Mystery Sidebox Invisible Prior to Login

I'd like to configure a sidebox which is activated by user login in a effort to encourage registration. Any insight would be most appreciated!

You could use some of the same code as the shopping cart or my account to create this box.

Get Em Fast:

You could use some of the same code as the shopping cart or my account to create this box.

Yes, but the question is, how to trigger it so that it only appears when a user logs-in? TIA!

Those 2 boxes ARE triggered by login. That's why I suggested the use of the code from them. I'll work on it and see what I can come up with.
May I ask what this box's contents will be? Such as just text, or will it include graphics, also?

Both text & graphics. I greatly appreciate your help!

No problem. I'll get back to you sometime today. It may be a tonight, as I've got to work a couple of hours today, go pick up parts for my sons Bronco, work on it, and visit an uncle of mine that I haven't seen in a year. But don't give up on me......I won't leave you hanging. It's just going to be a busy day.
If I don't get it done by tonight at........say 8:00 P.M. central time, I'll still let you know.

I'll be here. Patience is a virtue, right? ;-)
Thanks!

Got it! It's only 2 short files, and I'm going to add it to the contributions. If it gets accepted as a contribution, will be another story.
But you will have it, anyway.

I've added it as an attachment to this post. I've never attached anything to a post in this forum, so if it don't work, don't blame me, just let me know, and I'll e-mail it to you.

What this does is show the box all the time with a message that reads "Log In to see what surprise awaits you!"

Then, after the user is logged in, it shows your hidden content (which you will have to replace, as I just added the line "your hidden content goes here"

Hope you like it. It was a little challenge, but I enjoyed making something useful for everyone to use.

Oops, already updated! Use this one instead!!

Not exactly what I had in mind (invisible prior to login), but perhaps it will take me a step closer. Thanks for your help! I'll check it out ASAP.

Invisible or not, this "works a treat" as the Brits say. TY! Now how do I add it to the catalog pull-down in Admin so that I can easily update products ala "specials"? :cool:

samadhi:

I'd like to configure a sidebox which is activated by user login in a effort to encourage registration. Any insight would be most appreciated!

samadhi:

Now how do I add it to the catalog pull-down in Admin so that I can easily update products ala "specials"? :cool:

I think it would help if you were to explain what exactly you are wanting to accomplish ...
There might be built-in features already established that might do what you want just by flipping a switch.

The purpose is to encourage users to register (and login) in order to access member's only offers. Incidentally, this doesn't have to be a sidebox. Surprised I couldn't find any info on this. Thanks, Doc!

You can set up the store so that it requires customers to log in before they can see prices. You can further restrict it so they have to log in before they can even browse what's in the store.

samadhi:

Now how do I add it to the catalog pull-down in Admin so that I can easily update products ala "specials"? :cool:

What exactly do you mean by this?

DrByte:

You can set up the store so that it requires customers to log in before they can see prices. You can further restrict it so they have to log in before they can even browse what's in the store.

Yes, but what I'd like to do is incorporate a special access-restricted area (rather than the entire site) for member's only.

Btw, no fee to join. Membership via normal registration grants access.

What will be in this "restricted area"?

Zen Cart doesn't currently offer category-specific or product-specific security restrictions.
Was there some other sort of content you were planning to limit access to?

Perhaps I can approach this another way. I'd like to offer 2 or 3 products which will change on a monthly basis exclusively to logged-in users. Is it possible to put a login restriction on the existing "specials" sidebox? IOW, it doesn't appear unless user is registered and logged-in. Thanks for your help!

Get Em Fast:

Oops, already updated! Use this one instead!!

If you want this sidebox to show up only after someone has logged in

change mystery_box.php as follows.

 $show_mystery_box = false;
 
if ($_SESSION['customer_id']) { 
$show_mystery_box = true;
}

  if ($show_mystery_box == true) {
    require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_mystery_box.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'sideboxes'). '/tpl_mystery_box.php');

// if no active banner in the specified banner group then the box will not show
// uses banners in the defined group $banner_box_group
//    if ($banner->RecordCount() > 0) {

      $title =  'Mystery Box';
      $title_link = false;
      require($template->get_template_dir($column_box_default, DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'common') . '/' . $column_box_default);
} 

This triggers the box to show only after login.