Community Add-Ons

Detailed tutorial aimed at beginner's of this module. Using simple language and images. Purpose: to understand how the modules pull together, what the settings do; explanations on which files to do what, and where are the files exactly.
So far, the Default, Product Info, and the Index module are covered.
May do updates later. I hope this will be of use to someone. It has helped me a lot going through this bit by bit and trying to "see" the whole picture in my mind.
(Just unzip - file is in .pdf format)

Original package by bkellum but with multilanguage box_heading. The original one has only english box-headings!

Full package

please also see:

www.bluegreenenterprises.com

origional zip upload was too big, but is available at above site. Including Instructions/explanations/articles.

sts_gco.zip are the files inc mods to add to OSC RC1 to have sts and google checkout working.

file size 211kb

STS Articles

http://www.bluegreenenterprises.com/ebusiness_info/STS_Articles.php

STS Articles is a simple contribution for OSCommerce and the Simple-Template-System that allows you to add, edit and delete articles that are viewed via an info box. Although this is made for STS it is a standalone contribution that should work (with a little tweaking) without STS. It is also Standalone in the sense that very few if any OSC functions are used. All the [functions/object classes/database access] I needed to make this work have been reworked into this contribution.


Articles by File Name

The explanation for 'by file name' is that an article can be directly related to a given file name such as 'About_Us.php' and when visitors navigate to this file only those articles can be viewed. File name articles are accessed in admin exactly the same way as category articles because the file name is stored as a category heading.

Because only the file name (including the .php extension) is recognised using the basename() function, no query strings will alter the resulting output. However using the query string will extend the usability of this contribution to providing articles related to say individual products but this feature will only be available in a later update.


Public/Private Categories/Articles

There is a distinction made between public and admin article categories. In the database table `article_categories` each category has a `status`. If `status` is '1' the category and articles contained within may be viewed by the public. If `status` is '0' the category and articles can only be viewed via admin. This feature can be extended upon to provide greater flexibility. At present the `status` can not be changed via admin/articles.php but can be easily done in PHPMYADMIN.


Admin - articles.php

The 'admin/articles.php' file is where the articles may be listed by category or are all listed by date of creation. It is a single file that will do all the article admin such as:


Creating, Editing and Deleting Article Categories.
Inserting New Articles.
Editing Existing Articles.
Deleting Articles.


Number of Articles per Page (in info box).
Number of Page navigation Links.

If there are more than four articles associated with a category or file name you will see a page navigation appear at the top of the Articles info box. This is the same page navigation system used by OSC to page through a large list of products as used in 'products_new.php'.

The number of articles shown per page can be changed in the file catalog/includes/boxes/articles.php where $max_rows = 4;. This is also where you can edit $max_page_links, i.e. the number of pages available as links in the page navigation.

Matthew John Ritchie

ADDED SCREEN SHOT...

I have converted the Modern Template RC2a into a STSv4.5.8 Template.

This STS addon will add a new template folder into your sts_templates folder. After uploading, all you would need to do is change the template folder name in the admin to "modernrc2a" in order to use this new template.

All files included.

Support in the STSv4 thread at:
http://forums.oscommerce.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=295660&view=findpost&p=1293335

Enjoy!

I have converted the Modern Template RC2a into a STSv4.5.8 Template.

This STS addon will add a new template folder into your sts_templates folder. After uploading, all you would need to do is change the template folder name in the admin to "modernrc2a" in order to use this new template.

All files included.

Support in the STSv4 thread at:
http://forums.oscommerce.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=295660&view=findpost&p=1293335

Enjoy!

Known as:
Bundle List ! Horizontal Categories Listing for STS by khubab

Fixed a few bugs and then updated to work with STSv4.5.8.

Full package with installation instructions and change log from original contribution.

This code is for a quick search box that is designed to be layed out in a horizontal format. You could play around with some HTML code and give it a different layout. But for my purposes, I like to have a search box near the top of the page, along with a lot of other information. You can see from the screen shot what I mean - I've got the $catmenu on one side, the search box on the other, the date and breadcrumb above that, and even more account and login info above that.

This search will include all SubCategories AND search in Product Descriptions by default. That's the way I like it. If you don't, find the "1" and change them to "0". You'll see what I mean.

I was looking for a way to hide empty Categories and Sub-Categories in the $catmenu to avoid having the user click on a Category only for it to say "No products found". I ran across this contrib: http://addons.oscommerce.com/info/5475 and just "borrowed" the if-statement and it seems to work just fine. So here it is.

Mysterious Firefox bug fix

I used the newpage.php.html template and found that if I opened that file (directly from the zip package) in Firefox, all seemed well.
When I uploaded all the files and opened the page in IE, all seemed well, however in Firefox 2 the first 3 characters on the page always were: 
These characters cannot be seen in Notepad, not in Dreamweaver, but they ARE there.

This has all Bill's original files, exept for those 3 characters.
Do a comparison between Bill's newpage.php.html and mine an you might see those 3 characters. I used Total commander's file comparison feature for the comparison

I wonder if my Mac will show those characters?

This is a simple modification to toyicebear's Easy Meta Tags contribution. Toyicebear doesn't allow public uploads, so I create this contribution.

This contribution will allow you to EASILY create CUSTOM product title, description, and keyword tags for each product individually.

This is much easier to install, although less in depth, than the Header Tags Controller. If you're looking for a quick way to customize the title, description, and keywords of your product pages, then this will work nicely for you.

This should get Scrolling Marquee V3.0 and Scrolling Marquee V2 working with STS

One small file edit and one file replacement in order to get Dynamic Sitemap to work with Simple Template System (STS).

Make work product extra filds with sts 4.5.2

This contribution allows you to use Attributes Sorter Copier with STS. Simple change should take no more than a minute or two to install.

Copy of http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,5236

This contribution replaces the ordinary pop up window image with the cool Lightbox FX. (it's for STS 4 and higher only)

If you don't know what lightbox is visit:
http://www.huddletogether.com/projects/lightbox2/

Demo at:
http://www.artsound.gr/catalog
check a product and click the image enlarge link.

Used Lightbox version 2.03.3.

I hope this will work for you.

After much head scratching a fault has been found and here is the fix.

problem: i over wrote a file somehow so this is the replacement with the missing code put back where it should be.

this file goes / replaces file in:
catalog/admin/includes/functions/general.php

one file only; please write down the path or keep this page open for reference - no text.txt help instructions.

sorry folks, mjr.

Part 2 - documents, development and modified files only.

This power pack bundle will install:

(1) REGISTER GLOBALS FIX

(2) STS 4.5.2

(3) HTC 2.6.3

(4) DYNAMENU

It is highly reccomended that you install this bundle
with a new OsCommerce ms2.2 installation to test it out, ive provided some instructions.....

see the 'development' folder to see what I have
done and you may be able to do something similar.


Many Thanks to everone who has contributed to the
building of these great addons Bill, Nate to name two from memory. My work here is only
miniscule in comparison, but dam did it take some time
and a lot of learning. cheers folks....

Matthew John Ritchie
www.bluegreentechnologies.com/shop/

The Simple Template System version 4.5.2 and the Header Tags Controller version 2.6.3 contributions bundled together in one seamless install package. This bundle includes the full versions of each contribution, similar to previous STS & HTC bundles below, just updated.

Built for the 060817 osC release. Support site listed in the installation text.

Enjoy,
Bill Kellum

Thanks to Bill Kellum this little hack finds it way to the right place now.

What it does:
=========

This is a quick and dirty hack to make QT Pro Attribute selection available in STS Product Info Templates.
It basically replaces the built in placeholder $optionnames and $optionchoices with a new one called $QTattrib which renders the QT Pro Attribute Selection.
You can than use this placeholder in a product_info.php.html file to show the QT Pro Attribute Selection.

What it needs:
==============

osCommerce MS2 - http://www.oscommerce.com/

Quantity Tracking Professional - QT Pro:
http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,888

Simple Template System - STS PLUS v4.1:
http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,3893
(or - not tested: other version of Simple Template System - STS:
http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,1524/
)

This creates an "Top of Page" link under the product listing, between the number of products and the number of pages.

It uses the Breadcrumb class to determine the link target.

This package is a copy of http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,4963

Author: Christopher Schnell
Release Date: 08.03.2007

This contribution gives you the files needed to create additional osCommerce structured PHP pages in your store with links that do not lose the Session ID.

This contribution will add the following to your store files:
* Two new STS tags to your sts_user_code.php file:
$newpage
$urlmynewpage
* Two new page PHP templates:
catalog/newpage.php
catalog/includes/languages/your_language/newpage.php
* One new STS template, one modified STS template:
$newpage
$urlmynewpage
* Modifications to includes/filenames.php

Enjoy,
Bill Kellum

Since STS 4.4 it is possible to create a template for the product image popup window. Here is a modified that adds "Next" and "Previous" buttons to navigate through the extra images.

This is based on MoPics6 with ACA, but can be adapted to other contributions that add more images.

The instructions provided will guide you through the installation of the Simple Template System version 4.3.3 integrated with the Header Tags Controller version 2.6.0 osCommerce contributions as if they were one contribution. If you follow each step, you should not run into any problems getting this contribution installed on your osCommerce store.

Three PDF documents included:
STS History
STS Installation
STS User Manual

***This contribution is the documentation only.
***You will need to download "STSv4.3.3 with HTCv2.6.0 Bundle - January 3, 2007 - bkellum" below.

Sorry, I had to split these up because of the file size upload limit.

Have fun, Bill Kellum

STS v4.3.3 with Header Tags Controller 2.6.0
This is a complete package of these two contributions bundled together in one seamless installation. It includes Service Packs 1,2 & 3 so this is the most up to date version of STS, just bundled with HTCv2.6.0.

Because of the file size, the documentation is included in a separate contribution above (download the "STSv4.3.3 with HTCv2.6.0 Bundle User Manual" - January 3, 2007 - bkellum".

The installation path will be determined by whether you are installing over a clean osCommerce store or one that has been modified with other contributions.
Basically, you will be doing the following to complete the installation:

1. Copy files from the contribution over your store’s files
2. If necessary, you may have to modify some of your stores current files (only if you have a modified osCommerce).
3. Install the database files (using the enclosed script)
4. Configure your store in the osCommerce admin panel.

The code for the specific STS and HTC files are exactly the same as their counterpart contributions so support is provided in the following forums:

The support forum for STS v4.3.3 will continue to be located at the following:
http://forums.oscommerce.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=204381&view=findpost&p=980823

The support forum for HTC v2.6.0 is located at the following:
http://forums.oscommerce.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=51815&view=findpost&p=977681

Have fun everyone, Bill Kellum

Here is a short step by step tutorial that describes how to use PHP Include statements together with your custom header and footer STS Templates.
Create your header and footer template once, and then "include" it in each of your STS Template pages without having to "re-invent the wheel".
Enjoy,
Bill Kellum
Sounds Good Productions

This short step by step tutorial will instruct you on how to get these two great contributions to work together.
Simple Template System version 4.3.3 is a user friendly HTML template system for osCommerce.
Dynamenu is a horizontal/vertical menu system for osCommerce.
Enjoy,
Bill Kellum

STS Tips, Tricks and How to's Volume One.

Here is the table of contents:

Add the osCommerce version number to your shop files
Add an image for the background
Banner problems in STSv4.x
Where is the $content tag defined?
Dynamic Page Heading Title for STS
How to add a BACK button to your product info pages in STS
How to add an infobox STSv4.2 tag
How to create a STS tag to link to a PHP file
How to implement custom JavaScript on STS pages
How to integrate Infobox Skin Manager with STS
How to remove the Infobox Headers
Pop-up image is displaying the template


Also:
The official support forum for STSv4.2 can be found at:
http://forums.oscommerce.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=204381&view=findpost&p=913548
Please use this forum to post all related topics to STSv4.2.

STS4.2 can be found here:
http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,1524

Enjoy...more to come.
Thanks, Bill Kellum

This Power Pack contains files and instructions to integrate other contributions into STS4.

Instructions included:
[207] Header Tags Controller
[1310] Ez new fields
[1681] Master Products

STS4 can be found here:
http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,1524