Showcase your newly added products by using the zen cart New Products Sidebox. This step by step tutorial will show you how to adjust the number of products shown in the New Products side box.

1. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Configuration -> Maximum Values.

2. Click on “Random New Products for SideBox”, adjust the number, and click on the “update” button.

3. Refresh your browser and view the changes.

Would you like to remove the Gift Certificate FAQ and Discount Coupons links from the information sidebox? This step by step tutorial will show you how to do this easily from the zen cart admin.

This tutorial features the Alysa Rounded free zen cart template by Picaflor Azul. You can download this template for free here.

Remove Discount Coupons Link

1. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Configuration -> Define Page Status:

2. Select “Define Discount Coupon” and click on the “edit” button.

3. To remove the link from the Information Sidebox, select option “2= Link OFF, Define Text ON” or “3= Link OFF, Define Text OFF”.

Remove Gift Certificate FAQ Link

1. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Module -> Order Total.

2. Select “Gift Certificates” and click on the “remove” button.

If you need help customizing your zen cart web site, please contact us for a quote.

The More Information sidebox in zen cart is perfect for adding extra pages of content to your site. It is very useful because you can edit the content of the pages via the define pages editor in the zen cart admin. By default, it comes installed with generic page names, titles, etc. This tutorial will show you step by step how to customize this sidebox to use it for your custom content. This tutorial will use our free zen cart template Andover Modern as an example. You can download this template for free here.

Preparation

1. Go to your Admin -> Tools -> Layout Boxes Controller and activate the more_information.php sidebox.

Change the Name of the Sidebox and the Names of the Sidebox Links

2. In your favorite plain text editor, open includes/languages/english.php. On or around line 147 find this code:

// information box text in sideboxes/more_information.php - were TUTORIAL_
define('BOX_HEADING_MORE_INFORMATION','More Information');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_2', 'Page 2');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_3', 'Page 3');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_4', 'Page 4');

3. Change the text in green to your new text.

// information box text in sideboxes/more_information.php - were TUTORIAL_
define('BOX_HEADING_MORE_INFORMATION','Your Sidebox Heading');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_2', 'Your Page Name');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_3', 'Your Page Name');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_4', 'Your Page Name');

4. Save the file to your template override directory, in this case includes/languages/andover_modern/english.php

***This is a php file and MUST be edited in a plain text editor. If you try to edit this file in any type of wysiwyg editor, the code will be corrupted and when you insert the file back into your zen cart it will break your entire site.***

Change the Page Name and Browser Bar/Breadcrumb Title

5. Open includes/languages/english/page_2.php. Find this code:

define('NAVBAR_TITLE', 'Page 2'');
define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Page 2');

6. Change the ‘Page 2′ to your page name.

define('NAVBAR_TITLE', 'Your page name'');
define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Your page name');

7. Save the file to your template override directory, in this case it is includes/languages/english/andover_modern/page_2.php

Add Your Text to the Page

8. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Admin -> Tools -> Define Pages Editor

9. Select define_page_2.php from the pull down menu.

10. Enter your page content into the big box.

You are all finished!

The More Information sidebox in zen cart is perfect for adding extra pages of content to your site. It is very useful because you can edit the content of the pages via the define pages editor in the zen cart admin. By default, it comes installed with generic page names, titles, etc. This tutorial will show you step by step how to customize this sidebox to use it for your custom content. This tutorial will use our free zen cart template Andover Modern as an example. You can download this template for free here.

Preparation

1. Go to your Admin -> Tools -> Layout Boxes Controller and activate the more_information.php sidebox.

Change the Name of the Sidebox and the Names of the Sidebox Links

2. In your favorite plain text editor, open includes/languages/english.php. On or around line 147 find this code:

// information box text in sideboxes/more_information.php - were TUTORIAL_
define('BOX_HEADING_MORE_INFORMATION','More Information');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_2', 'Page 2');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_3', 'Page 3');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_4', 'Page 4');

3. Change the text in green to your new text.

// information box text in sideboxes/more_information.php - were TUTORIAL_
define('BOX_HEADING_MORE_INFORMATION','Your Sidebox Heading');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_2', 'Your Page Name');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_3', 'Your Page Name');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_4', 'Your Page Name');

Save the file to your template override directory, in this case includes/languages/andover_modern/english.php

***This is a php file and MUST be edited in a plain text editor. If you try to edit this file in any type of wysiwyg editor, the code will be corrupted and when you insert the file back into your zen cart it will break your entire site.***

Change the Page Name and Browser Bar/Breadcrumb Title

Open includes/languages/english/page_2.php. Find this code:

define('NAVBAR_TITLE', 'Page 2'');
define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Page 2');

4. Change the ‘Page 2′ to your page name.

define('NAVBAR_TITLE', 'Your page name'');
define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Your page name');

5. Save the file to your template override directory, in this case it is includes/languages/english/andover_modern/page_2.php

Add Your Text to the Page

6. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Admin -> Tools -> Define Pages Editor

7. Select define_page_2.php from the pull down menu.

8. Enter your page content into the big box.

You are all finished!

The default heading for the categories sidebox in zen cart is “Categories”. You might want to change this to something else that will reflect the feeling of your site better. This step by step tutorial will show you how to change the name of the categories sidebox heading in zen cart. Note that the procedure used in this tutorial can be applied to any of the sidebox headings.

This tutorial features the All Business free zen cart template by Picaflor Azul. If you like it you can download it for free here.

1.In your favorite plain text editor open includes/languages/your-template-override-directory/english.php. If you do not already have an override for this file copy the includes/languages/english.php to includes/languages/your-template-override-directory/english.php.

2.Find this code on or around line 77:

// categories box text in sideboxes/categories.php
define('BOX_HEADING_CATEGORIES','Categories');

3.Change 'Categories' to your new text making sure to keep the single quotes intact.

4.Save the file.

***This is a php file and MUST be edited in a plain text editor. If you try to edit this file in any type of wysiwyg editor, the code will be corrupted and when you insert the file back into your zen cart it will break your entire site.***

Showing all of your documents in one sidebox can be very handy. You might have a recipe section on your site, or product guides, etc. This step by step tutorial will show you how to show all of your documents in their own sidebox.

This tutorial features the Andover Modern free zen cart template by Picaflor Azul. If you would like to use it for your zen cart project, you can download it for free here:

Andover Modern Free Zen Cart Template

1. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Catalog -> Categories/Products.

2. Create a category to hold your documents. If you do not know how to create a category, see this turtorial:

How to Add Categories and Sub Categories in Zen Cart

3. Click on the edit category icon, the green “e”

4. Click on the drop down menu for “Restrict to Product Type” and select “Document General”. Then click on the “Add Include SubCategories” button and then the “save” button. Only categories restricted to product type “Document General” will show in the documents sidebox.

5. Add a “product” as you normally would to your new documents category, making sure to select “Document-General” from the pull down menu before clicking on the “new product” button.

If you don’t know how to add a product, follow this tutorial:

How to Add Products to Zen Cart

Now you will see your documents in their own sidebox.

If you would like to rename the sidebox to something else, for example “How To’s” follow this tuorial:

How to Change the Name of the Categories (or any) Sidebox Heading in Zen Cart

If you have disabled the category counts but now see arrows next to your category names, you will probably want to remove these arrows. This step by step tutorial will show you how to remove the arrows next to your category names in zen cart.

This tutorial features the All Business free zen cart template by Picaflor Azul. If you want to use it for your zen cart store, you can download it for free here:

All Business Free Zen Cart Template by Picaflor Azul

1. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Configuration -> Layout Settings.

2. Click on “Categories Separator between the Category Name and Count”, remove all that is in the box, and click on the “update” button.

Product Reviews are a valuable promotional tool for your business. Encourage customers to read and leave reviews for your products by showing more of them in the Zen Cart Reviews Sidebox. In this step by step tutorial you will learn how to show more reviews in the Reviews Sidebox.

This tutorial features the Aberdeen Neutral free zen cart template by Picaflor Azul. If you like it and want to use it for your web site, you can download it for free here:

Download the Aberdeen Neutral free zen cart template by Picaflor Azul

1. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Configuration -> Maximum Values.

2. Click on “Random Product Reviews for SideBox”, adjust the number to your liking, and click on the “update” button.

3. Refresh your browser and see the changes.

By default, the Manufacturer’s sidebox in zen cart is set to display 3 names. In other words, the text “please select” and 2 manufacturer’s names will show. This can easily be adjusted via the zen cart admin. This step by step tutorial will show you how to increase the number of manufacturer names shown in the sidebox.

This tutorial features the Apparel Boutique free zen cart template by Picaflor Azul. If you want to use this template for your zen cart, you can download it for free here.

The default Manufacturer’s Sidebox:

1. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Configuration ->Maximum Values

2. Click on “Manufacturers List – Scroll Box Size/Style”, set the number of manufacturers that you want to show, and click on the “update” button.

The More Information sidebox in zen cart is perfect for adding extra pages of content to your site. It is very useful because you can edit the content of the pages via the define pages editor in the zen cart admin. By default, it comes installed with generic page names, titles, etc. This tutorial will show you step by step how to customize this sidebox to use it for your custom content. This tutorial will use our free zen cart template Andover Modern as an example. You can download this template for free here.

Preparation

Go to your Admin -> Tools -> Layout Boxes Controller and activate the more_information.php sidebox.

Change the Name of the Sidebox and the Names of the Sidebox Links

1. In your favorite plain text editor, open includes/languages/english.php. On or around line 147 find this code:

// information box text in sideboxes/more_information.php - were TUTORIAL_
define('BOX_HEADING_MORE_INFORMATION','More Information');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_2', 'Page 2');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_3', 'Page 3');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_4', 'Page 4');

2. Change the text in green to your new text.

// information box text in sideboxes/more_information.php - were TUTORIAL_
define('BOX_HEADING_MORE_INFORMATION','Your Sidebox Heading');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_2', 'Your Page Name');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_3', 'Your Page Name');
define('BOX_INFORMATION_PAGE_4', 'Your Page Name');

3. Save the file to your template override directory, in this case includes/languages/andover_modern/english.php

***This is a php file and MUST be edited in a plain text editor. If you try to edit this file in any type of wysiwyg editor, the code will be corrupted and when you insert the file back into your zen cart it will break your entire site.***

Change the Page Name and Browser Bar/Breadcrumb Title

Open includes/languages/english/page_2.php. Find this code:

define('NAVBAR_TITLE', 'Page 2'');
define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Page 2');

4. Change the ‘Page 2′ to your page name.

define('NAVBAR_TITLE', 'Your page name'');
define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Your page name');

5. Save the file to your template override directory, in this case it is includes/languages/english/andover_modern/page_2.php

Add Your Text to the Page

6. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Admin -> Tools -> Define Pages Editor

7. Select define_page_2.php from the pull down menu.

8. Enter your page content into the big box.

You are all finished!

If you need help with your zen cart web site, please contact us for a quote.

All of our free templates come with the option of turning on the currency drop down menu and languages in the header. This step by step tutorial will show you how to turn on the header currencies and languages.

This tutorial features the All Business free zen cart template by Picaflor Azul. If you want to use it for your zen cart store, you can download it for free here.

1. Step one is to log into your zen cart admin and go to Tools -> LayoutBoxes Controller

2. Click on “sideboxes/your-template-override-directory/languages_header.php” and then click on the “edit” button

3. Set the “Single Column Status:” to “ON” and set the “Single Column Sort Order:” to something other than “0″ then click on the “update” button.

4. Now click on “sideboxes/your-template-override-directory/currencies_header.php” and then click on the “edit” button.

5. Set the “Single Column Status:” to “ON” and set the “Single Column Sort Order:” to something other than “0″ then click on the “update” button.

If you need help customizing your zen cart web site, or would like a great custom design, please contact us for a quote.

Make good use of your zen cart store’s header by adding a search box. This functionality is native to zen cart and easy to implement when you follow this step by step tutorial.

1. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Admin -> Tools -> Layout Boxes Controller:

2. Find the sideboxes/search_header.php and click on the green “e”.

3. Set the “Single Column Sort Order:” to something other than 0 and click “On” for “Single Column Status:”, then click on “update”.

You have just turned on the header search box! If you are using the Aberdeen Neutral template, it will look like this:

You can download all of the free zen cart templates by Picaflor Azul by clicking here. All of our free zen cart templates feature the ability to turn the search header box on or off.

If you need help with your zen cart web site, please contact us for a quote.

If you don’t like to see the numbers next to your categories in the category sidebox, this step by step tutorial will show you how to turn them off.

This tutorial features the Apparel Boutique free zen cart template by Picaflor Azul. You can download it for free here.

1. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Configuration -> My Store

2. Select “Show Category Counts” and click on the “edit” button.

3. Click on “false” and then click on the “update” button.

Go to your site and see the results.

If you need help customizing your zen cart web site, please contact us for a quote.

Zen cart natively comes with many sideboxes and there are a ton more that you can install for additional functionality. If you are like me and love a clean, uncluttered, easy to navigate site, you will want to turn off most of these. This step by step tutorial will show you how to remove and/or re-arrange the sideboxes in your zen cart.

This tutorial features the Pink Boutique free zen cart template by Picaflor Azul. If you want to use it for your zen cart store, you can download it for free here.

1. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Tools -> Layout Boxes Controller

2. Select the sidebox that you want to edit or remove and click on the green “e”.

3a. To turn the box off set the “Left/Right Column Status:” to “OFF” and click on update.

3b. To turn the box on there are 3 bits of information you need to set:

• A. “Left/Right Column Status:”–set to “ON”
• B. “Location: (Single Column ignores this setting)”–set to “LEFT” or “RIGHT”
• C. “Left/Right Column Sort Order:” (The position of the boxes is based on their sort order. Example: a box with a sort of 10 would be above a box with a sort of 30.)

And click on the “update” button.

This tutorial will show you step by step how to adjust the width of the zen cart sideboxes to fit your design and shop needs perfectly.

This tutorial features our free zen cart template Alysa Rounded. If you like it and want to use it for your zen cart project, you can download it for free here:

Download the Alyssa Rounded Free Zen Cart Template by Picaflor Azul

The left hand sideboxes are here:

1. Log into your zen cart admin and go to Configuration -> Layout Settings

2. Select Column Width – Left Boxes or Column Width – Right Boxes -whichever side you want to change and click on the “edit” button.

3. Add your new width and click on the “update” button. It can be expressed as a percentage of the total page width (20%) or as a relative size (190px). For example, if you want the sideboxes to shrink and grow depending on the window size you would set the left and right hand columns to 20% and the sideboxes to 100%.

4. If your new width is more than the Column Width – Left or Column Width – Right (if this is what you changed) then you will want to change this as well. Select the Column Width – Left, put in the new width (I prefer this to be wider than the sideboxes width) and click on the “update” button.