MS2-Max Modifications

[jhixson]

I don't get it!! The description in the MS2-Max Guide under MS2-Max Mods makes a big deal out of how Max differs from the "stock MS2 store" by using templates. Then neither of the two How-to's under this description uses a template file to do their work! Come on, guys, this stuff is complicated enough. Give us a How-to that actually uses a template so that we can "get familiar with the new BTS system." Thanks.

[michael_s]

jhixson, Both tutorials make use of the BTS template system. Not sure what you are talking about...

The 'Static Content' tutorial actually shows you how to make your own static page using the static template.

I did not make the BTS system, but it so easy a chimp could learn it. Here is the basic tutorial:

1. All templates are located in the /templates dir, and subdirectories.
2. All templates can be edited in your favorite HTML editor
3. Simply change the layout to whatever you like. Use Frontpage, Dreamweaver, whatever.
4. If you know HTML, you will not have any problems. If not, you will have problems.
5. As the guide says, the only file you need to edit to get started is main_page.tpl.php.

It cannot get any easier than that. How about giving it a try?

[jhixson]

Michael, again I apologize for not getting it. We have a major disconnect in understanding here. I'm looking for file names with .tpl in them in your How-to's, and I can't find a single one! How do these instructions demonstate the use of .tpl files?? I'd at least like to come up to chimp speed. Thanks.

[jpf]

Did you mean the files that called like index.tpl.php? I see alot of file that end with .tpl.php in the template directory (65 files to be exact) - look in http://www.yoursite_or_local_direcot...log/templates/. Make sure you are working on a fresh (unmodified) MS2-MAX (or MS2 w/BTS installed).

[pitufo]

Does anything need to be changed in includes/language/english? to affect the look and feel?

[michael_s]

jhixson, the files that end in .tpl.php are, as stated in the guide, located in the /catalog/templates dir and sub directories. The how-to's do not actually edit the template files, since you should already know how to edit html code. Why would you need an example to do html editing? Since this is such basic stuff, I am assuming you know HTML, and I will not assume less. So, fire up your editor, open main_page.tpl.php and start editing. There is nothing more to it. Make it look the way you want. Change tables, use layers, whatever you want.

If you do not know how to edit html, then look in the help file of your html editor. That is a good a place as any to learn how to edit html. The point is, the template files are nothing more than a standard HTML file that you can edit to your liking in any html editor.

Now you know as much as me, and any chimp

[jpf]

Does anything need to be changed in includes/language/english? to affect the look and feel?

The look - some what - feal no. This contains most (all most all) of the displayed text and label buttons for the languages you are using.

Change to suit your site.

[jhixson]

Michael, from the words in your MS2-Max Guide under "Customizing MS2-Max" I expected that if I looked at the how-to named "Adding New Side Boxes" I would find some words like, "Open file named 'somethingorother.tpl.php' and do suchandso to it. Then put it back where you found it." In fact, the "Adding New Side Boxes" how-to never cites any files named ***.tpl.php nor even uses the word "template." I don't see how this teaches me to use templates!? Maybe I'm completely misunderstanding what you're trying to do with your example how-to's. If so. straighten me out. Thanks.

[michael_s]

jhixson, you are not understanding the purpose of the templates. They do not create new boxes, they are merely a framework for displaying the box. The template does not actually do anything except format the page. The new box still needs to be defined/coded/created. The new box will then use the box template. The actual content of a box is completely independent of the box template. The box template does not create content, it is only loaded to format the box.

The reason 'creating a new box' how-to makes no mention of templates is precisely because the process of creating a new box has nothing to do with the templates, other than the new box will use the same box template as the rest of your site. The tutorial specifically allows you to create a new box that uses the templates automatically. Look at the code, and you will see where it requires the template:

 require(DIR_WS_TEMPLATES . TEMPLATENAME_BOX);

You are also not hearing to me : There is no way to teach you to use a template other than teaching you HTML, since a template is just an HTML file. If you know how to edit HTML, you know how to edit a template.

To change the main template, edit main_page.tpl.php, to change the product template, edit product_info.tpl.php, repeat for any and all templates you want to edit. If you don't understand that, there is nothing more I can tell you.

[jhixson]

Thank you, Michael. I'll chew on what you've said. Obviously this is not an activity for the faint of heart!