Free Zencart Tutorial
Learn to use Zencart, setting up an Online Store Front. The Zencart tutorials will help you set up your storefront, adding categories, adding products, managing banners, configuring store, configuring currency, managing customers, editing home page, editing columns, sending email, sending newsletter, adding payment modules, adding product attributes, adding shipping modules, creating specials, configuring sales tax.

• Configuring sales tax in Zencart
  This tutorial will show you how to configure sales tax in Zencart. Zencart allows you to create sales tax based on different zones. You may create more than one tax (eg., state, federal, etc.). In this example, we will be creating a state tax California, so let's first make sure we have defined a zone for California. Now that we have a zone created, let's add a new tax rate. Since we will be charging a California tax, let's first delete the Florida tax item. Configure the settings for the new tax rate. That's all there is to it. You are now able to configure sales tax in Zencart.
• Creating specials in Zencart
  This tutorial will show you how to add specials in Zencart. From time to time, you may want to offer select items at a special price. Let's see how that's done. Select the product you wish to put on special. Enter the price for the item while it is on special. It can either be a fixed dollar amount or in the form of a percentage discount (eg., 20%). You can pick a date when the promotion will end. If it will run indefinitely, leave this blank. Let's look at the results on the site. As you can see, you have successfully added the item on special. You are now able to create specials in Zencart.
• Adding shipping modules in Zencart
  This tutorial will show you how to add shipping modules in Zencart. Note: If you see this error ate the top of the page, it means you have not set your store's zip code. Let's go ahead and set it now. OK, now we can go back and configure shipping. You have several options for calculating shipping charges. It all depends on the product you are selling and what is best for your business. In this example, let's set up shipping on a per item basis. Click edit to configure your values. Continue to set the values as per your preference. Let's delete the Flat Rate module since we are opting for the Per Item one. You are now able to add shipping modules in Zencart.
• Adding products attributes in Zencart
  This tutorial will show you how to add product attributes in Zencart. As you can see, there are already a few option set up in this store. Let's go ahead and create a new one now. Enter the name of the new option name. Select the way in which your customers will make their selection. Now let's add some values to the newly created option. Select the option from the dropdown list and create an option value. Repeat the process until you have added all the values you wish to associate with this option. At this point, we can now add this new attribute to a product. Select a product from the dropdown list. With the product highlighted, scroll down to add attributes. Select an option name and value. Select Yes here if you wish to have this value pre-selected by default. Let's add another value. This time, let's make this value add $1.00 to the product price when selected. Done. Now let's take a look at the results in our store. As you can see, the attribute has been added to the product. Note that the velour option is not $1.00 extra, but this is because the product is currently on special and the discount applies to the attribute as well. You are now able to add product attributes in Zencart.
• Adding payment modules in Zencart
  This tutorial will show you how to install payment modules in Zencart. Zencart allow you to easily integrate several payment methods in your store. With a module highlighted, click to install it. Click the edit button to configure your settings. Note: Authorize.net is used when you wish to allow real time online credit card processing with your own merchant account. Be sure to set this to Production when you're ready to go live. You have the option to set a value for order status. You can set order to display this option to your customers. The lower the number, the higher the display. Authorize.net has been successfully set up. Installing the credit card module allows you to collect credit card details online and then manually process the orders offline. Let's install the Paypal module. You are now able to add payment modules to your store in Zencart
• Sending out a newsletter in Zencart
  This tutorial will show you how to send out a newsletter in Zencart. When customers place an order in your store, during the checkout process they are asked if they wish to receive newsletters from you. Let's go ahead and create one now. Enter what you wish to display in the Subject line. Now enter the message you wish to send. Before sending out the newsletter, you must first lock it. Select the audience for this mailing. In this example, we don't have anyone subscribed to the newsletter. but you can see the process for sending one out. Let's look at another type of newsletter you can send to your customers. As you can see, you can also send out Product Notification. This is a great way to promote repeat orders. Again, lock it before sending. With Product Notification, you're able to add products to the newsletter. You are now able to send newsletters in Zencart.
• Sending out email in Zencart
  This tutorial will show you how to send out email in Zencart. You can send to a specific customer or send a mass email to all customers. As well, you can choose to send email to your subscribed Newsletter members. The email address in your store profile is set here by default. You have a final opportunity to preview the details before sending out the email. You are now able to send email in Zencart.
• Editing your left/right columns in Zencart
  This tutorial will show you how to edit the left and right columns in Zencart. Here you can see the complete list of available box files. In this example, let's remove the Documents box from the left column. Highlight the box file in the list and click to edit. Set the box status to OFF. As you can see, the box has been removed. Let's add it back, but this time, we'll position it at the very top of the left column. Set the Sort Order to your preferred position. The lower the number, the higher the priority and position. Let's see the results on the site. As you can see, the Documents box is in top position in the left column. You can perform the similar changes with boxes in the right column. You are now able to edit the left and right columns in Zencart.
• Editing your home page in Zencart
  This tutorial will show you how to edit your home page content in Zencart. We will also see how to change the text in the header. Note that this change will reflect site-wide on all pages. Let's Start by opening header.php in any text editor. You will find this file in includes/languages/english/. This is where we can edit the text in the header. Important: If you are using your own template, be sure to upload this file to that directory - eg., includes/languages/english/YOURTEMPLATE/. As well, if using your own template, save a copy of english.php from includes/languages/ to includes/languages/YOURTEMPLATE/. Now open index.php in any text editor. You will find this file in includes/languages/english. Locate the blocks of text that you wish to edit or delete. Highlight the text and either delete it or replace it with text of your choice. Either way, be sure not to delete any other part of the variable. Repeat the process for any other text on the page. Again, if you just wish to delete the text, be sure to leave the quotation marks intact. After making all your changes, save the file and upload it to your site. OK, let's refresh the page to see the changes. Perfect! As you can see, we have successfully edited the header slogan as well as some of the home page content. Note: This part of the page is edited in the Define Pages Editor in your Store Admin Area. Important: In order to edit page content using the Define Pages Editor, you must first be sure to set all files in includes/languages/english/html_includes/ to writable. If setting CHMOD, set it to 777. Select the file you wish to edit. As you can see, the content is displayed as raw source code. If you feel more comfortable in an HTML WYSIWYG format, go ahead and switch to HTML. Go ahead and make any changes you like. You can use the built in fully featured text editor to easily format the content. Save the changes when you're done. Important: If using your own template,