Second step in setting up your cart - templates

ScriptJunkie:

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?In so far as there is a general rule about editing existing files in Zen Cart, it is "Don't".

For most changes you would create an over-ride file and place it in a template folder. As you get deeper into the code, slightly different methods are needed, especially if your changes may be applicable to more than one template. SermonZone is explaining one of them.

The reason for this is that if you change the original files, then there is a good chance that your changes will get get over-written and lost when you upgrade to later versions of Zen Cart.

Hi Kuroi, thanks for the explanation :smile:

I should have been more clear. When I said "editing existing files", what I really meant was that so far, I've been editing the copies made of existing files using the override system.

Is the reason SermonZone is suggesting this method due to the fact that the override system isn't applicable in this case (since the files in question aren't over-ridable due to location)?

and

That by using this method (creating a new file instead of editing an existing file or a copy of an existing file), I am, in essence, creating a kind of "quasi-override" by creating an original file that won't be replaced during an upgrade?

Do I understand that correctly?

In any event, I'm grateful that the article is out there and available, and to have run across it, because I've been so focused on the override system, that I hadn't given much thought to how to manage files that it doesn't apply to. :blush:

ScriptJunkie:

Is the reason SermonZone is suggesting this method due to the fact that the override system isn't applicable in this case (since the files in question aren't over-ridable due to location)?Yes.
ScriptJunkie:

That by using this method (creating a new file instead of editing an existing file or a copy of an existing file), I am, in essence, creating a kind of "quasi-override" by creating an original file that won't be replaced during an upgrade?and sort of. You're not actually over-riding the file in this case, more creating an extension of it. But overall you've got it.

:thumbsup:

:clap: Woo hooo! :clap:

Thanks Kuroi!

As suggested by SermonZone, I followed article 142 (https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=142) to make a custom template, went to tools/template selection, updated my new custom folder, clicked to preview my new template, and received the 403 Forbidden error message "You don't have permission to access /catalog/includes/templates/custom/images/ on this server.".

I didn't expect to see anything as I didn't have any images in place (nor have I done ANY customizing), but didn't expect this error either. Checked my permissions on my custom directory and custom/image directory and everything is set to 755. Copied the images from the classic/images directory and still got 403. Deleted the whole image directory, tried again, got a 404 (Not Found) error message (which pleased me), then made a new images folder and got the old 403 again.

I haven't even started to customize my new template. Will this error go away when I do? (I'm asking because I find that unlikely.)

The "preview" button only works if you've supplied a screenshot image to view when the preview is clicked.
It's not a "live" preview ... it's only a link to an image supplied by whomever built the template in the first place.
If you want to see your template in action, change your site to use that template specifically.

How do I go about dropping the 3rd column on my product pages?

What I would like to do is have the ez pages and product pages dump the 3rd column and expand the middle column, is this possible without having to change templates?

Beth-katherine

Beth-katherine:

How do I go about dropping the 3rd column on my product pages?It's explained in this FAQ entry.

kuroi:

It's explained in this FAQ entry.

Thank you. I tried that and yes it does turn off the 3rd column but the width of the center column remains the same, how do I adjust that to include the width of the 3rd column? Should I take it out all together?

Beth-Katherine

Beth-katherine:

Thank you. I tried that and yes it does turn off the 3rd column but the width of the center column remains the same, how do I adjust that to include the width of the 3rd column? Should I take it out all together?A normal Zen Cart template should automatically expand the center column to fill the space available. Makes me wonder about your template. Do you have a link to your site?

kuroi:

A normal Zen Cart template should automatically expand the center column to fill the space available. Makes me wonder about your template. Do you have a link to your site?

I'm using Cherry Zen 1.3.7 (have to figure out how to upgrade in between filling orders)

https://www.smockingbooks.com

What do you call the product display page and product description? (ok I can figure out the last one). Click on the EZ pages links to see what I mean.

Beth-katherine

Beth-katherine:

I'm using Cherry Zen 1.3.7 (have to figure out how to upgrade in between filling orders)

https://www.smockingbooks.com

What do you call the product display page and product description? (ok I can figure out the last one). Click on the EZ pages links to see what I mean.

Beth-katherineThe product display page would more accurately be called the product info page (the one that lists details for just one product.

The column issue is because Cherry Zen uses a non-standard structure. Your question is answered in its support thread (posts 1762-3)

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?

Just a quick note. You NEVER RENAME OR TOUCH THE CLASSIC FOLDERS to "CUSTOM" or anything else for that matter. You CREATE a custom folder and name it to whatever you want, or whatever your new template is called anywhere there is a Classic folder located, and usually only when you need to make file changes in the same directory that contains a Classic folder.

For instance, using an ftp prgram, if you navigate to includes->modules directory, you will see a "classic" folder there. DON'T TOUCH IT! If you have to change a file inside of includes->modules, then you create a "CUSTOM" folder that has the same name as your custom template. Copy the file you need to change into that folder, then change it (the one inside the custom folder) to your hearts content.

I hope this help clear up any fog around the mysterious Classic Folder!:smartalec:

kuroi:

The product display page would more accurately be called the product info page (the one that lists details for just one product.

The column issue is because Cherry Zen uses a non-standard structure. Your question is answered in its support thread (posts 1762-3)

Thank you for your help, now I have to figure out HOW to do what she says as I tried putting the lines into the CSS but nothing happened. Must be putting it in the wrong spot. Someday I'll figure out PHP (finally got the abbreviation correct, it's PHP not PCP).
:oops:
Beth-katherine

Since I personally wasted quite a bit of my newbie time doing something the WRONG way, I thought I might share my error, and the correction, for other newbies:

When you are trying to customize the files, and you see in the instructions to edit a file and put it in a new directory named something like...

includes/languages/english/CUSTOM

... you do NOT use the literal word CUSTOM as the folder name when you create the new directory. The word CUSTOM is double-speak for your-template_directory.

In my case, I am using the very nice "ZJ Silver Wide" template. When I look at ADMIN/TOOLS/TEMPLATE SELECTION, I see that the Template Directory is

zj_silver_wide

Thus, any time I see the word /CUSTOM in a path name, I know (NOW!!!) that I must replace it with /zj_silver_wide:

includes/languages/english/zj_silver_wide

HINT from one of the project documents: **Wherever you see a folder named "classic" you can safely add your own /CUSTOM folder. ** Or, in my case, my own /zj_silver_wide folder.

Here is a nice tree diagram of the folder structure, showing the places where you can add a /CUSTOM (/zj_silver_wide) folder.

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=143

Hi,
I'm so glad this thread was brought to my attention by Zen Cart support! Thank you! Thank you!

I understood I was to leave the classic folder alone, and do my customization to a template with the name I chose. However, I chose "custom" because it was what I planned anyway, and it was short.

These files are located in "custom" folders throughout the site.
I had a webdesigner upload another site for me who has had her own zencart site for years, and she used "custom" so I thought I was OK.

Of the two zen cart sites, my kachinadirect.com which is on an approved zencart host appears just fine.

However, the kachinaoutpost.com site which is not on an approved zencart host, was there two weeks ago and has disappeared. The browsers say they cannot locate it. I've been in contact with them constantly. They claim they can see it, but no one else I know of can access it. I'd appreciate it if you
could try it and let me know if you are successful.

Do I have to go in to both sites and change my choice of "custom" in my custom folders?

Thanks so much!
Sandy:unsure:

You must have fixed it! YEAH!

Tina

i have install zen cart via Fantastico and follow the instructions to upload the templates to ftp includes/templates..but couldn't find the new upload templates in zen cart admin area >tool> template selection.. there was default classic templates only
did i miss something??:flex:

I have just downloaded the Zen cart to my server and I can not find where the admin page is so that I can get started with doing my store. Can anyone help?
Thanks

Lori67:

I have just downloaded the Zen cart to my server and I can not find where the admin page is so that I can get started with doing my store. Can anyone help?
ThanksAfter you downloaded the files, did you install Zen Cart?