X-Cart forums

[KVP-Pynchros]

I have reviewed the documentation, searched the forums and am still completely stumped. I inherited responsibility for an xCart Gold site and cannot figure out how to customize the content of the Help Zone within the store. Specifically, I am trying to add a link that will show our ordering policies (separate from overall terms of use). Here's what I've learned:

1. The current menu within help zone is populated from a file in the custom skin called help.tpl. This file contains logic for displaying Terms and Conditions so I simply copied this code.

Original code:
<li>
<a href="help.php?section=terms_and_conditions">{$lng .lbl_terms_n_conditions}</a>
</li>

Added code:
<li>
<a href="help.php?section=order">{$lng.lbl_ordering_p olicies}</a>
</li>
I created the lb_ordering_policies variable in the db and now I have a new menu item.

2. When I click on the terms and conditions link I see the main section of the cart replaced with the contents of txt_terms_n_conditions. So, I created a variable called txt_ordering_policies and put the html in there to display the new policy. This made no difference so I did some tracing on other templates.

3. I found that the terms and conditions link was populating the main pane from common_files/customer/help/conditions.tpl which contained the following code (with my added trace):

<h1>{$lng.lbl_terms_n_conditions}</h1>
<p style="display: none;">This is coming from skins/common_files/customer/help/conditions.tpl</p>
<p class="text-block">{$lng.txt_conditions_customer}</p>

But, I could see nothing that would cause this template to be included. Despite that, I created a new order.tpl and added it to the same directory, substituting the new lbl_ and txt_ variables.

This accomplished nothing and, loaded a generic Help-Zone page that was coming from the same directory but in general.tpl.

4. Figuring that there was some logic causing these to load, I found a default template being set for the help section in common_files/common_templates.tpl. The relevant code looks like this:

{elseif $main eq "help"}
{include file="help/index.tpl" section=$help_section}

5. I edited index.tpl and added logic to include my new help section and its template as follows:

{if $section eq "Password_Recovery"}
{include file="help/Password_Recovery.tpl"}

{elseif $section eq "Password_Recovery_message"}
{include file="help/Password_Recovery_message.tpl"}

{elseif $section eq "Password_Recovery_error"}
{include file="help/Password_Recovery.tpl"}

{else}
{include file="page_title.tpl" title=$lng.lbl_help_zone}

{if $section eq "order"}
{include file="help/order.tpl"}

{elseif $section eq "conditions"}
{include file="help/conditions.tpl"}

{elseif $section eq "contactus"}
{include file="help/contactus.tpl"}

{else}
{include file="help/general.tpl"}
{/if}

{/if}

I tried changing code here - for example, I took the last "else" and had it include a file that doesn't exist. This changed nothing.

6. I also looked into static pages which seem to be overridden and have no impact on this problem. I looked at a set of logic in includes/help.php and this seems to do nothing.

I am absolutely at a loss and, if I still had hair, would have pulled it all out by now. If anyone can point me in the right direction I would be indebted.

[Pyro]

I am currently using 4.5.2, so I am not sure if this applies to you or not; however, in 4.5.2 there is an option at the bottom of each static page which says, "Show a link to the page
in Help menu?:".


Do you have that option in your version? If so, that is all you would need to do to create a new page on the help zone.

[KVP-Pynchros]

Originally Posted by Pyro

I am currently using 4.5.2, so I am not sure if this applies to you or not; however, in 4.5.2 there is an option at the bottom of each static page which says, "Show a link to the page
in Help menu?:".


Do you have that option in your version? If so, that is all you would need to do to create a new page on the help zone.

Thanks, James. If I set that flag, this shows up in the main panel of the Help-Zone screen not the left-bar:

http://www.symantry.com/assets/images/kvstore.png

[Pyro]

So your goal is to get the link to show in both sections or just the side bar?




Just to make sure I am on the same page, the edits you have made to the side bar have currently worked to show the link (as you wish it to appear), but it does not function properly when you click it?

[KVP-Pynchros]

Originally Posted by Pyro

So your goal is to get the link to show in both sections or just the side bar?




Just to make sure I am on the same page, the edits you have made to the side bar have currently worked to show the link (as you wish it to appear), but it does not function properly when you click it?

Yep, that's exactly right. If I click on the left-bar link that is terms and conditions, a language txt variable shows in the main window. If I click on the Order Policies link in the left-bar I see what's in the screen shot. Weirdness.

BTW: I truly appreciate your interest.

[Pyro]

Hmmm, In that case, could you simply do this?



1.) Create static page
2.) Check box that says to display on help zone
3.) Add code
<li>
<a href="link to the static page">{$lng.lbl_ordering_p olicies}</a>
</li>

[KVP-Pynchros]

Originally Posted by Pyro

Hmmm, In that case, could you simply do this?



1.) Create static page
2.) Check box that says to display on help zone
3.) Add code
<li>
<a href="link to the static page">{$lng.lbl_ordering_p olicies}</a>
</li>

Well, I probably could but I still wouldn't understand how the terms and conditions link in the left-bar works. Plus, all that Help Zone text is not something I want on the site. If I'm going to manage this site I really need to get to the bottom of how this part works. Thanks for the assist, though. I'm a big fan of pragmatism

[Pyro]

Do you have a link to the site you are referring to? (You can PM it if you would like).


I do not use the feature on my 4.5.2 site, but based on the demo version of x-cart, what I said should appear the same way as what you are after.

[Rato]

I was the original user that requested and paid for the modification of the link under help. I wanted a static page that I can put under 'Help' but not show up. Hence they added that 'Show Link' check box. To add your 'Ordering Policy' all you have to do is create the static page. You don't need to change any code. Here is a link to my site www.vegi.ws/cart/home.php. I have renamed 'Help' to 'Information' I have any static pages that are not shown under 'help/information'. Click 'Show Dates' you will see all my current Art & Craft events I attend. With this page, you can see links to my prior years attendances. Those prior years static page are NOT shown under 'help/information. Hope this help you in creating your 'Ordering Policy' page under 'Help' tab.
BTW, if this gets you to what you want, you probably want to remove all that you have modified. If I can be of further, please post response.

[Metrique]

Originally Posted by Rato

I was the original user that requested and paid for the modification of the link under help. I wanted a static page that I can put under 'Help' but not show up. Hence they added that 'Show Link' check box. To add your 'Ordering Policy' all you have to do is create the static page. You don't need to change any code. Here is a link to my site www.vegi.ws/cart/home.php. I have renamed 'Help' to 'Information' I have any static pages that are not shown under 'help/information'. Click 'Show Dates' you will see all my current Art & Craft events I attend. With this page, you can see links to my prior years attendances. Those prior years static page are NOT shown under 'help/information. Hope this help you in creating your 'Ordering Policy' page under 'Help' tab.
BTW, if this gets you to what you want, you probably want to remove all that you have modified. If I can be of further, please post response.

Rato, thanks so much for your response. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, static pages do not work on my site the same way they do on yours. This is probably due to some extensive customization that was done previously. Truth be told, I am trying to reverse engineer that custom work but have been unable to discern how the page works as it does now.

If you look at the site at http://kvintners.com/cellar/ the existing option in the left side nav under Help is Terms and Conditions. As I stated,when you click on this the information is coming from a language txt variable, and not a static page. All I want to do is replicate that functionality. That is, add one more hyperlink to that left menu (which I can do) and then have another language txt variable display in the main page. This I cannot seem to solve.