugin for admin?

zenartman:

Recently i was working on a wordpress site and got into their Visual Composer plugin.
This thing seems to give very good flexibility and responsiveness. I wish I had this thing for zencart. then I would discard all else and stick with zencart for even non-ecommerce sites. Just an idea.

check from 7:06 time of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z408pYYdSWM

If not mistaken this is somewhat the path of ZC... 1.6.0 is supposed to modify the way that the admin panel works, providing a bit more of a fluid control/drag and drop type interface. I suppose that is/would be carried over to the store side. Though someone could also step up and custom code all that as necessary... Wouldn't be an easy nor quick process...

15 Apr 2015, 4:30 PM
#3
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Re: any chance of a Visual Composer plugin for admin?

mc12345678:

If not mistaken this is somewhat the path of ZC... 1.6.0 is supposed to modify the way that the admin panel works, providing a bit more of a fluid control/drag and drop type interface. I suppose that is/would be carried over to the store side. Though someone could also step up and custom code all that as necessary... Wouldn't be an easy nor quick process...
I don't see any kind of leanings towards any kind of front-end theme/template creator/generator/framework kind of functionality in ZC v1.6 at all.. Where are you seeing this??

To answer the OPs question, LIKE WordPress, any kind of theme/template creator/generator/framework functionality like this for Zen Cart would likely be a module, and I imagine if it were to come into existence, it would not be a cheap or easy one to create.. (meaning IF someone were to create something like this and release it into the wild, I would be SURPRISED to see it offered for free..)

15 Apr 2015, 10:40 PM
#4
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Re: any chance of a Visual Composer plugin for admin?

DivaVocals:

I don't see any kind of leanings towards any kind of front-end theme/template creator/generator/framework kind of functionality in ZC v1.6 at all.. Where are you seeing this??

Call it reading the sand... So, some of the long range plans have been to merge the files of the store and the admin as able/applicable to provide single file operation versus a minimum dual set of files (login has gone this route), then that in 1.6.0 the admin side is to become more of a template platform... Further standardization between the two sides lends itself to other tools that can be used/developed to accommodate (agree, not highly likely to be a free product at least initially)...

So, while no specific direction has been identified, it only seems like the "next step" all things considered... Build it and they will come sort of thing.

16 Apr 2015, 4:57 AM
#5
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Re: any chance of a Visual Composer plugin for admin?

This is a wordpress plugin called Visual Composer. If I remember well it costs 17$. Many wordpress themes sold at 49$ have it incorporated. Perhaps they have bulk sale agreement with the plugin authors. I saw most high end, premium WP themes selling around 50$ had this thing as an included feature, which a customer would not want to part with.

It does not have to be free for zc, but as long as solid, proven similar plugin at similar price available for zc, I'll be one happy user. This visual drag and drop plugin allows good responsive capacity.

And Google is already sending warning emails to websites saying sort of "your website is not responsive, it will be accordingly ranked low for mobile users. You'd better do something.... In order to do that look at how to make websites responsive google tutorial, blah ... blah".

If you installed google analytics, you may get this sent to u.

So responsiveness is a must.

Recently I bumped into conversionXL.com which sort of suggests research based tips for websites. An example is customers abandon shopping carts less when the checkout process is simpler and with less steps. (Many other scientifically proven tips, like: a little brighter, bigger call to action button or buy it now button etc. ) This feature and the above responsive and DIY design plugin might help zc to be stronger.

16 Apr 2015, 5:24 AM
#6
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Re: any chance of a Visual Composer plugin for admin?

Let me expound the above. Google's warning email:

To: webmaster of http://www.mongolianshop.com/

Google systems have tested 482 pages from your site and found that 100% of them have critical mobile usability errors. The errors on these 482 pages severely affect how mobile users are able to experience your website. These pages will not be seen as mobile-friendly by Google Search, and will therefore be displayed and ranked appropriately for smartphone users.

Fix this now:

1
Find problematic pages
View a report of the non-mobile-friendly pages found on your site, and the issues discovered.
Inspect mobile issues
2
Learn about mobile-friendly design
There are a variety of techniques you can use to make your site mobile-friendly. Specifically, look for information about the issues brought up in Webmaster Tools.
Follow our guidelines
3 Fix mobile usability issues on your site
Fix the issues preventing your site from being mobile-friendly.
Not sure how to proceed?

• If your site is built with software like Wordpress or Joomla (also known as "Content Management System” or CMS), read the easy steps to make a CMS mobile-friendly.
• Read more about building mobile-friendly websites on our Developer site.....

16 Apr 2015, 5:38 AM
#7
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Re: any chance of a Visual Composer plugin for admin?

I ended up reading a book named How to Build Websites that Sell: The Scientific Approach to Websites

http://www.amazon.com/How-Build-Websites-that-Sell-ebook/dp/B00BD683CW/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1KE3X6B08MH2K17BHTF9.

Maybe there's something to pick for further zc development. the author runs conversionxl.com whcih I mentioned above but visiting it myself, I found it is tedious to find the information i got from his book.

16 Apr 2015, 6:12 AM
#8
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Re: any chance of a Visual Composer plugin for admin?

zenartman:

This is a wordpress plugin called Visual Composer. If I remember well it costs 17$. Many wordpress themes sold at 49$ have it incorporated. Perhaps they have bulk sale agreement with the plugin authors. I saw most high end, premium WP themes selling around 50$ had this thing as an included feature, which a customer would not want to part with.

It does not have to be free for zc, but as long as solid, proven similar plugin at similar price available for zc, I'll be one happy user. This visual drag and drop plugin allows good responsive capacity.Right.. Yes I think we understood what Visual Composer is.. it is a front-end theme/template creator/generator/framework plugin.. (it's $33 BTW) No such module exists for Zen Cart.. As a long time WordPress site builder and user, I KNOW that comparing pricing for WordPress plugins to Zen Cart plugins is an apples to oranges comparison..

IF such a module EVER gets developed for Zen Cart, it will be up to the author to determine the value/price.. (and frankly I'm not seeing a real likelyhood of such a module being developed soon.. if ever) I sincerely DOUBT it will be a $50 mod though.. and it DEFINITELY won't be a $17 mod (IJS) If you really want this you can hire someone to build it for you and donate it to the community.. (or sell it yourself)

zenartman:

And Google is already sending warning emails to websites saying sort of "your website is not responsive, it will be accordingly ranked low for mobile users. You'd better do something.... In order to do that look at how to make websites responsive google tutorial, blah ... blah".

If you installed google analytics, you may get this sent to u.

So responsiveness is a must.

Recently I bumped into conversionXL.com which sort of suggests research based tips for websites. An example is customers abandon shopping carts less when the checkout process is simpler and with less steps. (Many other scientifically proven tips, like: a little brighter, bigger call to action button or buy it now button etc. ) This feature and the above responsive and DIY design plugin might help zc to be stronger.Not for nothing.. Zen Cart is already quite strong.. and community here is VERY aware of the need for responsive design.. MOdule and template authors have responded in kind.. (a search of this forum and the Plugins repo and you can see that in action)

There are PLENTY of FREE responsive template options for Zen Cart currently available and in use.. There is also a FREE responsive template framework that allows one to easily convert a non-responsive template to a responsive one (even the site http://www.mongolianshop.com/ you previously posted), and FINALLY there is are a few commercial options for mobile templates for Zen Cart. I think that Zen Cart has already arrived, and whether the core ever includes a responsive template or not, Zen Cart is NOT lacking for available mobile device options..