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tjbeaulieu

posts: 20

Aug 25, 2008 1:48 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Thank you for your time and consideration in responding to my posts.  It`s all been so helpful.  I do have a question for the ZenCart users...I`ve been trying to customize my template and can`t seem to find some missing link.  I have Crimson Editor and Filezilla.  When I edit a ZenCart template in Crimson Editor and save my changes, what exactly are the steps to be taken afterwards to get those changes to show up in ZenCart`s Administration cpanel? (for example, as an option in Template Selection)  They say save your file and then `upload your /CUSTOM folder to your server.`  I`ve spent a lot of time on their forum but I`m just getting along at a crippled snail`s pace!  I`d just like to set up something simple and open for business already.  I would truly appreciate any help.  Thank you!
 
TheresajB
vwebworld

posts: 1237

Aug 25, 2008 1:31 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Thank you for your time and consideration in responding to my posts.  It`s all been so helpful.  I do have a question for the ZenCart users...I`ve been trying to customize my template and can`t seem to find some missing link.  I have Crimson Editor and Filezilla.  When I edit a ZenCart template in Crimson Editor and save my changes, what exactly are the steps to be taken afterwords to get those changes to show up in ZenCart`s Administration cpanel? (for example, as an option in Template Selection)  They say save your file and then `upload your /CUSTOM folder to your server.`  I`ve spent a lot of time on their forum but I`m just getting along at a crippled snail`s pace!  I`d just like to set up something simple and open for business already.  I would truly appreciate any help.  Thank you!
 
TheresajB

 
Hi,
The "custom" folder is used when you have a template (purchased or created) that you want to use in stead of the default ZenCart layout.
 
The fastest way to get going is to (1) use the default Zencart layout or (2) purchase a template. Both can be modified (graphics and colors, etc) to make it look as you want.
 
The easiest way to change the look of your ZenCart site is to change the style sheet (CSS) file. You can change the font size & color, the link styles and other "styles" associated with your ZenCart layout.
 
In the ADMIN area of ZenCart you have various layout options. So you can show or not show various "sideboxes", control how your products are displayed, etc.
 
Typically, the set up or the "look" for your site is a one time occurrence... with the maintenance of the site being done through the ADMIN login - to add, change , delete products, pricing, specials, and manage customer information, shipping, invoicing, and payments.
 
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
~Roland


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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter
tjbeaulieu

posts: 20

Aug 26, 2008 3:55 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Thank you for your help, Roland.  My website is set up on Bluehost.  I want to `attach` Zencart to that site as a the "Store" part of my site so I don`t need a fancy second Zencart page.  I just want it to be the Store part of my site.  How  do I make those changes in the css file and how do I make the connection between my website and Zencart?  The css file I looked at is a list of text and symbols that I`m not sure how to manipulate.  (this is under includes/templates/template_default/css)  I am at the right place?
 
Theresa
vwebworld

posts: 1237

Aug 26, 2008 8:02 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Linking to the store is the easy part... you can just add a menu link to www(dot)yoursite/zencartfolder  where "/zencartfolder" is where zencart is set up.
 
Changing the default look (colors and graphics) is a little more complicated.
 
The easy way to change the header graphic is create a new header grapgic with the smae imagefilename.jpg and upload it over the existing file.  Making sure that the new image has the same dimensions.
 
Depending upon what your need to change it may involve a CSS file or just some other image files. To change the CSS you can use wordpad or an html program.  Which one to change, I couldn`t tell you without looking at what you have and knowing what to need it to look like.
 
~Roland


-------------------------

Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter
tjbeaulieu

posts: 20

Aug 27, 2008 10:12 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Thank you for your help once again, Roland.  I`ve been able to start cleaning up my Zencart main page.  The real hangup is still linking Zencart to my site.  When you say to add a menu link, do you mean on my web home page in Page Wizard on Bluehost?  Then, with all of the work I`ve been doing, I really can`t recall exactly where I downloaded Zencart to in the first place.  I do know where it`s located on Filezilla--it`s in public_html, shop.  Is there a way to link it using that?  Thank you so much for your patience and help.  It`s very much appreciated.
 
Theresa
tjbeaulieu

posts: 20

Aug 27, 2008 11:12 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Nix that last post--I finally got it to work!  It was just too easy.  I suppose the overwhelming amount of info I`ve been swimming in lately has put me into complicated mode and I just didn`t see the obvious.  Thank goodness for the wonderful people in these forums or I would have given up a long time ago.  I certainly plan to pay it forward in the same way when I get to be a more seasoned business person.  Have a great night--I know I`ll sleep well tonight!
 
Theresa
tjbeaulieu

posts: 20

Aug 28, 2008 8:07 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Well, a new morning, a new challenge...Someone brought up something very interesting, unfortunately with no resolution.  Once a customer has gone from my website to Zencart`s shop, how would I create a link for them to get back to the website? 
 
Theresa
beautifulpetunia

posts: 327

Aug 29, 2008 1:00 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Hello! No web expert here, but I have added  and "About us" link to my store TOC, which opens a new browser back to my website homepage, which is about us:)
 
Hope this is helpful!
MerchantProf

posts: 12

Dec 19, 2008 7:03 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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It`s true that Zen Cart was born of OSCommerce, but the code has been re-written. I`ve hacked around with both of them and they are VERY different. Zen Cart is way easier to work with.

But Zen still requires quite a bit of work if you want to add plugins or change the design. Their template over-ride system can be very confusing, and adding plugins usually requires editing php files by hand(although, line-by-line instructions are provided). A person can buy templates for Zen cart, which I would recommend for a quick startup if this is the way you decide to go.

For a quicker startup and easier management I would use a commercial cart product. X-Cart or Miva Merchant or Able Commerce or...

I`ve used Miva Merchant a bunch and being able to just upload a plugin/module when I want to add functionality is great.

MerchantProf12/19/2008 9:06 PM


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Merchant Professionals
Payment services with absolute integrity, and respect for merchants.
Merchant Accounts, Ecommerce Payment Processing, electronic check processing, cash advance for business
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