Custom Template Advice Please

Hi Folks,

I know I ask too many questions..lol.. but I really need to get my head around the Custom Template procedure. I have read various threads, but need a couple of stupidly simple questions answering to help me get my head around it.

My web host set up my basic shop template for me so I am not sure which one they have used. I found this advice on a thread, but can you answer my questions highlighted in red. (as silly as they may seem)

First, you need to make a new directory for your custom template files.

Open: includes/templates/ and add a folder. (You may call it anything you want, but in this FAQ we will be calling it my_template.)
Where and how do I open the includes/templates/ folder.

Create an empty folder inside your new template directory and call it images ... so you should have includes/ templates/ my_template/ images/.
Do I create it in windows explorer?

Next, copy the includes/ templates/ template_default/ css directory from includes/ templates/ template_default/ and place the new folder and its files in your new includes/ templates/ my_template/ folder.
Do I use the classic one or the template_default one? I am presuming the template_default one. I have attched a pic of both of them, and what folders they contain, as I dont want to do it wrong.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/angel_in_disguize_247/zencart_template_query.jpg

Copy the stylesheet.css from includes/ templates/ template_default/ css to includes/ templates/ my_template/ css. This is the stylesheet you will be editing.
Again, not sure exaclty where to copy these to/from

Then you copy the file called includes/ templates/ template_default/ template_info.php, and put it inside includes/ templates/ my_template/.

Again, not sure exaclty where to copy these to/from

Next open includes/ templates/ my_template/ template_info.php in your favorite text editor.
:cry: I am not sure how to open the files, have tried, but cant, when I open notepad, and go to file>open, when I look for the files I cant find them, and when I go into frontpage to access my remote server, I can see the files there, but there is no option to edit them (ie, when I r click, there is no option)

I am so so sorry, if these questions seems really really stupid, but I need to ask otherwise I am never going to be able to change things properly.

I see so many threads that say to change things here:

example - (in includes/languages/english.php)
Code:

define('LANGUAGE_CURRENCY', 'AUD');

But can never find the files to change them

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post, just wanted to make sure I put all info in.

Kindest Regads
Nikki

Do you have a good FTP program?

Hiya Kim,

I use Frontpage (I know a lot of people dont think it is not very good at all, but it was all I had at the time. I do have dreamweaver, but couldnt work out how to use it, and thought that if I changed from FP to DW, it might muck things up with my web host.

I am sorry if I sound so vague, but I am a total newbie at web design, so some of the terminology goes straight over my head, and I dont understand it.

I love doing this, but will love it more when I understand a bit more. I have tried to read the WIKI, but ended up more confused :blush:

Thanks
Nikki

Hey Nikki! I am a total new person at this too. I have DW8 and it's totally confusing for me also for FTP stuff.

Lots of people have reccomended FileZilla to me and the FireFTP extension for FireFox browser.

Both are free, I have and use both and they are wayyy easier. You just have to find out the FTP info from your host if you don't know it. Then you can open/upload/download files as you wish.

Hi Ladysaat,

Thank you so much for that, I am sure my host must be fed up with me by now..lol..
I will definatly try FileZilla and the FireFTP extension for FireFox browser, and hopefully it will be easier. I am so pc literate, that I am getting frustrated, but I know it will all come good.

They say all good things come to those who wait, so lets hope so :thumbsup:

Thanks again
Kind Regards
Nikki

okay do you know what your domain is? What your host information is?

Better way to put it: Do you have access to your hosting stuff? Like a control panel? If you do I bet there is a menu/something to click on that says FTP. In there should list the information that will correspond with the blanks that need to be filled in when you set up either of the programs.

Like your FTP login name, password and host IP address.

Hi Ladysaat,

I will be able to find the information now thanks to your great advice, I have a printout from my host with all of that information on it somewhere.

I have a feeling this will be a god send :thumbsup:

Thanks again
Take Care
Nikki

ladysaat,

Ooohhh gawd, I am so sorry for asking soooo many questions.

I have read the following instructions on how to set up a new template, but am not 100% sure what I am doing, as my web host set up the template default I am using now.

So if I want to create my own, I must firstly create my own template (questions I am not sure about are below) and then I use FileZilla and the FireFTP extension to ammend the files within the new template.

Hope thats right :cry:

Thanks again
Kindest Regards
Nikki

Here is the tutorial I was stuck with..

1. make a new folder, perhaps something like:

includes/templates/mary

This is the working area for your own custom template
I created this folder in windows explorer, is that right?

2. make 4 subfolders in there:

• common

• css

• images

• templates

I also created these in windows explorer, is that right?

3. copy the existing files from the template_default/css and template_default/images into the appropriate folders in your new working area
   I looked for this in Windows Explorer, and couldnt find it, should I copy it from my remote server, as that is the only place I can find it?

4. copy the "tpl_header.php" from the template_default/common folder

You'll want to edit this file to incorporate your custom page-header. This is the appearance of the tops of all your pages.

How do I edit this

5. copy the "tpl_footer.php" from the template_default/common folder

You can edit the footer area to appear as you like.
How do I edit this

Thanks for your time :thumbsup:

The custom folder "Mary" needs to be created on your server. When you set up FTP you should see a list of files much like you see with Windows Explorer. Only difference is WinExp is showing you files on your computer, whereas FTP is showing you files on your server (just think of your server as your second computer hard drive that you keep somewhere else). So you'd click on your file that corresponds to your domain name. I.E. https://www.mydomain.com would be a file that is named 'mydomain' (minus the single quote). You click on that and inside would be the file for your entire store. Same idea with the name. When you click on the store file it will open and show the file structure. Just like you'd browse through your home computer files via windows explorer.

Where to put the custom folders:
Go to your domain

go to your store folder

go to includes

go to templates

go to "mary" (you will have to create this folder right here first)

Then click on "mary" and create the other folders it says to create.

On your home computer:

Okay you'll need to create a folder in your "My Documents". That's where you'll download (move it from your server to your own computer) files to, so you can work on them.

Then you'll need to use DW to edit the code in the files. I also have CrimsonText Editor. Honestly DW8 is a monster to learn how to use but I do all my changes and such in there, for some reason it just has more tools with "dummy-buttons" (readily visible for one click kinda thing). Crimson editor requires me to know what I'm doing instead of pretending :wink2:

Awwww Bless you Ladysaat you are a diamond, I understand it a lot more now you have explained it so well, THANK YOU SO MUCH :thumbsup:

I am gonna get my head stuck into it tommorow, and I am sure with your superb description even a complete newbie like me can do it.

I will post here and let you know how I get along.

Once again A MASSIVE THANK YOU :thumbsup:

Kindest Regards
Nikki

Ladysaat

I have installed both FileZilla and the FireFTP extension, and have opened the ftp in firefox browser>tools>Fireftp, and I have created a new template folder, so I understand what you mean now. Is Firezilla the same thing? sorry for such a dibby question, I wasnt sure if you meant to use just one of them or both.

I will also get crimson editor too,

Thanks again
Nikki

Sorryyy,

I really didnt want to ask any more questions just yet :blush:

I tried to copy the contents of my template default folders css images common and templates, but have got no option to copy the files, I did a screen print to show you the only options I have got.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/angel_in_disguize_247/zencart_ftp.jpg

Im in no rush for a reply :thumbsup:

Thanks again
Nikki

:cry: I have tried to connect to my ftp server in crimson editor, using the info I use with my frontpage, but I get an error message saying "failed to connect to remote server, the attempt to connect was rejected" I know all the info is correct, but am not sure what has to go into the subdirectory bit.

I am so sorry :blush:

King Regards
Nikki

Most of us do not edit the files on the server directly. Generally, ftp'ing the file from the host to you PC and then editing and saving it on your PC. FTP it back to your host to your override folder structure that you create & name.

Editing directly normally changes the base file and not the one that should be in your override area.

I tried to remote connect with Crimson editor quickly and it appears to deault to a FTP account instead of the root of your host and this is where most have Zen Cart installed.

angelicdezigns:

Sorryyy,

I really didnt want to ask any more questions just yet :blush:

I tried to copy the contents of my template default folders css images common and templates, but have got no option to copy the files, I did a screen print to show you the only options I have got.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/angel_in_disguize_247/zencart_ftp.jpg

Im in no rush for a reply :thumbsup:

Thanks again
Nikki

What you do is download them to your computer. Into that "mary" file we talked about on your computer itself. Then you edit them using the crimson editor thing. Then you open up filezilla or fireftp (either one) and put the new edited files back on the server. You put them either back in the place you got them from or in your "mary" (custom template) folders depended on what you edited.

I have to say its not a good idea to make global changes on live site.
U may need to install Apache2triad or other server that supports php and mysql then put ur site on ur local machine. Now its safe and more comftorble to edit dezign ur site.

NOTE: u have to config ur configure.php files to work on local machine then u have to upload the allready new web site to ur live host.
tip: u can keep ur old config files from the life server then u dont have to rewrite them :)

All u need to know how to configure configure.php files. (for the database use "localhost").
Import and export database vie phpmyadmin -(there is a lot of threads with this:)
Upload and download vie ftp client such as File Zille or FireFTP CuteFTP etc.

Good Luck

Radoslav

Ladysaat,Sicness and Kobra

Thank you all so much for your valuble information, I am going to read it all through carefully today, and hopefully will be able to do this. I think the reason it has been quite hard, is that there arent really any step-by-step instructions for this, and some of the info I have read, didnt seem to make much sense to a total newcomer.

I hopefully wont have to ask you any more silly questions today :thumbsup:

Take care everyone, and once again Thank you soooo much.

Kindest Regards
Nikki

just start to make something and where u stuck just post a threat everyone here will answer to you dont worry
Its not silly to ask. Its a shame to do not ask.
Thats why everybody is always wellcome :)

Sicness - Thanks so much for that, I was starting to feel guilty at asking so many questions, but feel a bit better about it now :thumbsup:

Just as I learn somethign something else crops up..lol..I read a moment ago that 1.3.0.1, has a few snags and hiccups in it, and it is best to upgrade to 1.3.0.2, then I saw how many people have had problems upgrading :cry:

I have emailed my host (Bless them) and asked if they could possibly do it for me, as I would hate to delete my settings and attributes that took me soooo long to work out..lol.. I wouldnt have worried about it, but then thought to myself, If I do lots of work on the site, and then have to upgrade it would be even worse..lol..

I went to my control panel and did a back upto zip, so hopefully that is all I have to back up and havent missed something out..phewwww.. this is addictive but frustrating at the same time.

Thanks again sicness :thumbsup:

Kind Regards
Nikki

I had problems with upgrading yes i didn't wanted to upgrade but when I read how many bu fixxes it has i said to my self that is unavoidable so i upgraded .

Then I realized that Im in desperate need of override system then I made my own custom template with much better design of web site.

One of the most important bug fixes it whois online database session.

So U really need to make a override system of ur template.

Regards,
Radoslav.