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I have a million questions but I will start here

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22 Sep 2008, 4:28 AM
#1
brucensal avatar

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I have a million questions but I will start here

Hi,

I bought a basiz website on ebay for my wife's little business. And have since discovered it is a Zen Cart site. We wanted to modify it significantly but the host is not too helpfull (that's another story).

I have since downloaded and install zen cart on my pc and wanted to start changing it. First question is there a resource that will tell me where things are i.e the logowrapper has thi info in it and it is located here... etc.

The first thing I want to do is change the logo and add a flash menu below it. I have searched for hrs and nothing really tells me how to do what I want. I have made the new logo and the basics of the menu here http://giftsfromyourheart.com.au/indextest.htm The menu is not finished nor does it link to anything but I just want to know how to get it on there.

On more thing for this post anyway How do i change the greeting...'Welcome to my site etc and add changing images etc.

I have seen some really great zen cart sites so I know it can be done just need to know where to find out how.

Thanks again hopefully someone can help me.!!!!!!!:dontgetit:dontgetit

22 Sep 2008, 4:37 AM
#2
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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

brucensal:

Hi,

I bought a basiz website on ebay for my wife's little business. And have since discovered it is a Zen Cart site. We wanted to modify it significantly but the host is not too helpfull (that's another story).

I have since downloaded and install zen cart on my pc and wanted to start changing it. First question is there a resource that will tell me where things are i.e the logowrapper has thi info in it and it is located here... etc.

The first thing I want to do is change the logo and add a flash menu below it. I have searched for hrs and nothing really tells me how to do what I want. I have made the new logo and the basics of the menu here http://giftsfromyourheart.com.au/indextest.htm The menu is not finished nor does it link to anything but I just want to know how to get it on there.

On more thing for this post anyway How do i change the greeting...'Welcome to my site etc and add changing images etc.

I have seen some really great zen cart sites so I know it can be done just need to know where to find out how.

Thanks again hopefully someone can help me.!!!!!!!:dontgetit:dontgetit
A lot of your "million" questions can be answered in the Tutorials/FAQ section of the forum (link at the top of this page)

NOTE: We are sorry that Clyde is no longer with us.
We are grateful for all his contributions to the Zen Cart community.

22 Sep 2008, 4:45 AM
#3
brucensal avatar

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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

Thanks Clyde,

I have searched those links to find what I want but there is nothing specific that I can see, I found the how to add flash, but where do i put that script I tried in a few places and it didn't work.

I am very new to zen cart so i could be looking in the wrong place. This could be out of my reach too not sure, but I thought changing things shouldn't be too hard.

22 Sep 2008, 6:05 AM
#4
clydejones avatar

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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

brucensal:

Thanks Clyde,

I have searched those links to find what I want but there is nothing specific that I can see, I found the how to add flash, but where do i put that script I tried in a few places and it didn't work.

I am very new to zen cart so i could be looking in the wrong place. This could be out of my reach too not sure, but I thought changing things shouldn't be too hard.

If you do a forum search for flash header You should come up with several threads that may be of help.

as for this question On more thing for this post anyway How do i change the greeting...'Welcome to my site etc and add changing images etc.

Try this link in the tutorials/FAQ section
What Every New Zen Cart User Needs to Know This section answers many of the basic questions.

NOTE: We are sorry that Clyde is no longer with us.
We are grateful for all his contributions to the Zen Cart community.

22 Sep 2008, 12:32 PM
#5
brucensal avatar

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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

I cant believe this is so difficult. I have been reading threads till my eyes bleed, and for the life of me I cant manage to get flash to load in my header.

The threads just don't seem to say where everything is to be placed, where do i place the code to embed the flash. Where do i put the swf file itself etc. I must not be reading something properly but i cant get it to work. :censored:

I have a flash menu that I want to put below the main logo. Is this possible. I am using dreamweaver to edit the tpl_header.php file I assume that's where i put it. But where in the page does it go so I will be below the logo.

I seemed to find the spot and hit enter to allow room for the flash but doesn't work. I dreamweaver the menu works fine when I click play.

What I want to do is shown here:

http://www.giftsfromyourheart.com.au/indextest.htm

Please can someone help me what am i doing wrong I cant cant post the site as I am working on it locally

:censored:

Thanks this is driving me crazy

22 Sep 2008, 1:31 PM
#6
afo avatar

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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

php files should be edited with a good text editor like Notepad++ or Crimson Editor. Dreamweaver is pretty much useless for Zen Cart.

Mary Ellen
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22 Sep 2008, 2:29 PM
#7
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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

afo:

php files should be edited with a good text editor like Notepad++ or Crimson Editor. Dreamweaver is pretty much useless for Zen Cart.

Sorry to go a little off-topic, but why is Dreamweaver useless for working with Zen Cart?

brucensal:

I seemed to find the spot and hit enter to allow room for the flash but doesn't work. I dreamweaver the menu works fine when I click play.

It sounds like your Flash file is in the wrong place (or the its path is incorrect).

Preview your website in a web browser and find out the path/location of the Flash file it is trying to load.

Once you get an understanding of where to place files it should be easy to fix.

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22 Sep 2008, 3:42 PM
#8
afo avatar

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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

I've never used Dreamweaver, but as I understand it, it's great for designing HTML sites. Zen Cart uses php to generate the HTML, so you're not really working on an HTML site. I've seen too many posts by frustrated users wondering what HTML files to edit in Dreamweaver. To work on Zen Cart, you're best off with a good text editor and FTP client. WYSIWYG doesn't really apply.

Mary Ellen
I came; I saw; I Zenned
Taking over the world... one website at a time
Make sure brain is engaged before putting mouth in gear... or fingers to keyboard.

Holzheimer
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22 Sep 2008, 4:01 PM
#9
vger avatar

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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

In Dreamweaver you have a "Design" and a "Coding" view which you can switch between - for html files.

PHP requires a web server to run on, so the Design view doesn't work.

Once you know that there's no point in using Dreamweaver and a good Plain Text Editor like Text Pad, Crimson Editor or PS Pad will serve you much better.

If you want to preview the changes you make to files whilst on your PC then you'll need to turn your PC into an offline (Intranet) web server.

This is a lot easier than it sounds. Just go to https://www.apachefriends.org/en and download XAMPP for Windows (assuming your computer has a Windows operating system), and click to Install it. It is a 1-click install with everything you need.

Vger

22 Sep 2008, 8:00 PM
#10
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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

At the moment I use Dreamweaver (coding view and sometimes design view for define_pages content) and have no problems. The sync facility seems to work well. I also run IIS on my desktop so can easily preview changes made to code without uploading.

When afo said that Dreamweaver was "pretty much useless for Zen Cart" I got worried and thorght it could have the potential to corrupt files or something! :P

brucensal:

I bought a basiz website on ebay for my wife's little business.

Do you mean a basic website? If so, do you have an example/link to this?

The reason I ask is because the site you purchased could be based on an old version of Zen Cart. Therefore, it may be easier to just download and set up a new copy of Zen Cart - instead of working with an old version.

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22 Sep 2008, 10:19 PM
#11
brucensal avatar

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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

HI Alex,

I am starting from scratch. I am not sure what version it was done in. I have downloaded and installed the latest zen cart and am changing that, then I will try and upload it and remove the other one.

Am I putting the flash in the right page.?? can it be put under the logo or does it all have to be one flash file with the image and menu integrated.???

Thanks

23 Sep 2008, 10:37 AM
#12
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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

You can put the Flash code under the logo, that's fine.

However, in my earlier posts I was referring to the placement of the Flash/SWF file.

Maybe it's best to upload your new copy of Zen Cart and post a link here.

Then it'll be a lot easier to find out what's wrong.

My Contributions: Zen Lightbox | Best Sellers Reloaded

23 Sep 2008, 12:48 PM
#13
brucensal avatar

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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

Thanks Alex,

But not sure how to upload the files so it will not affect the active site that is running now. Contemplating downloading the original site and trying to change it. I have a fair bit I would like to change but I feel I don't have a chance of being able to do it, I spend hrs trying to see what does what and get nowhere, its driving me crazy. This is the code form my tpl_header.php file hope it helps you help me. But i just feel changing things to what I want is going o be way too hard:

<?php /** * Common Template - tpl_header.php * * this file can be copied to /templates/your_template_dir/pagename<br /> * example: to override the privacy page<br /> * make a directory /templates/my_template/privacy<br /> * copy /templates/templates_defaults/common/tpl_footer.php to /templates/my_template/privacy/tpl_header.php<br /> * to override the global settings and turn off the footer un-comment the following line:<br /> * <br /> * $flag_disable_header = true;<br /> * * @package templateSystem * @copyright Copyright 2003-2006 Zen Cart Development Team * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce * @license <http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt> GNU Public License V2.0 * @version $Id: tpl_header.php 4813 2006-10-23 02:13:53Z drbyte $ */ ?> <?php // Display all header alerts via messageStack: if ($messageStack->size('header') > 0) { echo $messageStack->output('header'); } if (isset($_GET['error_message']) && zen_not_null($_GET['error_message'])) { echo htmlspecialchars(urldecode($_GET['error_message'])); } if (isset($_GET['info_message']) && zen_not_null($_GET['info_message'])) { echo htmlspecialchars($_GET['info_message']); } else { } ?> <!--bof-header logo and navigation display--> <?php if (!isset($flag_disable_header) || !$flag_disable_header) { ?> <div id="headerWrapper"> <!--bof-navigation display--> <div id="navMainWrapper"> <div id="navMain"> <ul class="back"> <li><?php echo '<a href="' . HTTP_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . '">'; ?><?php echo HEADER_TITLE_CATALOG; ?></a></li> <?php if ($_SESSION['customer_id']) { ?> <li><a href="<?php echo zen_href_link(FILENAME_LOGOFF, '', 'SSL'); ?>"><?php echo HEADER_TITLE_LOGOFF; ?></a></li> <li><a href="<?php echo zen_href_link(FILENAME_ACCOUNT, '', 'SSL'); ?>"><?php echo HEADER_TITLE_MY_ACCOUNT; ?></a></li> <?php } else { if (STORE_STATUS == '0') { ?> <li><a href="<?php echo zen_href_link(FILENAME_LOGIN, '', 'SSL'); ?>"><?php echo HEADER_TITLE_LOGIN; ?></a></li> <?php } } ?> <?php if ($_SESSION['cart']->count_contents() != 0) { ?>
<li><a href="<?php echo zen_href_link(FILENAME_SHOPPING_CART, '', 'NONSSL'); ?>"><?php echo HEADER_TITLE_CART_CONTENTS; ?></a></li>
<li><a href="<?php echo zen_href_link(FILENAME_CHECKOUT_SHIPPING, '', 'SSL'); ?>"><?php echo HEADER_TITLE_CHECKOUT; ?></a></li>
<?php }?> </ul> </div> <div id="navMainSearch"><?php require(DIR_WS_MODULES . 'sideboxes/search_header.php'); ?></div> <br class="clearBoth" /> </div> <!--eof-navigation display--> <!--bof-branding display--> <div id="logoWrapper"> <div id="logo"><?php echo '<a href="' . HTTP_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . '">' . zen_image($template->get_template_dir(HEADER_LOGO_IMAGE, DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'images'). '/' . HEADER_LOGO_IMAGE, HEADER_ALT_TEXT) . '</a>'; ?></div> <?php if (HEADER_SALES_TEXT != '' || (SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET2 != '' && $banner = zen_banner_exists('dynamic', SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET2))) { ?> <div id="taglineWrapper"> <?php if (HEADER_SALES_TEXT != '') { ?> <div id="tagline"><?php echo HEADER_SALES_TEXT;?></div> <?php } ?> <?php if (SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET2 != '' && $banner = zen_banner_exists('dynamic', SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET2)) { if ($banner->RecordCount() > 0) { ?> <div id="bannerTwo" class="banners"><?php echo zen_display_banner('static', $banner);?></div> <?php } } ?> </div> <?php } // no HEADER_SALES_TEXT or SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET2 ?> </div> <br class="clearBoth" /> <!--eof-branding display--> <!--bof-flash display--> <div id="flashWrapper"> <div id="flash"> <object classid="clsid:27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=7,0,19,0" width="1200" height="140" align="middle"> <param name="movie" value="../Images/htemplate1.swf" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="../Images/htemplate1.swf" width="1200" height="140" align="middle" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed> </object> </div> <?php if (HEADER_SALES_TEXT != '' || (SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET2 != '' && $banner = zen_banner_exists('dynamic', SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET2))) { ?> <div id="taglineWrapper"> <?php if (HEADER_SALES_TEXT != '') { ?> <div id="tagline"><?php echo HEADER_SALES_TEXT;?></div> <?php } ?> <?php if (SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET2 != '' && $banner = zen_banner_exists('dynamic', SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET2)) { if ($banner->RecordCount() > 0) { ?> <div id="bannerTwo" class="banners"><?php echo zen_display_banner('static', $banner);?></div> <?php } } ?> </div> <?php } // no HEADER_SALES_TEXT or SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET2 ?> </div> <br class="clearBoth" /> <!--eof-flash display--> <!--eof-header logo and navigation display--> <!--bof-optional categories tabs navigation display--> <?php require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_modules_categories_tabs.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_modules_categories_tabs.php'); ?> <!--eof-optional categories tabs navigation display--> <!--bof-header ezpage links--> <?php if (EZPAGES_STATUS_HEADER == '1' or (EZPAGES_STATUS_HEADER == '2' and (strstr(EXCLUDE_ADMIN_IP_FOR_MAINTENANCE, $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'])))) { ?> <?php require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_ezpages_bar_header.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'templates'). '/tpl_ezpages_bar_header.php'); ?> <?php } ?> <!--eof-header ezpage links--> </div> <?php } ?>

Thanks Again
Bruce

23 Sep 2008, 2:08 PM
#14
stevesh avatar

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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

If you only have the one domain, you can install the new Zencart installation on a subdirectory (/store, for example) then move it into the root when you're ready.

As Alex said, your Flash question will be easier to diagnose if we can see the site you're trying to insert it into.

It could be something as simple as there not being enough room for it - I don't use Flash, so I don't know what happens when you try to put 10 pounds of Flash in a 5 pound sack. Your Flash is width="1200" height="140" - much bigger than the standard Zencart headerWrapper.

23 Sep 2008, 10:43 PM
#15
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Re: I have a million questions but I will start here

Oh Ok So I have to install the cart on the server, not just ftp the files and folders.

I will try the size idea when I get home again and see if that makes a difference.

Thanks.