You probably already know that you can style certain category links differently based on the cPath. If not take a look at the notes in the file includes/templates/template_default/sideboxes/tpl_categories.php.

Using that same method, you can style the header, footer, and other parts of your site depending on the current cPath.

For example, let’s say you have a category on your web site that lists children’s decor. You want this area to have a more playful feel with a polka dot background for the header area. The category path is 5.

1. Open includes/templates/template_default/common/tpl_header.php

2. Right before the <div id=”headerWrapper”> type:

<?php
if ((int)$cPath == 5) {

<div id =”headerWrapperChildrens”>

the rest of the code here

</div>

} else {

<div id=”headerWrapper”>

the rest of the code here

</div>

}

3. Save the file and upload it to includes/templates/YOUR_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE/common/

4. Open your stylesheet.css file and define the style for #headerWrapperChildrens

Of course, this approach can be taken with many sections of your web site, the possibilities are up to you!

My first official Zen Cart contribution, Where to Buy, is now available at Zen Cart. It is a module that allows store owners who sell their items at brick and mortar stores to enter store information via the Zen Cart admin panel. The information is displayed on the web site grouped by state in a table format. The table is given a css class so that it is easily styled.

See a live demo at: Luv2Lounge.com

Download the contribution here.

This Zen Cart SEO tip is very esoteric, I’ve only used it once but with great results.By using php’s str_ireplace() function, you are able to name your categories with SEO in mind.

Background: Let’s say you sell everything red; red dresses, red hats, red shoes and so on. Your store is even named The Red Store. When setting up your categories you create Red Hats, Red Dresses, etc. You have the SEO mod installed and your url reads “red-dresses-c-1.html” , so far so good. But now you go to the front of your site and you just don’t like the way the category names look…. do customers really need to see “Red” before every category name?
Use: In my application, the web site is using category tabs across the top of the header and changes will relate to that set up but with a bit of thought you can use this tip no matter which category option you are using.

Download includes/modules/categories_tabs.php at the bottom of the file look for:

// create link to top level category

$links_list[] = ‘<a class=”‘ . $new_style . ‘” href=”‘ . zen_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT, ‘cPath=’ . (int)$categories_tab->fields['categories_id']) . ‘”>’ . $categories_tab_current . ‘</a> ‘;

$categories_tab->MoveNext();

And replace with:

// create link to top level category

$links_list[] = ‘<a class=”‘ . $new_style . ‘” href=”‘ . zen_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT, ‘cPath=’ . (int)$categories_tab->fields['categories_id']) . ‘”>’ . str_ireplace(”RED”,”",”$categories_tab_current”) . ‘</a> ‘;

$categories_tab->MoveNext();