Trouble creating a template from scratch

I recently installed Zen Cart into my website, and I want to completely create my own template so that it matches my site.

The entire website is under production and has a deadline of June 5th. The url for what I want it to look like is: http://www.annedorko.com/tempindex.php

I have worked with WordPress before and completely created new templates for that so I am somewhat familiar with manipulated pre-existing PHP but I am having trouble figuring out how to call just specific files to show up on my new menu. All I want on the main page is the items to show in the main content section, and in the right column to have "Login", "Categories", "Shopping Cart", and maybe like your profile information access stuff.

All that I am going to use this cart for is selling download-able stock photography so it doesn't need like all the extra stuff.

If anybody has information concerning switching templates, or about the PHP files and how to call in the specific information, please let me know!! Thank you so much!

Most of your functional layout desires can be handled in admin, by turning off the left column and the sideboxes you don't want. The switches can drastically simplify your page, and you can customize the look with the stylesheet. There is a Login Sidebox contribution available in Downloads.

Zen Cart is not set up to have bits called in to a template file; its output files can be massaged to give the information in just about any way you want.

Thanks, I was starting to figure that out this morning.

You can see what I manage to do here:

http://www.annedorko.com/stockphotography

If anyone has tips on selling digital media that would be useful too

Looking good so far! The ZC part matches the rest of your site quite seamlessly.

One thing that may be of concern: if a customer navigates away from the shop pages to a non-ZC page, their session and shopping cart contents (at least if not logged in) will be lost. It is apparently possible to work something to maintain the session id if your site is PHP, but not plain HTML.

Glenn has a great point, but other then that detail, it looks like you are doing amazingly well. Veiwing your page as a customer, I really appreciate how your cart feels like another page on your site rather then a sub-domain, well done.

Great job, keep up the good work.