basics

jagguy,

I guess I wil have to "Beg Your Pardon" on you getting huffy and trying to espouse your coding acumen.

Can you add your own php content to a new page and display in content area?
If you actually understood php and these applications you would know that there are not "pages" that you edit like an html page. It is bits and pieces that are assembled into a page. So one must locate and find the pieces to edit. It is not all in one place.
The 'what is it you are trying to do exactly' replies can be explained . It is simple, I am trying to develop flexible websites that don't all look the same.
This still does not offer any explanation as to "EXACTLY" what it is that you want and is far too generic to provide any actual advice. Basic answer - Zen Cart is fully extensible. It is mostly div based and you can create/delete any div's that you want to. Just not as a "Page" as you seem to be inferring. It is divided into logic and presentation layers as previously posted to you, yet you still ask about editing a "Page"

The same answer for all of your "PAGE" questions!

ok I think I'm a little outta my element with this one. I'm good with the templates and the stylesheet but I haven't spent the time to study the way ZC puts together a page well enough to explain it. I would say study how something like the contact us page is created....

I still can't get a basic of what zen can or can't do. If you check ecommerce sites you will rarely come across such a system, and users want a range of options and not a set layout or functionality.

I didn't want to EDIT anything with php, I just wanted to ADD a new page with php as part of it. 'What is it I want to do ' has been answered by me and no more of that please .

I understand php but not the way it has been coded on zencart. Check the php manual and you won't find anything like the logic used with this system. I hav never seen logic of this nature anywhere other than set systems like zencart and oscommerce. So I wanted to just add a webapge with some php on it.

q) eg A webpage that displays a table of information that has been retrieved from mysql using php. It doesn't matter what to do just how do you add it in with ezpages or anything else. how?

q) can you add your own webpage with php/mysql 'not why but can you'?

This is about as clear as I can get, without getting frustrated .

I don't mind zencart but I can't get enough information on what it can do exactly.

PS I reread some of the replies and I think I know the problem. People here don't really know php well.
Php isn't a system but a language. People have used php like any language to their own logic, like c++. The logic used happens to be implemented with php, but php is used a number of ways. A common way is to have php echo statements to the screen on webpages, which could inlcude html tags. This can be in 1 file all over many files using an include statement. Not small parts of text echoed to the screen spread of many files, that isn't common.

I don't mind zencart but I can't get enough information on what it can do exactly.
It is a php application plain and simple...it can be re-coded how ever you want(it is Open Source).
You need information? GREP the files for "echo"
PS I reread some of the replies and I think I know the problem. People here don't really know php well.
And according to you - you are so far above the rest of us that you should have no problem coding it to do exactly, what ever you want it to do.

Ok well I know that you can create new dynamic (php driven) pages......how? I haven't had a need too yet, but this page in the wiki might just be what your looking for http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.php/Creating_new_pages. So the question can you is answered....yes. Enjoy your reading and when you get a chance to you should study the working of most php web apps (joomla, drupal, oscommerce, phpbb2, and of course zc) you will find the modular structure is very common. Zen cart isn't that unusual your just not used to seeing it that way. The reason we ask so many "tell me what you want to do" questions is that 99% of what people want to do is already built into ZC and sometimes when we finally understand what they want to do we can explain exactly how. It would have been nice for a dev to have piped up for the short and sweet answer but I think they waiting for exactly the same info we wanted or to see how long it would take before we found the right page in the wiki to send you too.

I will check the references.
I can see the problem i am having with responses here. We all have a different understanding of php and what it is.
When people use php for websites it can be anything. A few popular applications have used php eg joomla,oscommerce which all seem pretty similar ( the old take something that works and just modify it).

Many php programs are just php and have no idea of a certain style used in only a few packages.

I am talking about php the web language and it looks like some people here talk about the php as a distinct logic for ecommerce as used here. Why use php as it has already been used? I don't get it , as once it is used for the program then that is it? Php is not just a modular language for ecommerce and far from it and that is the confusion.

It was my misunderstanding of peoples knowledge on it.

You do need php/mysql for dynamic websites , for flash applications that require mysql data, for form processing and many more reasons. It is common over the web and mostly not eccomerce apps.

Have no illusions.....I know exactly what you are talking about when it comes to php/mysql and dynamic websites. I was answering, sort of, your questions assuming you wanted the "new" pages to remain within the zen cart structure. you have the option of creating your pages anyway you want and linking to them from within zen cart. you can access the db to pull whatever info you need for the pages. Have fun

Hi,

Funny you said that as I just came to the same conclusion. I can create webpages outside the zencart system and call them in eg create a webpage with a table listing of all items, and link each item back to zencart for purchasing.
I was tring to stay within the zencart system as i thought that is what you do, and did I get confused (and annoyed).

I was wrong as I didn't need to, and basically i couldn't understand the php workings of this system well enough to mod.

Zencart with external pages becomes an all purpose system that caters for many needs, and I am glad I stuck at it. This is the easiest and most practical way to go. Just add zencart when you need to purchase items.

I did a mock trial to see how the shopping cart reacts from external links , and it works fine, and can add items many times over. You just need the url.

Thanks for all the replies as well .

When you're done, please post a link to your site so we can a ) see how far you've pushed the boundaries, and b ) perhaps understand exactly what you've been asking us! :D

Ryk:

When you're done, please post a link to your site so we can a ) see how far you've pushed the boundaries, and b ) perhaps understand exactly what you've been asking us! :D

Just tell me what you do/don't know about web stuff and I can find a few websites for you as examples. I was only after standard sites for today's market which included dynamic content.
Flash,ajax,php/mysql,JS ar all common now as well as aspx.

I know nothing - and I'm not interested in random sites; I'm curious as to what you do with ZenCart.

I haven't seen many sites like zencart around to be honest. A lot I have seen have all sorts of different layouts. I wouldn't stick with a zencart layout and claim ecommerce solved as it is much more complicated than that. With zencart links though that seems to solve most bases.

You wouldn't just sell apples at a fruit store !

Look at http://www.citysoftware.com.au which is more common than you think with its layout.

huh I didn't see anything on city software that I can't do with a base install of ZC. In fact I could probably reproduce their site in an afternoon with regards to the layout. Please point me to something unique about their layout. Lets see 100% width store, 3 columns on most page, 2 columns on some, move navMain under catTabs, turn on cart sidebox, add a couple custom sideboxes, lots of ezpages links,.....like I said nothing an afternoon wouldn't solve. The only thing I wouldn't reproduce of their site is the nested table structure everywhere......we've moved on to better practices. There may be a couple of little things that would require some custom code in some module/template files but nothing that can't be overcome. So please give me a better examples of something that is more common than I think...I don't mean to be an a$$ here but I thought you were coming up with the next best thing and your example is the same old thing....been done. I know someone is going to tell me to lighten up but I think we are having a constructive conversation......

Well the city software was done by a relative of mine using asp and 4 other people for 6 months. He was paid a lot of money to do it and it took many hours to do. The thing is very complicated and calls other servers with data.

You can't add php/flash to zencart structure for dynamic content as the ezpages are mysql data fields.

You can't add php/flash/ajax easily to the structure and that is the bottom line. To say you have no need is not really worth commenting on.

Thats enough for me on the topic .

It's obvious that you are not happy because ZenCart (free, open source) doesn't do exactly what you want to do in the way that you want to do it (even though it satisfies the needs of thousands upon thousands of users) so there's your answer; have a word with your relative.

jagguy:

Well the city software was done by a relative of mine using asp and 4 other people for 6 months. He was paid a lot of money to do it and it took many hours to do. The thing is very complicated and calls other servers with data.

Surely he'll do you as good deal? :D

On the other hand, if you're not prepared to put your money where your mouth is for something that exactly fits your needs, quit moaning that free software doesn't fit your personal desire, and put your abilities to work making it do what you want. Or find another shopping cart.

I've received your PM jagguy and, as you declare you've added me to your ignore list, the only way I can point out your inaccuracies is to publish it here (and I apologise to the rest of the community for this.)

Will you stop moaning about web development. All you do is complain that you have no need for common web technology and what rubbish you have ben told. You can't make money with that attitude?
What are you talking about? I didn't mention web development, I haven't complained about not needing common web technology - and as for making money - who mentioned that? Not me.
I was trying to help because i see you didn't know much about it at all.
You obviously don't know much about the field other than the narrow world of zencart. If you look on the web you will seen dynamic websites and NOT hardcoded similar looking clones.
Even if the above was true -so what? This is the narrow world of ZenCart (how many downloads was it ? 500,000+ )
Look up the word dynamic websites and what php,flash,ajax is?

Zencart is a beginners product that doesn't allow dynamic web development as told be me from others here. It is what it is just a simple tool. If it's not for you, don't waste your time - or ours by refusing to pay any attention to what is said.
I want to know more about zencart because it has a good add on but it ISN't a way to develop whole sites. Oh no! That's bad news for the thousands of ZenCarts owners out there that are very happy with what THEY consider to be a complete solution to their online needs.
You just went out of your way to insult me, over somethig you need more help on than me. If all you can do is moan than forget about replying because I have you on my ignore list, so you now I can't see your replies.

Ummm - no I didn't; I pointed out that you were coming across as someone who was unhappy with Zencart because it won't do exactly what you want, and suggested you went elsewhere for something that better fits your requirements.

Admittedly, there may be a little sarcasm here and there, but I don't think I have actually insulted you at any point.

"You can't add php/flash/ajax easily to the structure and that is the bottom line."

Umm... what about all the ZC users (some quite novice) who have done just that? (Search on flash.)

You can't do it in the way you were trying to. I suggest spending a bit of time finding out the correct way.

hey Jagguy,
I hate to totally burst your bubble but take a look at
https://www.moissaniteco.com

there is ALOT of really kool stuff added to this and guess what, its a ZC.

ZC does work with php,

If you want to add a page with YOUR content,
then you need to create 3 pages and 1 folder

folder
includes/modules/pages/YOUR PAGE NAME
file
includes/modules/pages/YOUR PAGE NAME/header.php
includes/languages/YOUR LANGUAGE/page_name.php
includes/templates/YOUR TEMPLATE/tpl_your pagename_default.php
includes/extra_datafiles/yourpage_filenames.php

you know have a new page with your content,
adding flash is about as easy as adding graphics,

and java can be added using DrBytes auto loaders

so every thing that you have been wondering can be donw with actually little effort.

and for further reference
http://www.zen-cart.com/book

and Please dont send me a nasty PM,

I am not flaming you I am simply answering your questions to the best of my ability, pointing out the flaws in your statement and providing details and examples

Merlin

Hello Jag, last thing,

I went and took a look at the site you quoted,
that layout and setup wouldnt take but a few hrs to setup, and Im pretty sure that these folks that you have insulted and treated like dirt,
would have at least put your site together without all the validation errors,

and Im really pretty sure that the first one wouldnt be

Open quote is expected for attribute "http-equiv" associated with an element type "meta".

Im trying to see exactly WHERE this wonder code thats pulling from an outside source is,

the authorized reseller box?

thats a baner BOX< stock in ZC

Your Dynamic Dropdowns can be easily added to the tpl_header file

My Turn - look guys Tina's Back :)

OK Topic at hand here - Jagguy - you need to learn a little more yourself - and stop labeling those of us using Zen as not knowing as much as you.

I'll be the first to admit - i know NOTHING about PHP Code myself, or Java, or Ajax - but I DO KNOW that I can pop any of those into a zen cart and have it work perfectly.

All you need to do - very SIMPLE - click DOWNLOAD above - and then oh heck - here this is the URL to where I was sending you :
http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&cPath=40_47&products_id=182

This is the "basic structure" of creating a new page in zen. I have used it over and over and I have embedded TONS of other PHP scripts into my zens - TONS MORE of Flash(that's a no brainer - surprising that someone as smart as you can't figure it out) and plenty of customizations.

You simply need to further your knowledge to get what you want - and stop slamming those who are trying to help you.

OK - I came back - I made my first post - and of course it'll piss some one off - but oh well - sometimes ppl just gotta stand up for what they believe :)