Combining Sideboxes?

How do I combine the "Information" and "More Information" sidebox links into one Super Informational sidebox?

One of the easier methods to get what you seek is to copy down each current path
i.e.
index.php?main_page=shippinginfo
index.php?main_page=privacy
etc

use and place the ezpages sidebox in the correct location you want and add all the internal links to it

In english.php you can rename this side box to a name you prefer

Lastly turnoff info & more info

I guess that means I have to finally figure out EZ Pages. ;)

Thanks!

You will be wanting your ez-pages to serve as "internal links".

guynumber6:

I guess that means I have to finally figure out EZ Pages. ;)

Thanks!

This is a LOT easier and a million times faster than hacking the core code to try a combination. I use this method frequently, and it takes just a few minutes to set up a combined sidebox - not only with the "information" and "more information" links - but a lot more besides...

fairestcape:

This is a LOT easier and a million times faster than hacking the core code to try a combination. I use this method frequently, and it takes just a few minutes to set up a combined sidebox - not only with the "information" and "more information" links - but a lot more besides...

And what about multi-language... shameful trouble that causes then...

kobra:

One of the easier methods to get what you seek is to copy down each current path
i.e.
index.php?main_page=shippinginfo
index.php?main_page=privacy
etc

use and place the ezpages sidebox in the correct location you want and add all the internal links to it

In english.php you can rename this side box to a name you prefer

Lastly turnoff info & more info
Good info. I can see using this for static links like Shipping, Privacy, etc. But what about also combining things like categories, etc. where the links could change from time to time? I obviously can't hard code the links since the list is dynamic. What's the solution?

Vito

vito:

I can see using this for static links like Shipping, Privacy, etc. But what about also combining things like categories, etc. where the links could change from time to time? I obviously can't hard code the links since the list is dynamic. What's the solution?
There already exists a categories sidebox...
Why do you want to re-invent the wheel?

Sorry, perhaps I didn't word my question properly.

I added categories and manufacturers sideboxes to my left column. But they are in separate boxes. What I want is ONE box, with both categories and manufacturers in it.

Vito

vito:

What I want is ONE box, with both categories and manufacturers in it.
The only way that I am aware of to do this easily would be to edit a copy of the category sidebox code adding the code from the manufacturers sidebox to it

kobra:

The only way that I am aware of to do this easily would be to edit a copy of the category sidebox code adding the code from the manufacturers sidebox to it
Thanks, I think that makes sense. I've been trying to do that for the past hour but can't seem to get it right. Am I correct in assuming that I need to take some code from includes/modules/sideboxes/manufacturers.php and adding it to includes/modules/sideboxes/categories.php (of course, in my CUSTOM folder), or am I hacking the wrong file?

Vito

Try looking for the core tpl files in
includes/templates/template_default/sideboxes

The tpl's are the "display" files while the module files are the functional files

Thanks kobra. Only problem is that when looking at those tpl files, I am totally lost on what code I should copy paste over to tpl_categories.php. I tried a couple of times but totally screwed it up and had to start over. Can you tell me what code from tpl_manufacturers.php needs to be copied over?

Vito

After thinking about what you might be seeking it might be easier for you to rearrange your products by manufacturer and then link them to you existing categories
You might need a 3rd party module to get the arrangement you desire such as categories dressing??

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=216

Depending on your site's design, and how resistant you might be to changing it, one thing I have done many times is making two or more boxes appear to be one box by removing the header and border, if any, of the lower one and move it up under the other with margin and padding.

As HERE with the Documents and Categories box.

#documentcategories {border-bottom:none;}
#categoriesHeading {display:none;}
#categories {border-top:none; margin-top:-9px;}

As long as you don't need the different sideboxes' content to be mixed together (like manufacturers between categories), this method is by far the easiest and most sensible.
Even if you have fancy rounded corners or background graphics, with a bit of CSS work you can tweak the individual sideboxes to blend together.