Second step in setting up your cart - templates

Sermonzone:

Remember to edit template_info.php and turn on the template in admin.
Best wishes for your Zen success.

Question on edit the template_info.php.
I made some changes for the following and assigned them to the proper folders. Note jus the basic updates, change the text for my company.
index.php
meta_tags.php
header.php
new logo for the header.php
english.php
css

What do I need to modify for the template_info.php

and I also read some where that I might need to modify any of the files in
/includes/templates/template_default/templates/

Can you please help me
thanks
nomad

You do not want to modify any files in /template_default/. What you want to do is copy any file you want to edit into /your_template/, and edit the copy.

All you really need to edit in template_info.php is your template's name - essentially personalize the info.

Thanks for the info.

With the help of the good people here, I'm well on my way to building my cart and I'm working on adding the content (3400 items or so) daily.

I have the main page looking like I want (except for the color scheme but I'll tackle that when I get a good CSS editor) but now seem to have a similar issue for the product pages.

If you go to https://www.robertensing.com you see that the main page is set to display 3 columns of products. When you select one of the categories in the left column, those products are listed 1 above the other and I would like to have them showing as 3 in a row also.

I can't find the page to change that setting on. :-(

Also, is it possible to put a link inside the description? For example, a few items have a picture that shows 2 or 3 different items, each sold seperately but using the same picture. Currently I have "item suchandsuch sold seperately - see item xxx" can I link the xxx directly to the correct item and save the customer having to look for it?

I also haven't heard back from my post in the IH 2 support forum more than a day ago, is that not monitored anymore?

Get the Column Layout Grid mod from Downloads.

You can add a link to the product description, but what you really want is something like the Better Together mod - see testuser's sig for a link to that.

There is nobody "assigned" to monitor any one thread - if someone who can answer questions wants to monitor one, they can. I believe the IH2 mod author is no longer active, but others sometimes answer.

kdgjevre:

Your first link does not appear to work.

misty:

Tested all links.. working fine at time of test

The first link in your first post, which you recommend that everyone read, takes you to a page that says:

Invalid FAQ Item specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator

• Scott

The bad links have been updated.

PLEASE PLUK OUT MY EYES! :blink:

I have been moderately successful at damaging my new installation and am ready to cry. I promise ALL of you that I have read post after post about changing the page title in meta_tags.php and STILL, IE does not change (I know, boo! ie...). I've used dev tools and searched "title" as suggested and, I SEE the original "zen..." commented <//> and mine accepted - BUT THE CONFUNDED THING...doesn't change. I see some changes were successful: copyright notice, more info (tho links dont work), i added header/footer links just to see if I could - not my index.php ovrd tho, that doesn't show.

I have really put off posting because it just is too easy to be missing it!
Along my journey i've come up with a few ???s:

1. Where's MY title?? (oh, you know that one...)
2. Can there be more that one /CUSTOM folder? and...
   2a) Does /CUSTOM >have to< appear everywhere that classic is?
   My understanding from reading the past 14 hours is "not if I have made no changes"

I hereby PROMISE to become a valuable member to the zen society in the future as I learn in exchange for a hamburger today...no, that's Wimpy's line, make that HELP today?

Thanks for your time!

topaward:

1. Where's MY title?? (oh, you know that one...)
   Do yopu mean the one in your includes/languages/english/CUSTOM/meta_tags.php file?

topaward:

2. Can there be more that one /CUSTOM folder? and...Yes. It would be a very rare (or badly constructed) site where there wan't.
   topaward:

2a) Does /CUSTOM >have to< appear everywhere that classic is?
My understanding from reading the past 14 hours is "not if I have made no changes"Your understanding is correct.

...er...yep. :yes:

Thank you! I knew it was gonna be something i just wasn't seeing!

I have a much more basic question than this.

How do I edit the main page that comes up for the Catalogue? Right now it shows a big advertisement for the ZEN manual and stuff like "Your sales comment goes here"

How do I edit this thing just to get started?

You do the actual editing using a plain text editor. As to what to edit - perhaps start by reading this thread and the FAQs on setting up your custom template.

What is the best way to copy the override files/create the override folders? Can I use cpanel to do that?

Is there a better way than downloading zencart, unzipping it, renaming everything called "classic" to "CUSTOM" then ftp'ing the CUSTOM directories with the files inside to the website?

I have found the "step by step" instructions I think. I have found the folders template default etc, created my CUSTOM folder and copied the css files, but now it says to copy

Then you copy the file called includes/templates/template_default/template_info.php and put it inside includes/templates/CUSTOM/. Next, open includes/templates/CUSTOM/template_info.php in your

When I open includes/templates/template_default I see alot of choices which appear to open with Broderband. The only template_info I have says shopping cart. Also the "template_info.php" is in blue lettering. Is this to mean something?

I have been at this project for 4 months. I am bound and determined to figure it out. I understand the trees and ftp uploads etc but it always appears there is a missing step.

PLEASE HELP:frusty:

ttb:

What is the best way to copy the override files/create the override folders? Can I use cpanel to do that?

Is there a better way than downloading zencart, unzipping it, renaming everything called "classic" to "CUSTOM" then ftp'ing the CUSTOM directories with the files inside to the website?
If you're using a good FTP tool then it will typically allow you to create new folders in your hosted space, drag and drop files for editing to a folder on your desktop/laptop and return the amended files to your hosted space as though this was all taking place locally.

You can use CPanel, but I wouldn't advise using it for editing and it's a much more clunky approach.

KRahall:

When I open includes/templates/template_default I see alot of choices which appear to open with Broderband. The only template_info I have says shopping cart. Also the "template_info.php" is in blue lettering. Is this to mean something?This isn't very clear. template_info.php should be the only file in your template_default folder (everything else in there is a folder). What is Broderband? As far as I can see it's a package intended for either for CAD or calendar-making rather than web design. Could that be the problem?

Windows picks a program if it's not sure what program to open a file with
if you try to open the file from the hard drive by clicking on it. There's also
a box that's checked by default that says "always open this type of file with
this program". Once you click OK, it'll associate all files with that extension
with that program. My computer also chose Broderbund's The Print Shop
to open *.php files. It's changeable though, to your preferred .php editor.

So are you saying everything in the folder are the .php files? this is what is so unclear about all these "so called" steps and instructions, they are too vague.

Does the blue print mean everything in the folder?

What is the best text editor program to Use?

KRahall:

What is the best text editor program to Use?

There are several great choices. One good free one for Windows is Notepad++ available via http://notepad-plus.sf.net

In an excellent article posted here:

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=230

Sermonzone advises:

Extra Data Files

* Custom file names - /includes/filenames.php

    You've created a custom page (about_us) and need to reference the filename.
    Create a new file (about_us_filenames.php) which would include the following:
    <?php
    // About Us Filename Define
    define('FILENAME_ABOUT_US', 'about_us');
    ?>
    Save the file to /includes/extra_datafiles/about_us_filenames.php and upload it to your server.

My question is why? Why create a new file (about_us_filenames.php) instead of just editing the existing file (filenames.php)?

As a newb, this is where I get into trouble - I make mistakes because I follow what I think is obvious based on previous rules, only to find those rules don't always apply.

In this particular case, because all of my changes have involved editing existing files, had I not found this article, I would have just gone ahead and edited the existing file. :oops:

Can someone please help me understand what the advantage and disadvantage of both methods is, and why the general rule re: editing existing files wouldn't seem to apply here?

Thanks much :smile: