After all tutorials, how do I create a template?

warstormer:

I have the default Classic Contemporary Green so to create my own I can copy the template_default folder, rename it, then play with those files? ...
You don't need to copy the entire folder.

The overrides system lets you only copy the files that you make changes to.

So for example ... if you don't need to alter the look/feel/functionality of the login page, then ... you don't need to duplicate the login page files.

If you're going to customize something, make a copy of it from template_default, put that copy into the same folder structure under your new template, and make your changes there.

DrByte:

You don't need to copy the entire folder.

The overrides system lets you only copy the files that you make changes to.

So for example ... if you don't need to alter the look/feel/functionality of the login page, then ... you don't need to duplicate the login page files.

If you're going to customize something, make a copy of it from template_default, put that copy into the same folder structure under your new template, and make your changes there.

So I create my new template folder and select it in Template Selection, then in 'common' I have my own tpl_header.php file.. Will zen-cart automatically use that tpl_header.php file over the one in template_default? Is there something else I need to do regarding overrides?

warstormer:

So I create my new template folder and select it in Template Selection, then in 'common' I have my own tpl_header.php file.. Will zen-cart automatically use that tpl_header.php file over the one in template_default?Yes -- that's what's meant by the term "override" ... your custom file "overrides" the master ... ie: your custom file is used INSTEAD OF the original/master/default version of that file.

DrByte:

Yes -- that's what's meant by the term "override" ... your custom file "overrides" the master ... ie: your custom file is used INSTEAD OF the original/master/default version of that file.

Right, that bit actually makes perfect sense now. :wink: Now it's just a case of figuring the page structures so I know which template files control what.....

Squeakypants.. your design is very VERY achievable in Zen Cart so don't fear... There is no current diagram of what does what in the new version of Zen (to my knowledge).. What I mean by that is there's not really a cheat sheet that says navwrapper is for the header, navmain is the for the upper log in and home text etc... It will take a lot of work and digging on your part. What I suggest you do is what was suggested to me is download FireFox with the Firebug add on.. Open it in a new window, click inspect then go back over to your current zencart and watch the magic unfold before your eyes when you can visually see what each wrapper and div is... It sounds like you come from a design more than code background like myself and the visual will help you out a ton...,

while i love mitea.com as much as the next person and admittedly it's what got me interested in Zen Cart years ago, it, and most other stores that look amazing seem to use the older table base versions of Zencart.. While I am not saying the look isn't achievable now, it certainly seems to be a bit tricker to make some of the functions (like roll overs in navmain for home, and login, etc) a bit harder to place...

Zen really is very very flexible as far as design goes.. My goals are simple and clean and very non standard Zen and through the help of the tutorials and good people of the forum I have been able to get closer and closer to reaching them...

Squeakypants' original post is a year old... it got me at first too. It appears he got the site basically done, though it is simplified from the mockup. It could have been done exactly as the mockup showed (though I don't know about the transparent borders around the sideboxes).

Warstormer, the page output starts with /your_template/common/tpl_main_page.php, which calls the sections of the page in sequence. Looking at that will give you the start of understanding the page structure.

gjh42:

Squeakypants' original post is a year old... it got me at first too. It appears he got the site basically done, though it is simplified from the mockup. It could have been done exactly as the mockup showed (though I don't know about the transparent borders around the sideboxes).

Warstormer, the page output starts with /your_template/common/tpl_main_page.php, which calls the sections of the page in sequence. Looking at that will give you the start of understanding the page structure.

Ok, I'll start with tpl_main_page.php as you suggest.... if only people weren't breathing down my neck to get this done in like a week...! Thanks again everyone for the advice... :wink:

gjh42:

Squeakypants' original post is a year old... it got me at first too. It appears he got the site basically done, though it is simplified from the mockup. It could have been done exactly as the mockup showed (though I don't know about the transparent borders around the sideboxes).
.

Haha looks like I could stand to check dates a bit more closely!:blush:

DrByte:

Yes -- that's what's meant by the term "override" ... your custom file "overrides" the master ... ie: your custom file is used INSTEAD OF the original/master/default version of that file.

so, simply by making the custom file, zen cart knows automatically to look at the "custom file" instead of the "original file?

That's right, any time Zen Cart is about to use a template or module file, it first checks in the current template's structure to see if there is a custom version. If there isn't, then it uses the default version of the file.

it looks like I should have a "CUSTOM" folder inside the templates folder, correct? but there is already an Atheme template I installed, so there is an Atheme folder in addition to the classic and what will be the CUSTOM folder. is that ok?

You can have as many custom templates as you want, as long as you don't get confused. Name your new template folder whatever is meaningful to you.

gjh42:

That's right, any time Zen Cart is about to use a template or module file, it first checks in the current template's structure to see if there is a custom version. If there isn't, then it uses the default version of the file.

gjh42:

You can have as many custom templates as you want, as long as you don't get confused. Name your new template folder whatever is meaningful to you.

Wouldn't Zen Cart get confused, since I now have a "custom" folder, as well as an "atheme" folder? there would be 2 custom versions now, how does it know which one to use? is it based on which template i select in the admin profile?

It knows which template is active (selected in admin) and bases its actions on that. Inactive template folders will be ignored.