Will upgrading in the future wipe out changes made to the Classic template?

Hello all,

I'm new to the Zen Cart, and was modding the classic template to get my site to have a custom look. I start about a week ago, and reading more into it, before I put any more work into it, should I really be starting from copying the "template_default" template and making my own, or is modding the "Classic" template ok in terms of future upgrades. I had some nasty surprises in my early days with phpBB, and hope to avoid the same in the future.

Also, I just tried copying and modding the "template_default" to create a new skin.. it seems alot, LOT more difficult to work with than the classic skin, which is why I'm really hoping that sticking with the Classic skin would be ok..

Sorry for my n00bish-ness folks.. thanks in advance!

~MMN Maniac

you will want to start from scratch using the default,
classic is kinda buggy as it was made backwards compatible,

but there is a very good chance that upgrading in the future will cause issues.

as you are modifying core files

ahh.. crap. looks like i have to start from scratch.

Well, I just started and tried making my own template, and it's much, much more difficult than modifying the "classic" template. I took careful notes of what I did to mod the classic template.. the layout with the bordered boxes is just what I was looking for - I just needed to change the colors and stuff. Now, the boxes have disappeared and I have to start from scratch... :(

Is there a link to a "new template" that looks like classic but is not as buggy as "classic" that I can work off from? Thanks in advance, folks!

~MMN Maniac

MMN Maniac:

ahh.. crap. looks like i have to start from scratch.

Well, I just started and tried making my own template, and it's much, much more difficult than modifying the "classic" template. I took careful notes of what I did to mod the classic template.. the layout with the bordered boxes is just what I was looking for - I just needed to change the colors and stuff. Now, the boxes have disappeared and I have to start from scratch... :(

Is there a link to a "new template" that looks like classic but is not as buggy as "classic" that I can work off from? Thanks in advance, folks!

~MMN Maniac

use the default as it is tableless you can copy it all to a new folder and start adjusting it to your layout / colors

NOTE: only copy files that you actually change ... do not copy all files just for the heck of it or it will make future upgrades much harder ...

sgflowers:

use the default as it is tableless you can copy it all to a new folder and start adjusting it to your layout / colorsyes, I'm using the template_default already.. my problem is that I'm not too familiar with the whole templating system yet, but found editing the "classic" template very easy.. I was wondering if there's a similar looking one that I can just work right off from, instead of trying to reinvent the "classic" design again from "template_default."

~MMN Maniac

Ajeh:

NOTE: only copy files that you actually change ... do not copy all files just for the heck of it or it will make future upgrades much harder ...thanks for the tip.. just for my curiosity.. why?

If it's too long of an explanation, than just say "because I say so" hehe.. I'd hate to waste your time. again, just curious. :)

~MMN Maniac

This is what I'm trying to do:

http://www.vidabox.com/store/

I started another site to work with the default template here:

http://www.vidabox.com/shop/

I can change the background colors and stuff, but am confused on many other things.. For example, how are those nice bordered boxes made?? I haven't done much php work.. any pointers?

BTW, i tried looking at the wiki/FAQ.. alot of links are broken and havent been able to find much.. :(

~MMN Maniac

If you copy 100 files for templates and overrides ... but only change 3 ... next upgrade you will need to hunt through 100 files for differences that include you 3 files and those we make with a new release ...

MMN Maniac:

I'm not too familiar with the whole templating system yet, but found editing the "classic" template very easy. I was wondering if there's a similar looking one that I can just work right off from, instead of trying to reinvent the "classic" design again from "template_default."
My Future Zen template is designed to bridge this gap. It's not very similar in appearance to Classic as I felt that boxy look to be a bit dated, but it's a very lightweight template that puts you on the path to template_default. There's a link to download it and its install instructions in my signature block below (provided you have sigs enabled).

If you'd rather start with something tht looks more familar, Kobra has made up a template based on template_default that looks like Classic. You can find out more / ask for a copy in this thread http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?p=201956&highlight=Future#post201956

oh darn. wished u replied sooner - I figured out how to make the appropriate changes and make the site look like "classic." I apologize for the n00bish questions, but i guess I was just being whiny after putting in all that effort and realizing that I have to start from scratch again, hehe.. it wasn't THAT bad, since I did learn alot about CSS in the past day.

One last thing that I haven't figured out yet though is how to bring that bottom blue bar back into each sidebox.. I have a feeling that this is outside of editing CSS, and I'll have to go into the PHP files to do this, but am not sure. any suggestions?

Thanks again, everyone! :thumbsup:

~MMN Maniac

u know what.. nevermind on the question above.. after looking at the future template, i think i'm going to base the design off of that. It actually fits better with the actual frontpage of my site - and it has rounded elements already.

Thanks!

MMN Maniac:

u know what.. nevermind on the question above.. after looking at the future template, i think i'm going to base the design off of that. It actually fits better with the actual frontpage of my site - and it has rounded elements already.
If it's any consolation, just a month and a half ago I spent two very frustrating days trying to bend Classic to my will (and for a while seriously considered giving up on Zen Cart and actually downloaded another more basic cart). Happily I discovered template_default before insanity set in, but these experiences are why I post with such passion about starting from template_default and developed Future Zen.

Don't forget that Future Zen is a very basic template intended merely as a gentle nudge along your own CSS-based path and, as you've already seen, there are plenty of people here willing to help you should you get stuck along the way.

kuroi:

If it's any consolation, just a month and a half ago I spent two very frustrating days trying to bend Classic to my will (and for a while seriously considered giving up on Zen Cart and actually downloaded another more basic cart). Happily I discovered template_default before insanity set in, but these experiences are why I post with such passion about starting from template_default and developed Future Zen.

Don't forget that Future Zen is a very basic template intended merely as a gentle nudge along your own CSS-based path and, as you've already seen, there are plenty of people here willing to help you should you get stuck along the way.Thanks kuroi.. I've actually gotten a really good handle on this now. Not as bad as I thought. I was just damn frustrated last night thinking I had to re-do everything, but the things I've learned have sped me up so much faster this time around. :)

At any rate, I have a question about moving that banner ABOVE the "Home | Login" Menu. I found a thread referencing it:

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17102&highlight=move+banner+menu

What did Kim mean by "download the Header with bottom nav bar from the downloads section."? What download section? I'm confused.

I was able to do this with the classic template with ease.. just a bit lost with this new one..

Thanks!

~MMN Maniac

At any rate, I have a question about moving that banner ABOVE the "Home | Login" Menu.

1. Banners-Group #1 shows above the header area. Simply move your banners to the other group via the Admin->Tools->banner manager, or in Admin->Configuration->Layout Settings.

2. If you prefer to alter core code and thus need to preserve it during upgrades, the banners are rendered via both templates/common/tpl_main_page.php and tpl_header.php