Re: FN-FORUM: Ecommerce - Zen Cart - Customisation

date posted 18th July 2007 14:35

Colin Rainsforth wrote:
>
> Hi Paul,
>
> At 10:56 +0000 18/7/07, Paul Stanton - Innovative Future wrote:
>> Great reply thanks Colin-useful info for everyone there. I seem to
>> remember that someone posted a bare bones template on the ZenCart
>> site but i sort of get the impression your manual approach might be
>> better than using someone else's template. This may be asking a bit
>> much but any tips on what to strip out for your "bare bones" template
>> of flat coloured boxes?
>
> The coloured boxes allow you to easily see how the main template
> breaks down. Simply adding an empty stylesheet for your install should
> make everything entirely blank.
>
> /includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/css/stylesheet.css
>
> You may want to copy the stylesheet from the default template
> directory to give you all the class names etc. but it's up to you.
>
> Most elements follow a common structure and naming convention. eg:
>
>
>
>
>
> Home
> About Us
> Log In
>
>
>
>
>
>
> This element is contained within standard HTML comment tags with 'bof'
> and 'eof' denoting the beginning and end of the block.
>
> In addition there is a wrapper div around the element itself giving
> you more flexibility when using stylesheets.
>
> The element then ends with a line break and class which clears any
> float information applied for/within the block.
>
> These blocks are then nested sequentially and hierarchically within
> other similarly structured and named elements - including the main
> page layout - and can be moved around as necessary n the source.
>
> This kind of structure is not unique to ZenCart and understanding it
> will make things a lot clearer for you. it's worth investing some time
> and playing around with the template and CSS if you're not familiar
> with this kind of thing.
>
> Elements which only occur once in a page - ie: the header - are
> referenced using their IDs. Those which appear multiple time - ie:
> side boxes - are referenced using classes. Again not unique - just
> sensible and worth understanding.
>
> BTW: The templates are not the only area which provides an override
>
> Essentially anywhere you find a directory called 'classic' you can
> create a new directory using your template name and for your custom
> files using a mirror directory structure below it. This allows you to
> customize both language and functionality without adjusting the core
> files.
>
>> Incidentally I second the usefulness of the ZenCart site, community
>> and forums-some great stuff in there though it takes a bit of finding
>> sometimes.
>
> Sure. I often use Google to search their forums when things are hard
> to find.
>
> ColinR
Colin,

Another great reply thanks Colin. I hope the person who asked the
original question about ZenCart finds it as helpful and appreciates it too.

I've muddled my way through when customising ZenCart before but now
you've explained it so succinctly it makes much more sense
already-sometimes things are so obvious that when you're told you kick
yourself for not thinking of it yourself!

Right...now I need to clear the decks and sit down with ZenCart and try
it out again from scratch-though preferably with a client paying for the
non learning part of my time...bills need paying!

See that is what a forum is for...helping and encouraging each
other-thanks again Colin

Paul


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