Things every New Zenner needs to know

Hey, great idea here!

I just wanted to chime in on the CSS problems people are having. Well, first of all I don't think the ZC developers should be obligated to teach anyone CSS. However, if you're struggling to figure out which id/class is assigned to which element, there's one simple way to do this.

1. Open the page you want to customize in your browser. Right click and select View Source.

2. Scroll down until you find the element(s) you want to customize. You'll be able to see the id/class name next to the tag.

3. Open your stylesheet in your favorite text editor (PSPad!) and use Control-F to find the id/class you want to customize. Then start tweaking away.

Also, the Web Developer extension for Firefox can simplify this process tremendously and I highly recommend it.

As for me, my newbie experience with ZC has primarily been a struggle to make sense of the override system and the file organization. There are so many file includes that are spread out all over the system for each individual page or even section that it can be like wandering through a maze. It would be a real godsend to have this mapped out somehow. This seems to be a popular request so I imagine you guys will come up with something:)

I would also like to request a reference for constant definitions - i.e. where to locate the file in which a certain constant is defined. I know english.php has most of them, but the ones that aren't in there are much harder to track down. The Developer Tools is helpful, but it would still be nice to have a concise reference for this info.

Thanks! I appreciate your time and effort, this is an ambitious undertaking!

Ruby:

Well, first of all I don't think the ZC developers should be obligated to teach anyone CSS.
Agreed. After my previous comments below I revisited the W3C CSS doc site and some of the stuff remains difficult for me to comprehend. However I put together a short list of basic CSS keyterms that may be helpful to ZC newbies, which Sermonzone may want to include (or not). At least some links to the W3C CSS site could be included.

e.g. how to change color or put an image in your backgrounds (body. sideboxes, etc):
http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/colors.html#background-properties

Then at the same time point to the appropriate rule/declaration in the default Zen Cart stylesheet to make such adjustment.

e.g. .leftBoxHeading, .rightBoxHeading, .centerBoxHeading, .leftBoxContainer, .rightBoxContainer, .sideBoxContent

Ruby:

However, if you're struggling to figure out which id/class is assigned to which element, there's one simple way to do this...

Also, the Web Developer extension for Firefox can simplify this process tremendously and I highly recommend it.
YES! Brief How-To's to do this in various popular tools would be good. For IE6 users there is the IE6 Developer toolbar released by M$ in March (for W2K/XP/2K3 but not Win9x). Can anyone suggest similar tools available for Safari and Opera users?

Ruby:

There are so many file includes... It would be a real godsend to have this mapped out somehow. This seems to be a popular request so I imagine you guys will come up with something:) There was a third party doc available which mapped everything out for a previous 1.2x version. However shen ZC was upgraded the document immediately became dated and not very useful.

Ruby:

I would also like to request a reference for constant definitions - i.e. where to locate the file in which a certain constant is defined. I know english.php has most of them, but the ones that aren't in there are much harder to track down. The Developer Tools is helpful, but it would still be nice to have a concise reference for this info.
A listing of the core files and base template files containing all the core defines would be a good thing. Suggestions on how to organize such a document/reference? And same issue as above, whenever ZC is upgraded the reference would become immediately dated.

Not at all dissing your recommends. Just a reminder that maintaining documentation is the battle. So whenever generating any documentation that point needs to remain forefront. Yep my middle name is "broken record". ;)

Woody

It's the templating/override system I have most problems with as a new user.

I've had to edit templates for forums, directories, blogs, and a few other peices of software besides, but I've never encoutered such a complicated templating system as there is with Zen Cart.

A simplified tutorial explaining which files mean what, and which folders need to be address - even for simple changes - would be very helpful. At present, simple modification of the header and footer seems to require learning brain surgery on the fly.

I agree.. as a first time user ive spent most of my time trying to figure out which file change what!

Sermonzone -
One thing I didn't even think of (though it is probably arleady listed) is perhaps a reiteration or a checklist for installing third party modifications.
Of course, this may not be considered a Newbie item...
All the standard verbage about backing up, using overrides, and doing file comparisons should be highlighted.

And at the very end, I recommend suggesting some tests to make sure the cart isn't broken.

I had a brief moment of horror because I saved the testing of the purchasing portion of the cart to nearly the very end...and it didn't work. Luckily it turned out none of my modifications broke it (well, none of the 3rd party mods did it anyhow) - but I was getting ready to debug it in a most tiresome manner - I had installed a fresh build of zen 1.3.0.2 and was getting ready to re-install each of the modules I had installed and then doing a test of the checkout process...

live and learn :) and if you need someone to proofread, my offer is still open :D

To All -

Please forgive me for not regularly posting a "Thank You" for your input. Several of us are working on this project and as always we have hit a snag or two.

I am hopeful that we are nearing a time when we can start releasing rough drafts and asking for your help with clarity format, grammar and comprehensiveness.

Thanks to all that have posted. If you have offered assistance I will be contacint you by PM within a week.

Sermonzone:

I am hopeful that we are nearing a time when we can start releasing rough drafts and asking for your help with clarity of format, grammar and comprehension.

Thanks to all that have posted. If you have offered assistance, I will be contacting you by PM within a week.
Could not resist being a :smartass: but would like to help.

john

LOL! :lol: and Blush :blush:

I make my living with words. You know, the spoken kind. this qwerty thing must be an invention of the Devil. Somebody install a spell-check in the ZC forum, PLEASE. And a grammar checker, and Strunk & White, and ..........

You are officially on the 'poke Bruce with a sharp stick as your correct his terrible typing' team.

I must confess.....

I use As-U-Type.
:wink2:

Alright. I had to put in my .02. I am new to ZC but not to HTML. However, when I taught myself HTML, it was before CSS even came out. Yes, I'm that old. LOL. Anyway....I wanted to list my 2 biggest things. I know they have been said but, again, you said to repeat as necessary.

1. I think a 'blank' CSS sheet or at least a doc that explains the ZC specific tags or those that most CSS / HTML'ers wouldn't instinctively know, would be nice. It would give at least a 'starting place' for most.

2. The override system is a great thing. I think it needs to be explained a bit better. Also, explain how to use it in relation to adding modules that override each other..and how to get them both to work.

That being said, I'm not adverse to reading and researching and such. But as a ZC newb, it gets frustrating when you post questions and they get ignored on the board without even a 'hmm don't know how to do that' bit or even suggestions on where to look. A basic 'start here' FAQ etc would be welcome - one such as you mention, that is user friendly.

I'm not bagging on ZC either. Honestly, I've found that the community help on this vs osC and other eCommerce stuff has been great. Also, IMHO the CSS issue actually HELPS this be more 'newb' friendly. I like it so far!

Thanks!

-- Anna

I think this would be great and if I knew more about Zencart, I probably would have already done this (since I write documentation for a living or at least partially). My biggest problem is knowing where to change things. I can muddle my way through the code and figure it out most of the time. It's just a matter of knowing where to look. What would be nice is screen shots of each page in the template and captions is to where that particular field/column etc can be changed.

I have spent the past several days trying to figure out where to change the stupid center header bar that says home and still can't find it.

This would absolutely be wonderful if someone put together a guide of each field and what it does, etc.

bwhitmire:

I think this would be great and if I knew more about Zencart, I probably would have already done this (since I write documentation for a living or at least partially). My biggest problem is knowing where to change things. I can muddle my way through the code and figure it out most of the time. It's just a matter of knowing where to look. What would be nice is screen shots of each page in the template and captions is to where that particular field/column etc can be changed.

I have spent the past several days trying to figure out where to change the stupid center header bar that says home and still can't find it.

This would absolutely be wonderful if someone put together a guide of each field and what it does, etc.
**
How do I remove the Home in the middle column next to the Categories box?**

This is called the breadcrumb (think Hansel and Gretel) showing where you are and how to get back to previous locations. You can either turn it off completely or you can turn it off only on the main page.

You can turn it off in admin -> configuration -> layout settings -> Define Breadcrumb Status and set to 0.

To turn it off on the main page in includes -> templates -> YOUR_TEMPLATE -> templates -> common -> tpl_main_page.php find the following lines of code

<div id="navBreadCrumb"><?php echo $breadcrumb->trail(BREAD_CRUMBS_SEPARATOR); ?></div>

and change to:

Hello Everyone,

As a newbie, I believe the help needs to also start from the very beginning. The installation information is very vague especially if a person wishes to set it up using their computer as the local host. The generic statements of set up works only for those who can start at the middle. New people need a specific step by step, first this and then next with exact wording....stop assuming the reader knows what you mean....very frustrating.

Thanks

It is sad when you read other posts and they speak about getting answers from the zen forum like ...read the faq and other comments that imply the questioner is an idiot or lazy....the comments here about a clear explanation being more reading and one is expected to put out effort...yaddy yadda....smells of the same sense of condescension....If things were clear newbies would not be so confused or frustrated.
More reading is not the problem it is the desperate need for reading that is clear, sequential and relevant that is needed. As things stand and it has been stated over and over.....hours and days and weeks of searching can be one heck of a hayride made worse if your not sure what needle your looking for or the information is like reading a foreign language.

Please consider that pleas for help and useful responses =a bigger zen community and positive word-of-mouth advertisement and disgruntled chastised folks leave zen and go use the competition.

We are not lazy and we do not mind reading, obviously we are reading to be here and we are willing to work and put effort by trying to learn how to work with zen....do not imply insult to those asking help.

Thanks

Let's see how we can make this a one size fits all kind of world?

1. Everyone must use white background and the standard logo! That would eliminate the need for questions about changing the background.
2. Everyone must host on the same type server with the same version of MySQL and PHP! Boy would that simplify matters!
3. It's too difficult to set up SSL so it will no longer be supported.
4. No more language files. Everyone WILL switch to Latin.
   Think abut just those four variables and what it would take to create a document that would cover all the REAL choices you can make with ZenCart.

What I'm saying is that few of us have the bandwidth needed to download what an all-encompassing "how to" document would look like. Not picking on Clyde as he has helped me several times but not everyone has heard of Hansel and Gretel.

As you read further through the posts in this forum, you will see how patient and helpful the devs are in many cases where I would find it difficult to withhold a :lamo: .
It's quite obvious that many folks don't even know there is a docs folder! However, anyone with a question that even acts like they have taken the time to research the problem will generally get an answer faster than anywhere I have experienced before.
Sometimes the answer is a gentle prod to read some of the basic information. As Ajeh is want to say, "You might accidentally learn something." That's a program that has worked quite well for me these last two years.

digart,

We are working on some 'step-by-step guides' that should help you with issues.

The reason people say 'look in the FAQ' is because the question that just asked has been answered dozens, if not hundreds of times, before. Put yourself in the place of the person answering your question when a new user asks a question that you have answered yourself twice a week for a year. As dbltoe said, it can get frustrating.

There is a philosophy in the forum that tries to balance two things: give the answer the user needs now versus teach the user how to find their own answers. Not everyone handles it the same way. Overall, I feel there is a very good balance.

While the software bears no financial cost to download, there is a substantial cost in learning. Either pay with your time and effort or pay with your credit card. Your choice.

I could only find your two posts here. Do you have a question that has not been answered? If so, find the best topic and post a clear simple question. Someone will help.

Good luck.

Merlinpa1969:

If you need help with the paypal let me know,
I need to update the current paypal tutorial anyway might as well put it all in one place

Hi. Do you have the paypal tutorial available? how could I take a look a this?

thanks

carlosferrandis:

Hi. Do you have the paypal tutorial available? how could I take a look a this?

Here's a place to start:
http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.php/Admin_-_Modules_-_Payment#How_Do_I_Set_Up_The_PayPal_Payment_Module.3F

I am not a professional webbie - just a an artist trying to set up a site. Months ago when I first downloaded ZenCart, there was a link to step by step instructions for downloading and installing it. I am unable to find this and although I think the Wikie is great, its in greek as far as I am concerned.

Is there anyway to get a true beginner install doc? I am just lost at this point because there I have no manual or anything to resource.

THank you very much for any and all help - this is a fantastic product and very generous venture.

Regard,
Kate

In your download /docs/ are step by step installation instructions.