how to set sideboxes only on mainpage?

Hi

I'd like to use some boxes like "new products" etc, but they may only be visible on the mainpage of the shop, not on the categorie pages or on the shopping-cart page. I can't find were to edit this.

Thank You

Jelle

Sideboxes can be customized ...

To know if you are on the main home page there is a variable:
$this_is_home_page

That can be used in an IF statement on the sidebox to allow/stop it from displaying ...

Using your templates and override directories, you can customize the sideboxes to display when you want them to ...

hi ajeh,
i am still a new zenner and need the same help. if you could take a moment, could you explain this in detail or point me to a thread that may have the answer. what coding do i need and where does is need to be placed to ensure the sidebox will only appear on the main page. thanks in adavance:-D

Let's say you want the sidebox
/includes/modules/sideboxes/whats_new.php

to only appear on the main page ...

Copy to your templates and overrides directory:
/includes/modules/sideboxes/your_templates_dir/whats_new.php

The original code looks like this:

// display limits
//$display_limit = zen_get_products_new_timelimit();
      $display_limit = zen_get_new_date_range();
  $random_whats_new_sidebox_product_query = "select p.products_id, p.products_image, p.products_tax_class_id, p.products_price
                           from " . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p
                           where p.products_status = 1 " . $display_limit . "
                           limit " . MAX_RANDOM_SELECT_NEW;

  $random_whats_new_sidebox_product = zen_random_select($random_whats_new_sidebox_product_query);

  if ($random_whats_new_sidebox_product->RecordCount() > 0 ) {
    $whats_new_price = zen_get_products_display_price($random_whats_new_sidebox_product->fields['products_id']);
    $random_whats_new_sidebox_product->fields['products_name'] = zen_get_products_name($random_whats_new_sidebox_product->fields['products_id']);
    $random_whats_new_sidebox_product->fields['specials_new_products_price'] = zen_get_products_special_price($random_whats_new_sidebox_product->fields['products_id']);
    require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_whats_new.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'sideboxes'). '/tpl_whats_new.php');
    $title =  BOX_HEADING_WHATS_NEW;
    $title_link = FILENAME_PRODUCTS_NEW;
    require($template->get_template_dir($column_box_default, DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'common') . '/' . $column_box_default);
  }

Let's change it a bit ...

We want to add a condition for an IF statement to test should this show ...

Change the code to read:

// test if box should display
  $show_whats_new= true;

// only show if the main page
  if ($this_is_home_page == true) {
    $show_whats_new= true;
  } else {
    $show_whats_new= false;
  }
    

if ($show_whats_new == true) {
// display limits
//$display_limit = zen_get_products_new_timelimit();
      $display_limit = zen_get_new_date_range();
  $random_whats_new_sidebox_product_query = "select p.products_id, p.products_image, p.products_tax_class_id, p.products_price
                           from " . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p
                           where p.products_status = 1 " . $display_limit . "
                           limit " . MAX_RANDOM_SELECT_NEW;

  $random_whats_new_sidebox_product = zen_random_select($random_whats_new_sidebox_product_query);

  if ($random_whats_new_sidebox_product->RecordCount() > 0 ) {
    $whats_new_price = zen_get_products_display_price($random_whats_new_sidebox_product->fields['products_id']);
    $random_whats_new_sidebox_product->fields['products_name'] = zen_get_products_name($random_whats_new_sidebox_product->fields['products_id']);
    $random_whats_new_sidebox_product->fields['specials_new_products_price'] = zen_get_products_special_price($random_whats_new_sidebox_product->fields['products_id']);
    require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_whats_new.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'sideboxes'). '/tpl_whats_new.php');
    $title =  BOX_HEADING_WHATS_NEW;
    $title_link = FILENAME_PRODUCTS_NEW;
    require($template->get_template_dir($column_box_default, DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'common') . '/' . $column_box_default);
  }
} // eof: test $show_whats_new

Now it will only show when the variable $this_is_home_page evaluates to true ...

Hi,

Your reply was great help to me. Are there variable for other pages too ? Lets say I want to hide "shopping cart" side box on checkout page.

How do I do that ? If the variable not existing then how can we define the variable ?

this will be great help in customizing side bad based on current page.

Thanks,
Sena

I did it.

$current_page = is always having current page name .. by checking the page name I manage to hide side boxes as and when needed.

thanks,
Sena.

I am struggling with this...
for the featured sidebox, I have changed my code to read:
// test if box should display
  $show_featured= true;

// only show if the main page
  if ($this_is_home_page == true) {
    $show_featured= true;
  } else {
    $show_featured= false;
  }
    

changing the "whats_new" above to "featured".

i get the following error on my main page:
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_VARIABLE in /home/animalve/public_html/zencart/includes/modules/sideboxes/custom/featured.php on line 13

I also tried following the instructions on page https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=270 with the same result.

what am i missing?

What's on lines 10 - 15 on your file?

first 30 lines are:

<?php /** * featured sidebox - displays a random Featured Product * * @package templateSystem * @copyright Copyright 2003-2005 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: featured.php 2808 2006-01-06 17:17:32Z drbyte $ */ // test if box should display   $show_featured= true; // only show if the main page   if ($this_is_home_page == true) {     $show_featured= true;   } else {     $show_featured= false;   } if ($show_featured == true) { $random_featured_products_query = "select p.products_id, p.products_image, pd.products_name from (" . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p left join " . TABLE_FEATURED . " f on p.products_id = f.products_id left join " . TABLE_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION . " pd on p.products_id = pd.products_id ) where p.products_id = f.products_id and p.products_id = pd.products_id and p.products_status = 1 and f.status = 1 and pd.language_id = '" . (int)$_SESSION['languages_id'] . "' order by pd.products_name desc limit " . MAX_RANDOM_SELECT_FEATURED_PRODUCTS; produces error message: Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_IF in /home/animalve/public_html/zencart/includes/modules/sideboxes/custom/featured.php on line 15

I cannot seem to break mine based on the code you are displaying ... :unsure:

bummer, i haven't been able to get it to work on this box or another side box i have.

What are you using for a TEXT editor on these files?

text wrangler, uploading with cyberduck