error message - privacy.php issues

background: brand spanking new zencart 1.3.0.2. I'm not reviving my old templates from 1.2.6, I'm starting fresh.

So, decided to add some info to privacy page. Copied privacy.php into the override "custom" template folder. Added some text. Nothing changed.

Messed around with the permissions on the define_privacy.php, then copied it into an override custom_template as well. Tried to edit out the text from the Admin > Define.

Now when I click ont he privacy link on the store main page, it gives me these error messages:

Warning: main(includes/languages/english/custom/privacy.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in httpdocs/store/includes/modules/require_languages.php on line 28

Warning: main(includes/languages/english/custom/privacy.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in httpdocs/store/includes/modules/require_languages.php on line 28

Fatal error: main(): Failed opening required 'includes/languages/english/custom/privacy.php' (include_path='.:/usr/share/pear') in httpdocs/store/includes/modules/require_languages.php on line 28

Here's the error message, when I searched for "$define_privacy" in the admin toolkit:

 Searching 873 files ... for: $define_privacy

Warning: httpdocs/store/includes/languages/english/privacy.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied in httpdocs/store/admin/developers_tool_kit.php on line 124

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in httpdocs/store/admin/developers_tool_kit.php on line 127

Warning: httpdocs/store/includes/languages/english/custom/privacy.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied in httpdocs/store/admin/developers_tool_kit.php on line 124

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in httpdocs/store/admin/developers_tool_kit.php on line 127

Please help, I didn't know that such a simple thing as adding privacy text could mess up things so bad. I'm so stumped! (I don't think I had a problem with v1.2.6, but that was so long ago).

TIA!!!!

A couple of things to check:

Do you still have an untouched file at (includes/languages/english/privacy.php

If so remove the one at (includes/languages/english/custom/privacy.php and see if the errors cease.

Also check that you have a folder named 'custom' at (includes/languages/templates/custom and that custom is the selected template in the admin > tools > template selection

If you still have trouble with errors, post back with what app you have used to FTP the files to the host and/or how this was installed.

Ok, the issue was the permissions on privacy.php files... (I think). It makes me really sad when I can see that even if I figured out what the problem was and fixed it (well, sorta), I still remain utterly clueless what all the error messages meant.

So now I deleted all text from Admin > Define > Privacy Page. It's all gone.

Then I added some text to the [ define('TEXT_INFORMATION', 'Your Privacy Notice should be on this page.');] part of the "privacy.php" file in custom template folder.

And nothing on privacy page except the "back" button. Where did I go wrong?!

Ok, deleted the "privacy.php" from the custom template folder. (The custom template is alive and active, the metatags and custom logo work so far).

Copied "privacy.php" from original z1.3.0.2 folder (that I keep just in case) to overwrite the file in the:
includes / languages / english / privacy.php. So it's all back to its pristine condition.

Expected to see the familiar "Your Privacy Notice should be on this page." Nothing.

Is it the battle of Admin > Define versus template overrides? or what?

So if my goal is now this: I don't want to use Admin > Define pages anymore at all (after this scare). I want to go find the file, copy it into custom template, and change it there.

How do I make it work?

You are messing with files that you do not need to edit...

remove this edited file from the override folder.

What you want is the html_includes/define_privacy.php file to be copied to html_includes/your tempate/define_privacy.php and be writeable.

Then use the defines page editor in the admin.

Oh, I didn't know that. I used to do that before - to edit those, I needed to set permissions in Plesk program. So I'm already there, why not put in a couple sentenses in?

With Admin, it's 1) go into Plesk 2) copy the file into template override, just as the Admin suggests 3) set permissions 4) go to Admin 5) define stuff 6) go to plesk 7) set permissions back

<- that was my line of thinking. Easier to just go to Plesk and be done.

I'm so confused.

plesk and cpanel editors are notorious for adding unwanted characters...more critical with .php files but also can be a disaster with html files...you takes your chances

thanks Kobra, that's great to know. I don't need to take any chances! :)