back to the zencart drawing board

My host it godaddy and they installed zencart through metropolis.

I have spent 3 weeks getting it to look how I wanted.

The shipping got me to my next challenge...I found out that there was a UK template available but it needed to be uploaded to the server BEFORE the cart was installed.

I decided to try and install zencart myself at another domain to see if I could get the UK template to work.

I downloaded, unzipped and uploaded zen cart to my server.

I downloaded, unzipped and uploaded the UK template to my server.

Ok here are my first two issues (by the way I see many other newbies having the same problems but I can never seem to find an answer?)

I cannot work out the next step

On the server locate the file: /catalog/includes/dist-configure.php
Rename this file to configure.php and change the permissions to 777 (read-write-execute for all)

Next, on the server locate the file: /catalog/admin/includes/dist-configure.php
Rename this file to configure.php and change the permissions to 777 (read-write-execute for all)

I use fireftp and have used the search function but it says no files exist.

How? where? do I find these files? and do I really need to do this because I thought I may have read that the installer does this for you? and if the installer does do this, then why is it in the documentation for installing zencart?

I jumped to the next step and try to run the installer but got the following error message (which I see lots of other people having the same issue) http://www.mydomain.com/catalog/zc_install

The page you tried to access does not exist on this server. This page may not exist due to the following reasons:

1. You are the owner of this web site and you have not uploaded (or incorrectly uploaded) your web site. For information on uploading your web site using FTP client software or web design software, click here for FTP Upload Information.

2. The URL that you have entered in your browser is incorrect. Please re-enter the URL and try again.

3. The Link that you clicked on incorrectly points to this page. Please contact the owner of this web site to inform them of this situation.

All the files appear to be there and intact when I compare them with the files I unzipped on my PC ( I havent checked them all but I have checked many of them)

Where DO the catalog files reside?

I seem to come two steps forward and 200 steps backwards.

Can anyone help me get this back off the ground?

Catalog is a very bad alias/euphemism for the folder/directory in which you choose to install your files. There is only one place that contains folders called admin and includes - as well as several others, and the is the top folder of the install.

An English translation would read

On the server locate the file: /includes/dist-configure.php.

Chuckl:

Catalog is a very bad alias/euphemism for the folder/directory in which you choose to install your files. There is only one place that contains folders called admin and includes - as well as several others, and the is the top folder of the install.

An English translation would read

On the server locate the file: /includes/dist-configure.php.

Well THAT explains a lot.
Thank you so much.

I have renamed the dist_configure.php files and changed all the permission to "read write and execute"

I still get the error that the files don't exist on the server or are wrongly uploaded.

I don't think they are.

Do I need to speak to my hosting company or are there any suggestions that might fix the issue?

Thanks in advance.

Once again, the "catalog" monster may have gotten you. If you installed to the root of mydomain.com, simply entering http://www.mydomain.com should automatically take you to the install as you have "untouched" configure.php files.

Try thinking like this:
[URL]/[SHOP-FOLDER]/includes/[FILE]

In the above 'shopfolder' could be catalogue,shop,store,goods,services - in fact anything You decide to call it.

Once you have located the folder you want to modify then most FTP programs allow you to changes permissions or content by either
a; right clicking the chosen file and selecting your choice
b; selecting the file and using the 'file','edit' options available in the drop downs.

The catalogue monster upsets your day when you have your ZC files uploaded to the hosting area and you use
[URL]/includes/[FILE]

does this help?

Kev

dbltoe:

Once again, the "catalog" monster may have gotten you. If you installed to the root of mydomain.com, simply entering http://www.mydomain.com should automatically take you to the install as you have "untouched" configure.php files.
yes all in the root of my domain, all untouched.

profitshock:

Try thinking like this:
[URL]/[SHOP-FOLDER]/includes/[FILE]

In the above 'shopfolder' could be catalogue,shop,store,goods,services - in fact anything You decide to call it.

Once you have located the folder you want to modify then most FTP programs allow you to changes permissions or content by either
a; right clicking the chosen file and selecting your choice
b; selecting the file and using the 'file','edit' options available in the drop downs.

The catalogue monster upsets your day when you have your ZC files uploaded to the hosting area and you use
[URL]/includes/[FILE]

does this help?

Kev
thanks Kev...like I said..I have done all that already...not a problem anymore once i understood the term catalog...but the installer wont start :(

http://www.mydomain.com/zc_install/

If the above URL does not work you need to verify the 'zc_install' dir. has been uploaded.

here is an image of the files in my root folder.

http://tssif.com/images/zcinstall.jpg

Anyone see any erorrs?

Sorry, but the jpg doesn't tell us what files might be missing from the zc_install directory. If you are unable to get a file to open at http://yourdomainname.com/zc_install, then1. Your zc_install folder is, in fact, not under your root directory (yourdomainname.com)
2. You have important files missing from the zc_install directory
If you are unwilling to let us know the domain, there's little else we can do.:dontgetit

dbltoe:

Sorry, but the jpg doesn't tell us what files might be missing from the zc_install directory. If you are unable to get a file to open at http://yourdomainname.com/zc_install, then1. >

2. Your zc_install folder is, in fact, not under your root directory (yourdomainname.com)

3. You have important files missing from the zc_install directory

If you are unwilling to let us know the domain, there's little else we can do.:dontgetit
Whilst I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my issue I am a little irritated at your assumption that I am unwilling to let you know the domain! (I have seen this kind of criticism all over the zencart forums)
Firstly...I wasn't asked for it.
Secondly..I am unsure about what images/information is "safe" to portay to "the world"
Thirdly..I have plastered my "altered" domain urls willingly all over the zen cart forums at the request of the people trying to help me. (which I appreciate and which can be confirmed if you check my "other" posts)

Sorry if I ruffled your feathers. We often have folks who are unable to give out the IP or URL. I perhaps should have added "or unable" to the sentence. I was trying to get something back to you before a trip this evening.

Without being able to look at the code that renders a page, we ARE forced to make assumptions. There can be many things hidden in an image that can't be seen by just looking at the image. Was it created in pieces, etc.

A person can create the same "look" many different ways. Did someone use table layout or div? It's sort of like buying parts for a car engine by saying it's a Chrysler car. Without looking under the hood, it's hard to really get the right part.

The question of whether or not the right files are in the zc_install directory has been danced around but not really answered completely or you would at least see the installation screen appear. You might try comparing a downloaded copy of the zc_install directory to the one on your site to see if the files match. Reloading just the zc_install directory to your site one more time is an option as well. It's not uncommon for an FTP to go bad.

HTH

Okay, I found the post where DrByte answered you about search engines finding half-built sites and your concerns about them. Remember that he said> However, in all the forum posts, links to external sites are not followed by google ... Other search engines might, but Google doesn't.If you are concerned about others finding it, you could always enter it as something like> m i c r o s o f t DOT c o mThat would keep the search engines away.

If you still would prefer to not use something like the above, you might ask someone of your choosing if they would accept a PM to look at the site. I'm sure you'll get a positive response and a better answer.

dbltoe:

Okay, I found the post where DrByte answered you about search engines finding half-built sites and your concerns about them. Remember that he saidIf you are concerned about others finding it, you could always enter it as something likeThat would keep the search engines away.

If you still would prefer to not use something like the above, you might ask someone of your choosing if they would accept a PM to look at the site. I'm sure you'll get a positive response and a better answer.
I don't have a problem with giving my URL. Altering like this h ttp://whosbeenframed.com solved the problem as Dr Byte suggested.
I just wasn't asked for it on this occasion!!!

Incidentally, I managed to run the installer by deleting and re-uploading the files to the root. I successfully created a database and connected to it during the installation and everything seemed to be fine until I deleted the zc_install file and change the permissions of the configure files.
sigh
Now all i have are these error messages

Warning: main(/home/content/d/o/o/doone/html/whosbeenframed/includes/autoload_func.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/content/d/o/o/doone/html/whosbeenframed/admin/includes/application_top.php on line 149

Fatal error: main(): Failed opening required '/home/content/d/o/o/doone/html/whosbeenframed/includes/autoload_func.php' (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/content/d/o/o/doone/html/whosbeenframed/admin/includes/application_top.php on line 149

Warning: main(includes/application_top.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/content/d/o/o/doone/html/whosbeenframed/index.php on line 26

Fatal error: main(): Failed opening required 'includes/application_top.php' (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/content/d/o/o/doone/html/whosbeenframed/index.php on line 26

Like i said 2 steps forward and 200 steps backwards!!!!!!!

Ok I figured it out.
I had changed the permissions on the includes FOLDER instead of the includes/configure.php FILE.

:clap:
Glad you got it going!

dbltoe:

:clap:
Glad you got it going!
thanks!!

I am nearly back to where I was before I attempted the UK template install.

Does anyone want to put me out of my misery and help me with the last few changes that I am struggling with?

I want this h ttp://whosbeenframed.com
to look like this

h ttp://storerevolution.com/cart

How do I get rid of the bright yellow menu?

How do I eliminate or modify the menu in the footer?

and how do I switch off the "slideshow" in the top right banner box?

(I deleted one of the images which turned out not to be a very goo idead:blink:)

Thanks in advance

Most all can be done in the admin portion of Zencart.

peggy:

thanks!!

I am nearly back to where I was before I attempted the UK template install.

Does anyone want to put me out of my misery and help me with the last few changes that I am struggling with?

I want this h ttp://whosbeenframed.com
to look like this

h ttp://storerevolution.com/cart

How do I get rid of the bright yellow menu? Configuration --> Layout Settings

How do I eliminate or modify the menu in the footer? Check also Configuration --> EZ-Pages

and how do I switch off the "slideshow" in the top right banner box? Tools --> Layout Boxes Controller -- turn off sidebox_banner2.php

(I deleted one of the images which turned out not to be a very goo idead:blink:)

Thanks in advance
BTW, have you looked at your site in a resolution like 800x600 or 1024x768? I ask because yours is one of the only sites I can read without my trifocals:D

Something you might try is changing > h1 {

font-size: 1.5em;
}

h2 {
font-size: 1.0em;
}

h3 {
font-size: 1.3em;
}

h4, h5, h6, LABEL, h4.optionName, LEGEND, ADDRESS, .sideBoxContent, .larger{
font-size: 1.1em;
} in your stylesheet to > h1 {
font-size: 1.1em;
}

h2 {
font-size: 1.0em;
}

h3 {
font-size: .9em;
}

h4, h5, h6, LABEL, h4.optionName, LEGEND, ADDRESS, .sideBoxContent, .larger{
font-size: .8em;
}

Note how the larger the H number, the smaller the text. I think you'll find things will look "more gooderer" that way.:yes:

I also always add this to the bottom of my stylesheet.css> p {

text-align: justify;
}

Also, when the dust settles, take a look into ImageHandler2 and Zen Lightbox in the downloads. IH2 will help manage your file sizes and ZL will make that Winter Snow Scene really sparkle.

examples at gomagnetiic.com