Link Manager 3.0 Support Thread

Still no go,

I eliminated the error I was getting when I ran the SQL, but...

No links box on the store front yet.

dmm2020:

Still no go,

I eliminated the error I was getting when I ran the SQL, but...

No links box on the store front yet.

Have You:

Created and activated any links categories?
admin -> extras -> links categories

turned on the links sidebox?
admin -> tools -> layout boxes controller

By default there should be one link already installed with the mod.
Did you run the install_links_manager.sql

Yest to all 3. Went through all the threads for clues still no go.

I am also having trouble with the "template override system". It is NOT very user friendly and confusing until you gain a lot fo experience with it.

I named my override directory a word like "mytemplate". Just exactly how does ZenCart recognize that name?

dmm2020:

Yest to all 3. Went through all the threads for clues still no go.

I am also having trouble with the "template override system". It is NOT very user friendly and confusing until you gain a lot fo experience with it.

I named my override directory a word like "mytemplate". Just exactly how does ZenCart recognize that name?

mytemplate is fine for your override directory.

You'll need to go to admin -> tools -> template select

select the edit button and then choose mytemplate from the dropdown menu and then click the update button.

Now go to admin -> tools -> layout boxes controller
scroll to the bottom of the page and click the reset button.

Still no go

Only entry there is the Classic Comtemporary Green

dmm2020:

Still no go

Only entry there is the Classic Comtemporary Green

Sounds like you need to create a "template_info.php" file. and place it in includes/templates/mytemplate/template_info.php

You can copy and paste this example:

<?php
/**
 * Template Information File
 *
 * @package templateSystem
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2006 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: template_info.php 4226 2006-08-24 02:23:25Z drbyte $
 */
$template_name = 'My Template';
$template_version = 'Version 1.0';
$template_author = 'Doug Mewis';
$template_description = 'This template set is designed to be easily modified using only the style sheet to change colors, fonts, and the store logo.';
$template_screenshot = '';
//EOF

Still no go.

I do not have the whole override system set up correctly. Something is missing. I get so friggin frustrated with the override sysem that I give up and edit the core files directly. It just is not user friendly enough and no documentation that explains it in detail enough for new people to understand it.

I do visual basic, delphi, and C++ programming and I do not understand the logic of the override system at all yet.

When I do what you suggested, I get nothing but a blank screen when I follow your suggestion to edit the template_info.php file and then reset everything. The reset button also turns sideboxes back on that I had turned off.

dmm2020:

Still no go.

I do not have the whole override system set up correctly. Something is missing. I get so friggin frustrated with the override sysem that I give up and edit the core files directly. It just is not user friendly enough and no documentation that explains it in detail enough for new people to understand it.

I do visual basic, delphi, and C++ programming and I do not understand the logic of the override system at all yet.

When I do what you suggested, I get nothing but a blank screen when I follow your suggestion to edit the template_info.php file and then reset everything. The reset button also turns sideboxes back on that I had turned off.

I don't know if this will help, but here is a quick overview of how the override system should be set up.

includes/languages/english/mytemplate
includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/mytemplate
includes/languages/english/html_includes/mytemplate
includes/modules/mytemplate
includes/modules/sideboxes/mytemplate
includes/templates/mytemplate

Any files that you edit should then be saved into your custom directory.

Within the includes/templates/mytemplate you should have the following directories

includes/templates/mytemplate/template_info.php
includes/templates/mytemplate/common
includes/templates/mytemplate/css
includes/templates/mytemplate/images
includes/templates/mytemplate/templates

You can copy the changes you made in the includes/templates/classic into the appropriate directories in your custom directory

clydejones:

I don't know if this will help, but here is a quick overview of how the override system should be set up.

includes/languages/english/mytemplate
includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/mytemplate
includes/languages/english/html_includes/mytemplate
includes/modules/mytemplate
includes/modules/sideboxes/mytemplate
includes/templates/mytemplate

Any files that you edit should then be saved into your custom directory.

Within the includes/templates/mytemplate you should have the following directories

includes/templates/mytemplate/template_info.php
includes/templates/mytemplate/common
includes/templates/mytemplate/css
includes/templates/mytemplate/images
includes/templates/mytemplate/templates

You can copy the changes you made in the includes/templates/classic into the appropriate directories in your custom directory

I got all that. BUT...

again, when I set the template to "custom" which is really what my template directory is named, the whole system crashes and the store front is nothing but blank space.

In addition, when I try to activate the links box at higher sort order than anything these, the links box plus what ever has a higher value in the sort order does not show. If I set the sort order to zero, nothing shows up. If I do that in the left column, the whole page is empty.

It's almost as if I need to start from the beginning with a clean installation of Zen-Cart, but that is an enourmous amount of work and would cause loss of all modifications I made so far.

dmm2020:

I got all that. BUT...

again, when I set the template to "custom" which is really what my template directory is named, the whole system crashes and the store front is nothing but blank space.

In addition, when I try to activate the links box at higher sort order than anything these, the links box plus what ever has a higher value in the sort order does not show. If I set the sort order to zero, nothing shows up. If I do that in the left column, the whole page is empty.

It's almost as if I need to start from the beginning with a clean installation of Zen-Cart, but that is an enourmous amount of work and would cause loss of all modifications I made so far.

We're getting really off topic now. If you'd like additional help with setting up your custom directory send me a PM

Thanks for your hints.

I just spent the past hour creating a "test" clean installation using the hints you have given me.

When I install the links manager on a clean installation with the custom template overrides correctly installed according to the Zen-Cart manual I paid for, and according to your hints, everything now works perfectly.

What I have to do now, is complete the third party installations I want to run on the new "clean" installation and then upload the data from the old database to the new one.

I assume I am going to also have to run all the SQLs after I copy the data from the old database over into the new database?

Apologies for voicing my frustrations. Hints for others, if you don't have the overrides correct in the beginning, it can have a domino effect on future third party installations you attempt to install. Anyway, all is well now, and I figured it out finally.

dmm2020:

Thanks for your hints.

I just spent the past hour creating a "test" clean installation using the hints you have given me.

When I install the links manager on a clean installation with the custom template overrides correctly installed according to the Zen-Cart manual I paid for, and according to your hints, everything now works perfectly.

What I have to do now, is complete the third party installations I want to run on the new "clean" installation and then upload the data from the old database to the new one.

I assume I am going to also have to run all the SQLs after I copy the data from the old database over into the new database?

Apologies for voicing my frustrations. Hints for others, if you don't have the overrides correct in the beginning, it can have a domino effect on future third party installations you attempt to install. Anyway, all is well now, and I figured it out finally.

Glad you got it sorted

Thanks a lot for all your help. I completely redid my website using one of your templates. But to be on topic, would you or anyone else that wants to do reciprocal links mind visiting my website so I can test the site manager function out with real world data now? I would deeply appreciate it.

http://dmsmerchandise.com/index.php?main_page=links

:clap::smile:

Getting this bugger of an error agian:

Catchable fatal error: Object of class queryFactoryResult could not be converted to string in /home5/dmsoftwy/public_html/admin/includes/functions/html_output.php on line 333

I uploaded the html_output.php files to admin and store directories as you indicated and reset my boxes. No go. Now what do I do?

dmm2020:

Getting this bugger of an error agian:

Catchable fatal error: Object of class queryFactoryResult could not be converted to string in /home5/dmsoftwy/public_html/admin/includes/functions/html_output.php on line 333

I uploaded the html_output.php files to admin and store directories as you indicated and reset my boxes. No go. Now what do I do?

Just additional info on the above. I had never attempted to add a link.

However, if a user adds a like (I added yours Clyde) through the links page, it works fine. It crashes only if I want to add a new link from the admin panel. I can edit, approve, disapprove links from the admin panel just fine.

dmm2020:

Just additional info on the above. I had never attempted to add a link.

However, if a user adds a like (I added yours Clyde) through the links page, it works fine. It crashes only if I want to add a new link from the admin panel. I can edit, approve, disapprove links from the admin panel just fine.

Check this Post (notice that there are two zip files involved one of them is for the admin)

clydejones:

Check this Post (notice that there are two zip files involved one of them is for the admin)

Clyde, I downloaded those two files and put them in the directory paths you indicated, but still nogo. Still get that line 333 error. Believe me, I have already posted the updated files twice. I even double checked and triple check matching up yours and the Zen-Cart manual on template directory structures. I am positive they are going to the right directories, but still no go in the admin panel.

I get that error at the bottom of the screen where I normally would get additiona fields and some buttons.

In the storefront, everything is working fine.

In admin, I can do everything other than manually insert a link.

clydejones this may sound stupid but does links_manager make it's own Reciprocal Page for the ones who want to trade links with you, or after you make your link categories does it makes a Reciprocal link for them. I'm just trying to figure out how this works. Or do I have to make a page for the Reciprocal. Also do I need to make banners. I just need some steering. Thank you for your help****

countrycharm:

clydejones this may sound stupid but does links_manager make it's own Reciprocal Page for the ones who want to trade links with you, or after you make your link categories does it makes a Reciprocal link for them. I'm just trying to figure out how this works. Or do I have to make a page for the Reciprocal. Also do I need to make banners. I just need some steering. Thank you for your help****

Short answer, Yes, it will place your link on a page based on which category you've placed the link in.

For instance if I add a link to your site I place the following in the Reciprocal link field: (mysticmountainnaturals. com/demotest/index.php?lPath=16&main_page=links) This is the page on my site where the link to your site resides.

No you don't need to make a banner unless you want to.

Thank you for explaining this to me. I have wondered about this a while. I have one more question for you. There is nothing to configure under admin/configuration/links manger nothing shows at all but the update button. How do I get the information to display the configuration for link manger. Under admin/extras there are links, link category, links contact everything is there like it is suppose to be. Thank you again.