How do you add a splash page to Zen Cart

Hi, I would like to add a splash page in front of the Zen Cart, what would be the easiest way to do this? Why would I want one.... for the same reason a book has a cover....:smile:
Thanks, METOOTECH

You can enter all the code you like in define_main_page.php in Tools > Define Pages Editor, and you can set flags in tpl_main_page.php to disable header, footer, left or right sidebars on the home page (instructions right in the file).

There are also admin switches to turn off breadcrumbs and the customer greeting on the home page.

Hmmm, I would like to retain the Zen home page.... how about putting the cart in a folder called catalog and making a simple static index page called index.html with a click and enter link to the catalog/index.php page... would this work?
Metootech

It would technically work, but it's an unnecessary extra click for every customer who visits your store, and not recommended as good practice. I know lots of people still do it. Also, when you have search engine links to relevant places in your store, anyone who follows them will never see your splash page.

But it is your choice in the end.

Hehe, well if that's true, then the publishers of books, catalogs and magazines ought to do away with their front covers and just have their indexes showing when you pick them up... that way they would all look boringly alike with the menu and a lot of text and few images. And after all, when a book, magazine or catalog is purchased and the new owner has looked at the cover a few times, they tend to just open it back up the next time with out even looking at the cover... but it was that cover that enticed them to pick it up in the first place and provided that the contents is appealing and/or informative, then they will come back for more. Sure, after visiting an appealing website a few time, most people bookmark interior pages... that's to be expected. The purpose of the splash page, if it's done right with no annoying Flash or something equally obnoxious, is to lure new customers to take a look, just like a book, catalog or magazine cover. Splash pages were never meant to be bookmarked or visited each and every time a returning customer comes to your site. If this didn't work well, then the publishing industry would have already gotten rid of the practice, a long time ago... :yes:

Thanks for your help, METOOTECH

Maybe we are not on the same page here... when I say splash page, I mean Front Cover page... just like the one on your "Future Relics" website called "shop"... that's in between your Domain Name and you index page.... I am not talking about an obnoxious Flash page... And I do see that my iidea would "technically work" because you have used the method on you website.... "it's an unnecessary extra click for every customer who visits your store, and not recommended as good practice." I don't understand why you would make this statement, when you a doing this very thing on your website??? :frusty:

Thanks, METOOTECH

Actually, I did exactly what I recommended to you.

My splash page is (or will be when finished) a fully functioning home page, almost entirely built through define_main_page.php and an index_home.css stylesheet. There are a few tweaks in other files to affect how some things behave on the home page.

Maybe you're referring to the holding page in the domain root... we put that in a year ago before we had a site we wanted people to see, and that layer will disappear when we officially open for web business.

I'm looking to create a "splash" page that has a featured product on it. Essentially, there would be a big "buy me now!" button, and then some other links less prominantly displayed to get into the rest of the store.

Am I correct in thinking I need to edit the define_main_page.php? I don't want this to be "home" necessarily, but the "front" page if you hit the site.

Yes, you would do this in define_main_page.php. It will be your "home" page; you will be able to navigate between it and the rest of the site.

My home page is not intended to be seen often while navigating inside the site, but is fully functioning if someone wants to go back to it.

yes modify the main page just like in earlier suggestions and insert an image with an image map

I'm very interested in figuring out how to make a splash page for ZenCart that doesn't kill search engines as well. I have an 18 and over only book store that I'm building for a client, and while I know splash pages are inherently a bad idea in most situations... for her it's a necessity in this case. For legal reasons.. she has to provide a "Click Here if you're exactly or over 18" to enter the site. I know people under 18 click anyway.. but legally the store is protected.

So.. any thoughts?

This will require a bit codding, but I think ZC has some built-in function that can determine if the visitor is a SE bot (check admin/whos_online.php), you can take advantage of that one and only display the splash page if the user is not a SE bot.

I have an html splash page already designed.. I just can't get it worked out how to have it pull up.

When you say that it would require a bit of coding... what are we talking about time and price wise to make that happen?

I've tried using javascript to detect cookies and such and display the splash page.. but I'm thinking the fact that the java call is going on a php page and not an html page messed me up... and it reacted badly with the flash header. I don't java.. it was a cut and paste thing from dynamicdrive that I tried couldn't make it work. I've been told that a similar thing could be done with php... but I have to find anything on the how that would work.

There may be a better way that I'm not aware of, but the fist thing comes to my mind is:
first you check if the current visitor is a bot, if yes the let him pass thru
If not, check if he already clicked on the agreement (when he clicked on it, you store that in the session or cookie(cookie is better in this case, so you may want to try cookie first, the session)).
If he didnt, then you re-direct him to the splash page.

All these code can be put somewhere, say in the tpl_header.php, oh, better yet, put it in the auto_loaders (check wiki for more info)

Even if they have went into the store before... it would still need to send them to it again... A situation comes to mind where parents and children share a computer... if the parent went in before, then the kid wouldn't need to go straight in.

I don't know much at all about programming cookies.. but I've been under the impression that a session cookie would work best. I have a couple coders that I keep on hand for this stuff normally, but they're both too busy right now and I need it like yesterday... so I'm trying to figure it out.

Basically.. don't want to send them to the splash page every time the click a link in the store.. but do want them to have to click the over 18 link every time they come back to the store... and need to make sure bots can get through.

It seems like it should be easy.. but I've crashed my demo store twice so far trying different things out.

I'll check the wiki about auto loaders.. that's something I'm not familiar with... so maybe the answer lies in that route some how.

If that's what you want, yup a session would work.