To add additional images in a Zen Cart all you need is a simple to install mod called Image Handler 2 which can be downloaded HERE directly from the ZenCart downloads section.

I use this on ALL of the carts/templates I install.
Here is an example of what it will look like: Sample of Additional Images in Zen
(please note...the images do not get larger in this particular listing because the original size was not larger.)

This mod automatically resizes all the images in the cart. You upload the image one time and it does the rest. It will even watermark them if you want it to. The only thing you have to do is make sure to give each different product's images unique names.

Example: If you have a red Purse with 3 images, you can name all the images for that one product: redpurse1.jpg, redpurse2.jpg, redpurse3.jpg.

BUT do not name the next red Purse you have the same thing. You will need to call it something like: darkredpurse1.jpg, darkredpurse2.jpg, darkredpurse3.jpg

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As far as the html goes....I've copied/pasted my html stuff from FrontPage for years with little to no problems. Sometimes it does need to be tweaked a bit, but overall it's worked great for me.

I've yet to have a ZenCart validate thru the xhtml. There are things in the cart's code itself which throw back errors. Someone else may have managed to do so, but I haven't seen one yet.

HTH

KT I'll check out the zen forum again re: pictures. I understood that you could only load one picture with zen's browse button (& that thumbnail that shows is always distorted looking?, another problem).

I have no idea what FTP is? (sad). My original intention was to keep about 500/600 or so items at my site as I generally had at my feebay store before I closed it. I got to about 100 & gave up pretty much when I saw how royally in the fog I was & that it was taking forever trying to type in all that html (and getting it all wrong).

The simpliest things are beyond me (like how to center my dang banner in my header). Before you saved me KT I was ready to throw in the towel & look for a website for dummies LOL that never uttered the word html.

River Rat, your site is soooo neat. Is that zencart? I hate mine, think it's too confusing, print is too small for the categories & would like some subcategories to show on the home page. I'll check out that image handler2 thing.

Then off to zen forum. Last time I was there I read for 3 hours & left more confused than when I got there, LOL I'll look for calico_cat.

New problem arose this week also. Folks have made purchases from my site. Problem was that notification of sale was going to one email address & notification of payment was going to my original email. Confusing but other zencart sellers said that happens at their sites also? Guess it has something to do with the setup? It seemed to work tho confusing.

Now I received a PP payment notification from my site but never got a notification of a sale so had no clue 'what' I sold. Nothing under zen admin for sales/orders? All I had was notice in admin that a new buyer registered. Had to finally contact the buyer & ask what she bought. Pretty lousy way to do business but luckily she's a very lovely & understanding person.

I never changed a thing so no clue what happened? There person who set up my site emailed me last week asking me to check & make sure my email was working right as she was changing something or other. I did check (sent myself an email & visa versa) & all seemed fine? I probably should go eradicate that second email address I set up solely for my site as that may be the cause of the confusion. Apparently PP notifies me at my original registered email regardless of the fact that I registered the new email for my site with them????? Who knows?

In your Zen Admin go into Modules>Payment and click the PayPal IPN and then the Edit button and check your email settings there, make sure they are identical to the settings (email) you have set up as your main PayPal address.

Then go to Configuration>Email Options and make sure the email addresses are set up correctly and that your Send Copy settings all have your correct email address and make sure all status settings are at 1 (the number one) so they'll activate.

If you can get your person to install the Image Handler 2 mod recommended above it'll work good for both the resizing and the multiple images and you won't need the calico_cat tutorial. With as many products as you'd like to have I'd suggest that rather than trying to do it from the Products page, especially without being able to FTP your images to your web folder.

So far I haven't been able to get that ImageHandler2 to work. I've downloaded it twice but get stumped when they ask what I want to use to open it?? Once that box comes up asking what I want to use to open a program, I'm always lost. I'd think I'd want to open everything from a program file under the name of the thing I'm trying to save? No? Was going to ask my son if he understood it.

I never have been able to figure out that entire picture thing in the listing area starting with the simple question of which directory do I want to upload to? Then I check no (do I want to overwrite) & type in the name I've given a picture I want to add in addition to my thumbnail & type that name in but it always overwrites my original thumbnail I chose above with the browse button? I don't get it? I know I'm doing something wrong but what. Do I need to first get the pictures into that zen directory first? I'm so totally DUH about all this stuff, grrrrrrrrr.

I see I'm going to have to review each listing I did, fix the html with the magic button, enlarge fonts, etc. What a mess I have going

Going now to try to fix my payment/notification mess. I printed your directions KT, thanks. Barbara

OK changed everything to one email address (I hope) & changed all the status settings to "1" (quite a few were "0"?).

Is there a way for me to change the size of the font in my categories & mini descriptions on the home page. Everything looks so tiny to me? I changed the font on the home page welcome message but that seems to be all I can change?

PS Meant to ask what is "FTP". I see it all the time but have no clue what it even is? Is that too far beyond me to incorporate? LOL Do I need it? Oh save me from me, LOL

POST OFF

frontporchdreaming wrote (View Post): › PS Meant to ask what is "FTP". I see it all the time but have no clue what it even is? Is that too far beyond me to incorporate? LOL Do I need it? Oh save me from me, LOL

FTP means File Transfer Protocol which in English means a way of transferring files to and from your server. You can also manipulate files directly on the server with it.

What you would find useful is an FTP client which is software that runs on your PC to transfer files between your PC and the server. Once you have it set up, you'll then be able to upload any mods/templates/images that you need. There are some free versions available, I'm sure people on here will give your their recommendations for the best one to use.

Zen Cart doesn't need a mod to handle multiple images, it does it natively. All you need to do is add something on to the end of the original product image file name e.g. product1.jpg, product1_SML.jpg, product1_LRG.jpg, product1_RED.jpg etc, etc. These will then show with your product description. You also have the option to include images directly within the HTML of the product description if needed.

For the best quality images, it's always far better to resize them to the same image size setting you have defined in your store's admin before uploading because almost any image editing software will do a far better job of resizing an image than php will on the fly.

Thanks for the info re: getting a template but unless I'm really confused I already do have a zencart template? Now I'm tying to figure out how to use zencart.

As far as ImageHandler2 goes, I'm thinking it needs to be unzipped. I have Unzip Me that should do that but I'm just not computer savvy enough to figure it out. My son will do it once I catch him, LOL

Thanks safe2Bseen for the definition of FTP. I guess I need an "abbreviation" diretory. I'll go look at my admin area to try to determine what that gallery picture size is supposed to be. I never realized the picture size was preset (must have been done by the person who set my site up) or I would have been editing my pictures for better quality. Thanks again for the heads up. I went & adjusted it to a better size & will edit my pictures accordingly.

Hopefully someone will come along & recommend a FTP client. Is that a program like Photoshop (which I just bought last night). (LOL don't cry, what do I know? ) I'll google & see what I come up with?

FPD...this is the one I use:

FileZilla

When you click 'Download FileZilla' it will take you to another page.
Select this one from the list:

FileZilla Client 3.0.1 September 19, 2007 (first one)

On the next page select either of these two:

FileZilla_3.0.1_win32-setup.exe
FileZilla_3.0.1_win32.zip

Thanks so much Deb. I'll check that out.

Quote: › Zen Cart doesn't need a mod to handle multiple images, it does it natively. All you need to do is add something on to the end of the original product image file name e.g. product1.jpg, product1_SML.jpg, product1_LRG.jpg, product1_RED.jpg etc, etc. These will then show with your product description.

This is true BUT why go thru the process of making 3 different size images when IH2 automatically does that for you? Additionally, the Zen Cart Developers almost always recommend this mod be installed for using multiple images. Wouldn't you agree they know their code better than anyone and if they think IH2 is the best method, then it must be?

Quote: › You also have the option to include images directly within the HTML of the product description if needed.

Yes and FPD was already doing that with Photo Bucket images. But using Image Handler you get much more professional looking listings.

Quote: › For the best quality images, it's always far better to resize them to the same image size setting you have defined in your store's admin before uploading because almost any image editing software will do a far better job of resizing an image than php will on the fly.

It's best to resize your largest image with Image Editing Software. If you have a good clear large image, Image Handler will do an excellent job resizing the smaller ones.

JMO

Yes, I've been adding extra pictures into my descriptions using Photobucket. I need to just make them smaller I think. I pity the poor person with dial up, those big pictures must take forever to load. That's a problem. Also I'm thinking that's the hard way of adding pictures.

I'll see if I can nail my son down tomorrow & see why I haven't been able to get IM2 to work. I guess I could safely be called "technology challenged", LOL My microwave, TV, camera, etc all have buttons I've never used for fear of making the dang thing explode, LOL

LOL I know the feeling. I'm that way about some things too!

You do need to unzip the files, so that's probably why you're having trouble. Usually I just double click on mine and it unzips...I'm using XP.

It may be they are unzipped and you just don't know where the computer put the files. I've done that before too! LOL

Maybe you can nab the kid tomorrow and he can help you sort it out.

The problem is that "the kid" is 41, single & lives a couple miles from me. He breezes in to eat, lol. Works crazy hours. I do know this much, when I get an email that has a file attached I can unzip it automatically which made me think I have something or other on this computer that unzips. But, just in case I downloaded this Unzip Me thing too?

I'm going to try to list a couple today & see if I fixed the problem with the distorted gallery pictures by changing the size in the admin area. It was set on a square & my pictures are rarely a true square. Also if I edit the size of the pictures I paste the html for into my description area maybe they won't be so large? Just seems like an awful lot of extra editing.

I should probably just cool my heels till I get the IH2 working.