My learning how to configure v1.2.o journey

[johca]

I'm a brand new Abantecart user beginning with V1.2.0

Most of the basic configuration is simple and straight forward.  My greatest frustration is  I need to change the template significantly and with only the default template I'm worried I'll break code beyond an easy fix.  Consequently I'm patiently awaiting release of an updated Extension Developer Tools (Wizard Creator)  that will work with Abantecart v1.2.0. (I'm not complaining or whining as I can wait a bit).

Eventually however  I desire to change current default template considerable.  At minimum I need to increase header size so a larger store logo can be used, which will likely need some other layout changes.

Also I  don't need or desire the Euro or other currency option either, but I've not started looking for where to change that yet.

The social icon used for Facebook and linked are not the ones I desire to use and I have not found where these icons reside and I also need a fax icon for the contact info in the footer.

Attached is screen shot (header/footer) of configuration done so far.  I circled in red the changes I'm currently digging around in admin design control panel and code in various files to modify configure.   More or less I'm trying to gain as much familiarity with things while I wait for updated Extension Developer Tools (Wizard Creator) or perhaps stumble across a template to buy that may fit my needs better than the default template.

[llegrand]

Yes,  I see you are a new user of Abantecart.  I would suggest that you spend some time reading the documentation  and the How-to , in particular the design /layout  as found here:
http://www.abantecart.com/ecommerce-documentation/user-manual/admin-user-manual/design/layout

and the section on localization -  your currency selections are in there.
http://www.abantecart.com/ecommerce-documentation/user-manual/admin-user-manual/system/localization

Except for increasing the size of your header (that will require a very simple css adjustment,  your changes mentioned here are easily accomplished without needing to adjust code or using the Extension Developer.

It is desirable for the ease of updating as new versions are released to keep coding modifications to a minimum.  But once you have become knowledgeable of how Abantecart works,  and learn how the very powerful tools readily available in the design/ layout/ blocks system work
you will be able to alter the template significantly.

Lee

[johca]

My learning the using the features of Abantecart through use of the admin control panel is proceeding well.

I'm almost to the point of replacing my current shopping cart (not AbanteCart) with abantecart as it's suitable or adequate other than I need to make the header with more height as current header requires use of a store logo that is two small to read.

I also lack certainty of which files or files I need to do the CSS/HTML changes to.  Thus the focus of this post.

The logo is visible in the screen shot that is attached, but I need a header height of at least 250 pixels to get the readability desired.
   

[llegrand]

Here's a couple of bits of info for you to consider how to do this.

Take a look at this AbanteCart  -  he has a logo that is quite a bit higher than the header height.

http://loveisreal-believe.com/


Now to change your headerstrip  use:

file   /public_html/storefront/view/default/styelsheet/style.css

look for the section  for   ------Header----   about line 257

headerstrip ht is where you change the ht

you may also need to change the ht in the header-logo

[johca]

Changing the height for the header went without a hitch.  The appearance is suitable for my needs.  See attached screen shot.

The actual logo image pnp height is 250 px and I changed header height to 252px.  I Changed the header-logo height to 250px and width to 736px get what is shown in the screen shot.

I do like the design look of http://loveisreal-believe.com/ is close to the appearance I'm actually looking for pertinent to location of the cart-block and the social icon block.  However, I would like to retain the blue background on the right side of the logo at about the same width as it is on the left with the ble background for the login, cart, search being as it appears on http://loveisreal-believe.com/.

It's a low priority design change at the moment though as it's a bit more code change involved. However, I will eventually give it a design modification try.

BTW, I got to give a thumbs up to the functionality. robustness and ease to use of Abantecart.  The extension (templates, utility, productivity) concept is brilliant (although I've not purchased any yet).  I'm having fun learning how to configure and change through the admin control panel and getting products loaded.

[johca]

I'm about ready to use abantecart as the main-primary shopping cart.  It's currently loaded as default in http://www.thegiftbasketlady.biz/store/.   I suppose I can do a redirect redirect script in http://www.thegiftbasketlady.biz/ to get it operational.  However it appears by looking through user manual and the abantecart user control panel I could just create a new store via Setting-create new store.

The create new store correlates to the create multi-store instructions in the user manual.  My concern is if I delete the store created in the http://www.thegiftbasketlady.biz/ does the deletion in any way be a concern of deleting anything in the http://www.thegiftbasketlady.biz/store/ as far as products and database (I'm basically being a cautious worry wart).

The user manual is also bit lacking on using the default in http://www.thegiftbasketlady.biz/store/  as the backend to manage the frontend store in http://www.thegiftbasketlady.biz/.  If it is an exact replicate lets say I need to add a new product or do a weight or price change it is presumed I do it in the backend, but I'm left guessing on how these changes get implemented in the frontend.

I also purchased today the offline_credit_card_processing extention. It installed with no difficulties and is working great.

[Basara]

I'm about ready to use abantecart as the main-primary shopping cart.  It's currently loaded as default in http://www.thegiftbasketlady.biz/store/.   

Hello
Read this topic How to move to another directory and this How to move to another domain

I also purchased today the offline_credit_card_processing extention. It installed with no difficulties and is working great.

Please review it at marketplace this will help vendor and other users http://marketplace.abantecart.com/offline-credit-card-processing

[johca]

I placed a 5-star review with comments and also did a separate comment post for the product.

I did stumble across the how to move to another directory post but as it was a several months old.  So my post was basically to findout if v1.2.0 changed anything of significance in moving the cart to another directory.

The moving all files and folders from the store directory to root directory is not difficult or confusing.  But there may be some advantage or disadvantage of when, before or after the move the Change store url setting to have correct URL should happen.  There is also no mention of how move affects access to the abantecart admin panel.  I could just make the move and figure it out but asking seemed worthwhile.

Also the creating a new store capability (multi-store) appears to be a good solution too, particularly since it appears (I'm guessing) to give ability to work with different layouts and test them without compromising customer access to the shopping cart.

 so I threw this out for some feedback too.

[johca]

    Well other than some fine tuning I have Abantecart up and running as the storefront and shopping cart.  http://www.thegiftbasketlady.biz/  I'm much pleased with Abantecart and will be starting new posts for the nonessential but I'd like to change how this looks to personalize the site a bit.