where is the directory

I have the ZC book and in Chapter 17, Advanced Customization, they talk about the template override system. Where are the files/directory to do Advanced Customization? I have been working on the admin side making changes to the modules but don't know where the directory is that contains the files to customize the look-and-feel of the site. This is so basic to most of you I'm sure that I was afraid to ask but the programmer I was working with did not work out and I decided to give it a try myself. Thank you.

These may help you figure thiings out a bit!

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=230

or this

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=143

Tina

Thanks for helping me!
I think I can follow the intructions on the links you sent me but I still don't know where the files or directoriies are located. I know this is probably a no brainer to all of you but I don't know. I apologize.

Are they on the Admin side or the Cpanel? where exactly?

They don't actually exist until you create them.

Using an FTP program like Filezilla (or, if you must, CPanel's file manager) look at the folder and file list on your remote site. Everywhere there is a 'classic' folder, you can create a 'CUSTOM' folder (named whatever you want) to contain any files that you modify to create your own template.

Carefully reading the tutorials tina mentioned will tell you the rest of what you need to know.

By the way, there's nothing obvious about this - don't be afraid to ask anyone anything. We all struggled with this stuff at first.

Oh, I see -
Thank you stevesh for the encouraging words.

Ok - I printed the tutorials tina pointed me to and started a binder.

It sounds like next I need to get a FTP. Could I possibly already have a FTP? Do they come standard with Operating Systems like Vista - which is what I have? If not, how do I get it? Other than Filezilla, what others should I look into?
Thank you.:wacko:

Filezilla is free and works great. SmartFTP is good, too.

Check post #4 here, too.
**
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99838**

thanks again. I printed the thread you attached and will work on it next.
So without an ftp we cannot work with the ZC files to, for instance, create the back-up files?

I downloaded filezilla but did not put ZC in it because I have a question. I have already made a lot of modifications to the store. Do I risk losing all my changes if I put my ZC store in filezilla?

You don't need to add files to filezilla.

Once you log in, the files will be accessable.

Tina

Should have asked before - is this Zencart installation on a remote (hosted) server, or on your local computer?

The reason I ask is that you don't put Zencart 'in' Filezilla.

Think of Filezilla as a 'Windows Explorer' that also allows you to move files between two different computers.

ZC is at a remote host.

Hi everyone - I read the tutorials on Understanding the Override System and also read basically the same thing in the ZC book. I don't know where the includes/templates/template_default files are. Someone said they are in the Cpanel File Manager but I don't see it -Ive looked. Can someone please, please give me exact direction and walk me through to get to them?

Second, I had a programmer work on my site and he made the site "look" completely different. I like what he did but he did not finish and I would like to continue working on it from where he left off. For example, he inserted my logo and a graphic on the top banner. Where did he go or how did he achieve that? Thank you so much!

I too have a question as to where do I put the custom directories? I ordered the books and they state... that under Includes/templates I am to create a new folder that I can name whatever I want. I now have Includes/templates/jsk.. and under this directory I have copied the CSS, Images and the template_info.php to this directory I wanted to chang the more_informaion link text from page 2 to About Us by editing the english.php file and saving it as to my local directory and then FTP the file to the includes/templates/jsk/(newfolder e.g.languages/english.php. I check the site and no change. I then reedited the file and saved it to the original directory under includes/languages/english.php when I checked the site the changes were made but when I added a product to the cart I get a blank white page. What else do I need to do to make this work properly? Any help in the right direction would be greatly appreciated!

Anywhere you see a /classic folder, you can create a folder for your custom template. Only create folders and copy files where you need them.

This list is a bit outdated, but it will give you a general idea of what to do and where to do it. Replace YOUR_TEMPLATE with whatever name you want to give your custom template.

To create a very basic custom template (you can build from there), you need:

• includes/languages/YOUR_TEMPLATE/english.php
• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/index.php
• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/meta_tags.php
• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/header.php (to change the logo)
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_header.php
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_footer.php
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/images/logo.gif
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/css/stylesheet.css

Anywhere you see a /classic/ folder, you can create a folder for your custom template. You can copy the necessary files from either the /classic/ folder, the /template_default/ folder or the parent folder.

Edit includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php to give your template identifying information so you'll recognize it in the admin under tools->template selection.

Thanks for the reply, I certainly appreceate your help. however, when everything that had a classic folder in it I created a new folder via FTP and did as you said there is still no change when I upload to the server. I can only assume that I am an idiot and overlooking something... somewhere! Could you please instruct me step by step on what too do that is I am sure you are busy so I would understand if you can not just let me know if you can assist further. I am starting out with this PHP and do not yet understand the template system! I need to know details to get me started for example, I copy file from includes/languages/english.php and after editing the file in my editor I then upload to includes/languages/classic/shop/english.php where shop is my custom directory. If you can help me I will give a contribution for your services and efforts! Thanks!

Take another look at the list I posted earlier. If you are calling your custom template /shop, you should copy includes/languages/english.php to includes/languages/custom/english.php and edit it there. The /classic folders should be left as is. They act as markers where you can create a folder (or directory if you prefer the term) for your custom template. The custom template folders should be created one the same level as the /classic folders, not IN the /classic folders.

Please forgive me as I am not completely up to speed with ZEN. I edit the english.php file and saved as to includes/languages/shop/english.php and the changes that I have made to the more_information links (i.e. page 2, page3...) and changed them to about us and candle burning faqs then saved the file in the shop directory as stated above. Then I view the site and see that no changes have taken effect. However, while expirementing I edited the includes/languages/english.php file and did the same thing and saved it to the original directory the changes were successfull but when I try to test all pages and add something to the cart then all I get is a white blank page. What am I doing wrong?

Did you go into admin->tools->template selection and select your custom template from the dropdown menu?

Yes I have selected the the shop as the template and this is my structure

includes/
templates/
shop/
CSS/
Images/
languages/english.php

Am I missing something? I actuall copied the entire languages folder from the main directory to here, was I not supposed to do that?? Update! When I used the Cpanel11 to edit the english.php file in the includes/languages folder everything changed to what I wanted it to be and the cart function worked as well. however this is the only way to get things to change to I change them in the main directory and then copy the files to the custom directory? And again I really appreciate all your help!

You only need to copy the files you are going to edit. If you copy everything, it'll be much more difficult to compare changes when you update/upgrade.

Your list is unclear to me.