Show Posts


Messages - DCS

Pages: [1] 2
1
Hello.

AbanteCart default template do not include less files.
  No ****.

Check the changes you made with your clone template.
What changes? 
I cloned a template within your Cart Software System, using a process you defined, to create and apply a new template extension.  See process below. 
What possible "changes to my clone template" could start calling for less files?   

Possibly you load bootstrap in some wrong way and bootstrap trying to load this files  https://stackoverflow.com/questions/35142485/why-is-bootstrap-trying-to-load-less-files-in-edge  :o

I didn't load bootstrap.  Abantecart loaded bootstrap. 

It's the same as when I build a joomla site: I install joomla and I start to do stuff.  Some of the stuff I do is affected by bootstrap because joomla loaded bootstrap and joomla uses bootstrap.

But I didn't load bootstrap.  I've never "loaded" bootstrap.  It's just something that is loaded, called and used by CMS's that I use. 

Remind me - at what point during an AbanteCart install does your software tell the user to go get some bootstrap and install some bootstrap in some certain folder? 
When does that happen? 

I know right?  It never happens. 

So that may mean that AbanteCart is fucking something up somewhere, right? 

Where's the other guy? 

The link you provided above references source mapping, possibly after minimizing.  AC users don't do any source mapping or minimizing.  They just diddle with style.css to change some colors.  How does that lead to less file references that don't exist? 

FYI:  here is a cut-n-paste of the method I used to create the clone.  Maybe you can see where there is a problem with this method? 


To create a new template extension that uses a clone of the default template:
1.)   Install Extension Development Tool:
a.   https://github.com/abantecart/developer_tools_extension
b.   Use the green box to download zip file.  Unzip the file into a new folder in your work area.  It will have various versions of the developer_tools.  Choose one.
c.   For the chosen version of dev_tools, open the /code/extensions/ folder. 
d.   Copy the developer_tools directory from that folder to your AC extensions directory.
e.   Go to the site backend Extensions / All Extensions tab.  Locate developer_tools and click the button that looks like a play button to install the tools. 
f.   Then set the status of the tools extension to ON. 
g.   Now you should have a new "Extension Developer Tools" tab in the system section. 

2.)   Clone the default template (this will simultaneously create a new extension):
a.   In Design / Templates, clone the Default template by clicking the double-square icon. 
b.   Select Clone to Extension.
c.   Select Full Clone type so that it will include CSS, Javascripts etc.
d.   Choose a name and unique identifier, then click Clone Template.

3.)   Assign the new template clone to the new extension:
a.   Go to Extensions / All Extensions - locate the newly created extension.
b.   Click the Edit button to edit the new extension, click the Additional Settings tab.
c.   On the upper left, select the new clone from the dropdown menu "Edit Template Settings".
d.   Scroll down and click Save.

4.)   Set the storefront to use the new template:
a.   Go back to Design / Templates, click the "on / off" button of the new template to set it as the active storefront template.

5.)   Begin editing the new template files. 





2
Here's another example. 

In the screenshot below, if I wanted to change font size or line size of the Qty: box, the styles reference to input-groups.less. 

I understand that these page elements are part of form "product", and I have tried to find different template or core files to make changes, but I'm not having any luck. 

I also understand that some of the form styles are inherited from body, so that I will need to write new styles into specific sections of style.css to override the body inherit, but I can't do that because the styles I need to modify appear to be originating in less files that I cannot find. 

I know how to work with less files, but I can't find the referenced less files, and besides, AC is not supposed to have any less files. 

FWIW - all of the less file references I have encountered point to the same folder:
/extensions/mytemplate/storefront/view/mytemplate/stylesheet/less/*.less, but as you know, that less folder does not exist. 

Help!


3
Here's a screenshot. 

If I wanted to change the blue colors of the Free Shipping element to some other color, the Chrome css inspector refers me to alerts.less line 63. 

I am encountering this problem frequently.

Many styles that I would like to change are referenced to various less files instead of css files.   

I am encountering this on both Chrome and Firefox / Firebug. 

The site is running on xampp on a Win 10 PC.  I cloned the default extension into a new template extension which I am customizing. 

I have successfully made many changes to many different css styles and to some parts of the code, but I keep hitting this .less barrier for some styles that I still need to change. 

Any ideas on how to work around this? 

Thanks. 


4
No, it's only on xampp localhost.

5
I'm using default-clone template extension. 

Thank you for confirming that AC doesn't have any less files. 

Do you have any idea why I am seeing .less files in Chrome and Firebug inspectors?

/extensions/templatename/storefront/view/templatename/stylesheet/less/navs.less
.../navbar.less
.../labels.less
.../normalize.less
.../scaffolding.less

etc.

Thx.

6
I'm using chrome & inspector to modify css. 

On several occasions, a particular page element will have a reference to a .less file, such as:

/storefront/view/templatename/stylesheet/less/navbar.less

or

/storefront/view/templatename/stylesheet/less/labels.less

I looked in the folders for my cloned template extension, and also in the folders for the default template.  I can't find any less folders or files.

I tried the same thing with Firefox and firebug, same result.

Why are these browsers giving a reference to less files?

How do I edit styles that are sourced in less files?  Does abantecart have less files located somewhere in the code?  Location?

How do I make style changes to these kinds of elements so that the changes will not be overwritten during future updates?

Thx.

7
Customization help / Re: How to improve available menu options
« on: May 28, 2017, 05:21:03 PM »
Thanks, this works! 

The Menu block can now be dragged to header_bottom.  As you said, I will now have to do some styling to get a single-row horizontal navbar. 

Here is a step-by-step for future non-tech readers (like me) who may wish to try this (assuming xampp or similar virtual server on local dev machine):

The goal was to allow the "menu" navbar to be dragged to the header_bottom section of a layout, to allow creation of a simple navbar in the same location that the default categories navbar normally sits. 

Steps:
Open phpMyAdmin.
On the left-side menu, click your site database name. 
Click the item yourprefix_block_templates.
Click the SQL button.
Click the Insert button. 

This will open a data-entry window for inserting a new line within the database table. 
A new insert command will be pre-formatted for you. 
You will notice that the command has 5 elements:
INSERT INTO `prefix_block_templates` (`block_id`, `parent_block_id`, `template`, `date_added`,`date_modified`)
followed by 5 value positions:
VALUES ([value-1],[value-2],[value-3],[value-4],[value-5]).

Following AC's instructions, I edited this line to insert the values he provided, and i also simply deleted the 5th element. 
Pay close attention to syntax.  Use the single-quote button instead of the back-tick button on your keyboard, or else it won't work.
Remove the brackets for each value.

Here is the exact content I placed into the data entry window:
INSERT INTO `prefix_block_templates` (`block_id`, `parent_block_id`, `template`, `date_added`) VALUES (27, 2, 'blocks/menu.tpl', now())

I did not use a semicolon at the end of the command because the preformatted line did not have one. 

If you don't see a preformatted line when you click the insert button, just type this command by hand.  The only change you need to make is to replace prefix with your actual database prefix. 

When you get the line entered correctly, click the Go button on the lower right.  If you have a syntax error, you will get a message to that effect.  If there are no syntax errors, then you you'll get a success message, and the job is done. 

What you have accomplished: insert the specified line into the _block_templates table, which will then allow a raw unstyled "menu" block to be dragged or placed into header_bottom section of a page layout. 

Open Design>Layouts - place the menu block into header_bottom, clear cache, and check your page. 

Then start styling the new menu with CSS.  That's my next step, later tonight or tomorrow. 

Thanks AC. 

8
Customization help / Re: How to improve available menu options
« on: May 27, 2017, 12:30:50 PM »
This is the 1st line on abantecart.com:
The Most Powerful eCommerce Platform to Sell anything-Our FREE shopping cart application is suitable for every business

This is the 2nd line:
You Can Sell on Your Existing Website Quick and Easy-It is as simple as copy and paste your products into your blog, article or any web page

This the 4th item in the content area:  t’s easy to learn and simple to use. There is no special training or knowledge required to start selling your products online using AbanteCart.  The voice controlled and easy-to-use intuitive interface makes your eCommerce management a breeze.

I did not read those items and believe them.  I knew better.  I already had experience with WP & joomla, enough to know that a custom look requires learning and using the software system. 

However, you complain that 90% of non-coders expect quick and easy site.  Why complain?  This is exactly what you advertise. 

You should change your face. 

Stop using the word 'free' in your advertising.  Don't use it anywhere.  Use the term 'Open Source' often enough, and explain one time in a central location that there is no financial cost associated with download, use, or update of the software.

"Abantecart is a fully responsive and highly capable e-commerce site building framework.  Advanced features include all cart functions plus user login, guest checkout, search, language selection, image management, product categorization, specials, featured products, new products, inventory tracking, sales tracking, seo optimization, site backup, list more features here until the list is huge. 
Abantecart has a user-friendly back-end interface that allows a quick and organized approach to stocking your store, setting up your storefront, and basic customizing of store appearance. 
New users should realistically expect to spend a few days reading the software manual and becoming familiar with the system before spending another few days building their first site.  Functional aspects of the site and cart are all readily available and simple to use within the admin backend interface. 
As with any other website building system, users who wish to significantly customize the standard site layouts to achieve unique appearance or layout should realistically expect to spend at least another week delving deeper into the code and css stylesheets. 
Our free support forum has a large and growing archive of user contributions from those who have succeeded in publishing e-commerce sites with Abantecart, and we look forward to seeing your contributions there as you learn Abantecart and build and publish your own site. "

I recommend something along the lines above. 

As stated before, I'm using the cloned template extension approach to customize a site.  The style is "elegant and simplified", very popular now among small shop owners with small inventory of products to sell. 

My site currently has categories arrayed on home page in content area.  i don't need category menu nav. 

My biggest issue right now:
How to get a small simple navbar menu located under the header.  The category menu has a great look: contrast color and pagewide. 
I need that, but in a simple navbar with menu to home, about, policy, contact. 

I plan to make the menu navbar scrolling-sticky: it locks at page top after header has scrolled up. 
I plan to introduce more media breakpoints, so that the menu does not collapse until small screen. 

In your system, collapse events begin to happen too soon.  Many things collapse at medium screen, which means that the majority of site users will never see the "full" look of your site.  Desktops are already the minority among online shoppers. 
Also - your collapse bar is the only aspect of your system that actually surprised me enough to comment about.  It is ugly.  Really ugly.  I'm surprised it wasn't fixed years ago.  The simple blue bar with hamburger, which is apparently despised by many, but also universally understood by users, is waaaaay better than your ugly skinny rectangle with "Click here" or whatever it says. 
Also, the logic behind what is contained in your collapse dropdowns is unclear. 
Your collapse dropdowns contain more links than the pre-collapse menu, which is scary and bewildering. 
This is one area that T3 was really really good at: a back-end menu page that lets the user specify exactly what goes into each menu, and which block to place the menu in, and how to customize the both the full and collapse menus.  There was no uncertainty. 
Side note: "Menus.  Huh.  So simple, and yet so critical to intuitive site design."

I'll be reading about custom blocks and custom menus this weekend, and try to sort this out.  Help me.  Links.  Tips.  How-to?

Once this "simple elegant" extension is done, I'll donate it to your directory.  You need some free extensions. 

9
Customization help / Re: How to improve available menu options
« on: May 26, 2017, 11:57:34 AM »
Thanks for the reply. 

Honestly, it didn't help me.  Not enough info.  I don't know what it means. 

Your answer was very similar to most other answers to questions about AC on this forum.  Too technical, not enough info. 

After a few weeks of intermittently playing with AC, here is my impression:

AC will never become a mainstream cart. 

In the e-commerce world, there are 1000 coders who build sites and sell sites. 
There are 1,000,000 non-coders who want to build a site. 

AC is not flexible or intuitive enough for a non-coder to customize a site to their liking.
The available tech-support does not help non-coders. 

Therefore your market is limited to 1000 users, instead of 1 million. 

The tech support is only for tech people.  Non-tech people cannot understand most of the responses given on this forum.

The AC manual suffers from the same problem as the T3 Framework manual: poor grammar and translation (this is deadly in technical writing), and an unwillingness to really spell out how to do things, with examples.  T3 has been working to overcome this issue. 

An interesting difference between joomla T3 and AC for site building is that the T3 framework is completely flexible, whereas some aspects of AC are pretty rigid. 

I think T3 Framework has less forum support than AC, but when you receive T3 forum support, the answer is usually something that a non-coder can understand.
 
I have advanced skills is some weird arenas (operation and interpretation of formation evaluation tools that use radioactive sources).  If I ever need to teach this technology to a newcomer, I know that I will be required to stoop way below my own technical skill level.  That's just how it is.  I know what that is like. 

So i understand that answering questions from non-tech people about your software can be tedious, but if you don't do a better job of it, then the only people who will ever use your cart are the tech people, and there are only 1000 of them. 

Using the manual and this forum, I cloned a template as an extension and created an AC site to customize.  So I'm not clueless.  But I can't reach my goals with AC.  Damn frustrating.  Too rigid.  Too busy.  Too AC.  Needs to be more customization-friendly.  Which means that non-tech people here need higher quality support responses than what you are giving. 

Unless of course you want to keep limiting your market only to the 1000 tech users. 

Last thing:
I've been intrigued by, and making use of, open source software for 8 years.  Yours is the first blatantly open attempt I ever seen to use OS software as a means to make money.  You ask for donations everywhere.  You find common problems with your software, then write extensions to fix the problems, then sell the extensions. 

You actually sell an extension for removing your own branding bit from the storefront.  For 15 fucking dollars!  Really? 

This isn't what open-source is about.  It violates the spirit and core of what OS is supposed to be. 

Right now, i really feel like you owe me money for spending so much time trying to wrench a simple e-commerce site out of your software. 

10
Customization help / How to improve available menu options
« on: May 26, 2017, 04:27:57 AM »
The menu block cannot be moved to header-bottom or anywhere else. 

The content menu block cannot be moved out of the footer.

The category menu block is the best looking menu, but inflexible in purpose. 

I need a simple and elegant site, with a clean design.  Abantecart is very busy, with many features that are not necessary for a simple elegant site.  In particular, the menu system seems quite inflexible.  I'd like a page-wide navbar below a simple clean header. 

I tried the following:
1 -turn off header menu block and footer content menu block, then re-purpose category menu block into a general purpose nav menu, but this apparently requires major code work. 

2 - turn off category menu block and move menu block into header_bottom, but this is not permitted.  Why not?  It would be so easy to allow header menu block to be placed below header, but no.  Is there a way to put this block into header_bottom?

3 - I tried same approach with moving "content" menu block from footer, but it cannot be moved and i can't even figure out how to edit it. 

Is there a way to achieve a simple navbar menu below the header?

I don't need a category menu navbar at all.  I placed a category listing block in content_bottom and put all 6 of my categories right on the home page.  Clean and simple. 

Now i just need a simple 4-item navbar below the header, that doesn't collapse on medium screens. 

Inflexibility is damn Frustrating.  I hate to abandon my efforts here, but joomla is really starting to call me back. 

BTW - I cloned a template extension, but it bothers me that the clone doesn't have all the core files necessary for customization, meaning that I may lose some changes each update?


11
Problem did not occur on fresh install without DemoData. 

http://forum.abantecart.com/index.php/topic,1340.45.html

12
Hello.

I deleted everything and created a fresh install without DemoData. 

The Look-Back problem did not occur on the fresh install.

Comments:
During my 1st AbanteCart install last week, I created a check-list of steps.  This is how i work with all new content systems, frameworks, whatever. 

Yesterday, for the fresh install without DemoData, I followed my checklist, so the 2nd install was done exactly the same as the 1st.  Completely new database, new folder, new everything. 

The only difference was unticking the DemoData box. 

So, if you want to pursue the Look-Back problem, DemoData may be a place to start. 

13
It's local, xampp. 

I played with this thing enough to know that I want to build a simple store with it. 

I'm gonna nuke everything and start over without sample data. 

I'll put it up live, and you can take a look at that one. 


14
I wrote all this crap as though I was spanning a massive language barrier, and I've been telling myself that I need to post questions before I quit at night so that someone sees them while I'm sleeping, and then i realize that you guys aren't in Russia, you're in Jersey. 

fuhgeddaboudit

15
Summary:

I made a clone template extension - Clone1.

Design>Templates - I chose the Clone1 as the Storefront Template.

Design>Layouts - I used the dropdown menu to select the Clone1 template.  Click Save. 

I made changes to Home and Default Page Layout, and I clicked Save. 

My changes do not show on the front end. 

When I return to Design>Layouts - the selected template has reverted to Default.  It will not stay on the Clone1 template. 

I had no other option, so I followed the josmun map:  I made another clone template extension - Clone2.

On Design>Template - I select Clone2.

I go to Design>Layouts, and when I arrive, I see that the Clone1 is the chosen template!  This is new! 

Only by cloning the Default template twice is Clone1 able to become the chosen template in Default>Layouts. 

Test Results:
I have one storefront, and 3 templates: Default, Clone1, and Clone2.  I am working on xampp on windows.  Here are my test results of this problem:

1 - In Design>Template, I select Default template.  Then I go to Design>Layout and I choose Clone1, then Save, then navigate away, then return back to Design>Layouts:  the chosen template has reverted back to Default.  Repeat test, but choose Clone2 on the Layout page; same outcome. 

Conclusion:  If you select Default template on Design>Template, you may only use Default template on Design>Layouts.  It does not matter if you make another choice from the drop-down template selector on Design>Layout, your changes will not be seen on the front end, and the Layout page will revert back to Default template every time you return to the page.

2 - In Design>Template, I select CLONE1 template.  Then I go to Design>Layout and I choose Clone1, then Save, then navigate away, then return back to Design>Layouts:  the chosen template has reverted back to Default.  Repeat test, but choose Clone2 on the Layout page; same outcome. 

Conclusion:  If you select Default template on Design>Template, you may only use Default template on Design>Layouts.  It does not matter if you make another choice from the drop-down template selector on Design>Layout, your changes will not be seen on the front end, and the Layout page will revert back to Default template every time you return to the page.

3 - In Design>Template, I select CLONE2 template.  When I go to Design>Layout, the template selector says Clone1 when I arrive!!  This is new!

I check my front end, and suddenly all of my earlier changes to Clone1 Home Layout are now visible on the front end!  I made all these Clone1 changes before I created the Clone2 template!  I could never see the Clone1 changes on the front end until after I created Clone2 and selected Clone2 in the Design>Template.

In Design>Template, if you select Clone2, it will cause Abantecart Layout page and system to use Clone1 instead of Default when building each page.

I'm pretty sure that if I create Clone3, it will use only Clone2 files "by default". 

I'm pretty sure if I create Clone4, it will only use Clone3 files. 

Etc.

I name this problem the Look-Back problem, or LBprob for short. 

Other stuff I did:
I started customizing a storefront. 
I opened clone css files and tpl files and made changes. 

Example:
On the Design>Template page, I selected the Clone2 template, but I edit css files from the Clone1 directory if i want to see the changes on the front end.:  \xampp\htdocs\site_name\extensions\clone1\storefront\view\clone1\stylesheet\style.css

When it is time to upload this site to a live host, I will have fear and loathing again.  I guess I'll upload all templates.  The Default template cannot be stripped away, and the Clone2 template cannot used without the Clone1 directories.  It will be scary.  I'll probably get drunk.

I have confidence that my AbanteCart friends will be able to fix this problem, so I'm not worried about it. 

I'm building a site.

Pages: [1] 2

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod