Test Drive Free Templates

There seems to be a very welcome upturn in the number and originality of templates emerging at the moment. However choosing between them can be difficult. Even finding out what they look like takes a fair bit of effort. So here's a tool to make it much, much easier ...

(sorry, site offline) lets you test drive all the 1.3 templates currently available in the downloads area. You can switch to any template from any page, without losing your place in the store, making it easy to compare how well each deals with different parts of a representative store (played by the Zen Cart demo database).

If you find a template that you'd like to download, there is a link at the top of the page to bring you back to the appropriate page in the downloads area.

I was thinking to do something similar.... :laugh: but too much work with my "stuff". :wacko:

Thanks!!! I know the community will appreciate this. :thumbsup:

That was very nice of you to do Kuroi !:yes:

That is uber cool!! That's awesome of you to do that. This should help people get into the swing of things with the override system, by making it easier to view templates and finding one that suits them.

I certainly hope so Sketchy. And take some credit yourself - Candied Apple/Blueberry together with Sophy Blue, Simple Zen and the Gloss templates meant that the number available leapt suddenly as did the originality index inspiring me to put this together to make that more visible.

The site's far from finished. I intend (for example) to add a further info such as links to support threads and wikis where they exist.

And overall, I hope that this will encourage more designers to start pushing the boundaries a bit and contributing more (quantity) and more (creativity) templates knowing that they will have more visibility than was previously the case.

Thanks for that, I hope the users are pleased with the creations.

Well, your site looks good so far. That's a wonderful idea of the links, kind of like a showcase and directory guide. That sure will make things easier for people new to Zen.

You're right... I'd love to contribute more as I build more.

And overall, I hope that this will encourage more designers to start pushing the boundaries a bit and contributing more (quantity) and more (creativity) templates...
The only thing that is discouraging (spelling?) me of creating more free templates is that users aren't respecting the copyright/link back note on the footer, eventhough is the only thing I ask for. :down:

ideasgirl:

The only thing that is discouraging me of creating more free templates is that users aren't respecting the copyright/link back note on the footer, eventhough is the only thing I ask for. :down:
Funny what people will do with "free" software, isn't it ... somehow they think they suddenly own it ...

Valid point, but now we're getting off-topic.

Thanks so much, Kuroi! You do good work! :thumbsup:

WOW THANK YOU SO MUCH!! That was helpful, I love the glossy black template!

Is there a mod for that template switcher trick??

Am I just going crazy or something...I see no ''template switcher sidebox''...

Please help :schmoll:

I see no ''template switcher sidebox''...
http://(sorry, site offline)/1302/index.php
Top right box

momoftwoadorablekids:

WOW THANK YOU SO MUCH!! That was helpful, I love the glossy black template!

Is there a mod for that template switcher trick??I'm glad it's proving helpful.

I have seen other template switchers, but don't know if any have made it to the level of a mod. Anybody else know of one ...?

This one was written especially for the zencarttemplates,info site, but done in such a way as to be reusable with one eye on turning it into a mod if there is enough interest. Though there are currently a few other things above it on my TODO list.

kuroi:

I have seen other template switchers, but don't know if any have made it to the level of a mod. Anybody else know of one ...?
Not that I'm aware of. :no:

kuroi:

This one was written especially for the zencarttemplates,info site, but done in such a way as to be reusable with one eye on turning it into a mod if there is enough interest
I'm interested. :smile:

kuroi:

Though there are currently a few other things above it on my TODO list.
I'm a patient girl. :yes:

Kuroi as usual you rock!

this is awesome!

huggles

One more thank you for creating this. It is so helpful.

I have seen other template switchers, but don't know if any have made it to the level of a mod. Anybody else know of one ...?
Have one myself but am yet to be convinced that suitable for live site, accepting orders, re sessions, so tests continue
:smile:

Kurio,

There was a template switcher in the past in the downloads section by DrByte. I do not think that it has been upgraded for 1.3.x though...

kobra:

There was a template switcher in the past in the downloads section by DrByte. I do not think that it has been upgraded for 1.3.x though...Thanks KoBra. I've taken a look at that and it is really old, isn't it? Nevertheless, I will see if there are aspects that I can incorporate into mine, though there's a fair bit of work to do to separate it from the specific application for which it was written and build in the security that would be needed to let it loose on an unsuspecting world.

I am new to all this and this is my first posting.:smile:

Many thanks for making available the different templates that are available and I have found one that I like....future zen.

I have arranged for a hosting company and they have the ability to install ZenCart on the server for me with Fantastico.

Question; Can they install the future zen template for me and are there any security, compatability problems with having this template either now or when updates are availble for the original zencart template.

As you can see I am a newbie but trying to learn fast:smartass:

Many thanks