please help me i'm zen illiterate

Hi,

I have the zen cart installed, but have no idea how to get it to work with my website, which I am also illiterate about, using Front Page 2003.

What is my next step after installing it? I fear this is the beginning of a long, long relationship. Any help will be appreciated.

Cheryl
:down::cry:

First of all, ZC won't "work with" your website. It'll become/replace your website (unless your store is separate from your website).

To create a very basic custom template (you can build from there), you need:

• includes/languages/YOUR_TEMPLATE/english.php
• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/index.php
• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/header.php (to change the logo)
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_header.php
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/images/logo.gif
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/css/stylesheet.css
  Any where you see a /classic/ folder, you can create a folder for your custom template.

You can download some nice templates here: http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=40_53.

After you customized the look of your cart according to your needs, you can start uploading your products and add some custom modules (look in the downloads section).

When your finished, post in the reviewers corner to recieve some comments about your site.

Hi, :huh: Thanks for the info, but I do not understand.
I do understand the ZC is seperate from my website, but I have no clue as to the code you gave me. Where does it go? How do I make the cart work? Do I have to build my cart?

I do not understand what the following code you gave me means.
To create a very basic custom template (you can build from there), you need:- includes/languages/YOUR_TEMPLATE/english.php

• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/index.php
• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/header.php (to change the logo)
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_header.php
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/images/logo.gif
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/css/stylesheet.cssAny where you see a /classic/ folder, you can create a folder for your custom template.

It isn't code. It doesn't "go" anywhere. You have to create the folders I indicated and copy the files indicated into them. Yes, you have to customize your cart yourself unless you're willing to pay someone to do it. The folder/file combinations I gave you will start you on your way.

Whereever you see a /classic/ folder in ZC, you can create a folder for your custom template (YOUR_TEMPLATE in my list). You can give the folders any name you want, but they have to be consistant in every instance... for example, if you decide to call your custom template fred, you would create a /fred/ folder in every place I indicated you should create a YOUR_TEMPLATE folder.

I suggest you read through the tutorials/FAQ on this site (link in upper right hand corner) before you go any further.

Delete frontpage 2003 from your computer and break the disc in half and throw it away......It won't be of much use and produces non-validating code anyways. Buy a new pad of paper, get a cup of coffee and read the tutorials making notes along the way....spend a weekend read the forum to learn the terminology, check out examples of other carts in the reviews section, try to get a feel for how it works before you dive in and get yourself frustrated. Make sure you have loaded up a cart with the demo products so you can play around a little bit and get comfortable on where things are. the demo cart is a great place to play cause if you mess it up.....no problem just delete and reload

Mike, your frontpage comment made me laugh! Love it!

You're absolutely right about reading the tutorials, FAQ and forum before jumping in (actually, I jumped in first, but I have an excuse... I've been a programmer way too long). ZC is one of the simplest things to get going IF you pay attention and follow the guidlines. There'll be a sudden "AH HA!" moment when it all becomes clear.

Thanks everyone. I just wanted a little advice on how to do this. I have read tutorials and did not jump in and I am still confused. I have no clue about HTML codes.

Although some knowledge of HTML and PHP is helpful, it's not necessary. You'll pick up a lot of what you need to know by asking and doing.

My suggestion is that you unzip the Zen Cart files on your local computer (if you haven't already done that). If you look at the directory and file structure, you'll have a better understanding of the list I posted earlier. If you create those directories (aka folders), duplicate the files and upload them to where you have ZC installed, you're on your way to making ZC your own.

The learning curve can be steep, but you CAN get there. You'll go from :blink: to :smartass: before you know it.

I have a question for you. Are you planning to keep the site you currently have or do you want to replace it with Zen Cart?

Hi,
I unzipped files.
I am on the page of configurations, catalog, etc.
I assumed I was keeping the site I have, is that be a problem. I do not have a cart on their as you can see. Is it work keeping?

afo:

Although some knowledge of HTML and PHP is helpful, it's not necessary. You'll pick up a lot of what you need to know by asking and doing.

My suggestion is that you unzip the Zen Cart files on your local computer (if you haven't already done that). If you look at the directory and file structure, you'll have a better understanding of the list I posted earlier. If you create those directories (aka folders), duplicate the files and upload them to where you have ZC installed, you're on your way to making ZC your own.

The learning curve can be steep, but you CAN get there. You'll go from :blink: to :smartass: before you know it.

I have a question for you. Are you planning to keep the site you currently have or do you want to replace it with Zen Cart?

ringsandthings:

Hi,
I unzipped files.
I am on the page of configurations, catalog, etc.
I assumed I was keeping the site I have, is that be a problem. I do not have a cart on their as you can see. Is it work keeping?

I don't see a link to your current site, but it's not a problem if you want to keep it. I just wanted to know what your goal was. I webmaster for the site in my sig. The original site was straight HTML. It didn't even have PayPal add to cart buttons, so people could order items and pay at the same time. It went from that to a HTML site with PayPal add to cart buttons to ZC, so it replaced the original.

If you want to keep your site, you can always link to your cart, if you want, but we can talk about that later.

Like all of us before you, you're trying to run before you can walk. We've all done it and been :blink: over it. The template system can seem overwhelming, but once you get the hang of it, it's a piece of cake and you'll wonder why you had any trouble with it at all.

ZC is extremely difficult to "break" and the beauty of the template system is that you can go back to the original file and start over if you've made a major OOPSIE.

I want you to go look at http://www.SacredShowers.com which was recently completed by someone who was as "zen illiterate" as you are. She did a wonderful job in a relatively short amount of time.

If you're in the configuration/catalog, you're in the admin which may or may not be the best place to start.

Now, this may sound like a stupid question, but what do you want to accomplish with ZC? What do you want to do?

**Hi,
I want to keep my site and add a link to it for the cart but do not know how. I have done alot of work on my site, and it still needs more, but I like it. I probably am running before I can walk. I just to get it done, like last week. I want ZC to be my shopping cart and not replace my site. I would like a potential customer to click on an item and be able to purchase it right now. I am not sure if I answered these the way I was suppose to but it the best I can do.
Cheryl
**

If you are currently selling items on your site, you can't use it as a front end. In other words, there's no way to pass something from your site to Zen Cart. In that case, you'd have to replace your current site with ZC. Since you don't seem all that comfortable maintaining your current site, replacing it might not be a bad option and you might be able to make ZC look like the site you already have. Can you post a url to your current site?

How funny! The SacredShowers site I recommended to you is also by someone named Cheryl! :D

afo:

If you are currently selling items on your site, you can't use it as a front end. In other words, there's no way to pass something from your site to Zen Cart. In that case, you'd have to replace your current site with ZC. Since you don't seem all that comfortable maintaining your current site, replacing it might not be a bad option and you might be able to make ZC look like the site you already have. Can you post a url to your current site?

How funny! The SacredShowers site I recommended to you is also by someone named Cheryl! :D
I actually am not selling on my site yet as I do not have a cart. My site is mainelyringsandthings.com I beleive this is what you asked for.
How funny! The SacredShowers site I recommended to you is also by someone named Cheryl! This is funny. Must be the name.

ringsandthings:

I actually am not selling on my site yet as I do not have a cart. My site is mainelyringsandthings.com I beleive this is what you asked for.
How funny! The SacredShowers site I recommended to you is also by someone named Cheryl! This is funny. Must be the name.

I don't see any reason you couldn't convert the current design into something similar in ZC. As I said earlier, you can't use ZC as just a cart (like you can... sorta... with PayPal). Customers can't select items on your site and have that information passed to ZC, but ZC can give you more flexibility and options than any HTML site ever could.

As I said earlier, the Holzheimer's site went from a plain HTML site without a cart to a HTML site with PayPal buttons to ZC. I remember having to hand code each PayPal button for each individual product. With ZC, I just have to add the product and the rest is taken care of.

You can ask the other Cheryl (rush_woman). I held her hand and helped her build the cart she has, but I didn't do any of the work for her. She did it all herself. I'm willing to hold your's as well. Just drop me a PM if you need me (click on my nickname and you'll get the option to send a Private Message).

I'd recommend that you install ZC in its own directory on the server where your current site is (if you haven't done that already) and start playing around trying to duplicate the design you already have.

Hi Cheryl,
I just got done looking at your current site......It would be real easy to transfer to zencart. I would suggest taking up Afo on the offer to help, and build the cart in a sub directory for now. So you can take your time and learn as you go. Relax, have fun, its not so bad. You could set up your current site with paypal cart buttons for now and when ready just transfer to zen cart. We all here to help.

She's already got the ZC layout, doesn't she, Mike? I thought it would be simple to "translate" into ZC and it'll be much easier to maintain once done.

yup and with some photography work the products on her site would look wonderful with the lightbox mod:yes:

Hmmm... I'll have to check out the lightbox mod...

Anyway, Cheryl, I'm willing to help you get this done. I'd rather you do it yourself because you'll be able to take care of the site by yourself (with the help of the forum, of course) from then on. By tinkering with ZC, you'll learn how. You don't need the knowledge coming in. Once you get a feel for what you're doing, you'll be fine.

Hi,
I would like to get this shopping cart done but I can't even get started. Whats the chance in helping me get started. I know that once I get going I will catch on real fast, look I did my web site all by myself. I do know it still needs work but that will come with time. I did say earlier I do not want to replace my Front Page but link Zen Cart to my site but I don't know where to look to start. I have read so much stuff now I am totally confused. I hope someone can steer me in the right direction.
Cheryl :dontgetit