CE Phoenix Cart Forum

Hi All,

I am setting up a test site before I transfer over the data from my old OsCommerce site.

2 things I am stuck on is:-
1) How to add images on index, and also link to a category.
2) The user.css work ok on the website if looking at it from PC but does not work from a mobile.

Any help on these 2 issues will be greatly appreciated. And no doubt there will be more questions to follow.

1. Assuming you want to link to categories a bit like how the "new products" links to products...
-> Find an Addon that does it.
-> Then install the Addon...

I'd be surprised if there isn't such an Addon, as someone must have wanted similar in the last 10 years..

You might like to explain what `look` you want. EG, in the default installation there are two categories; Fruit | Veg

Yours would obviously have different Top Level Categories.
Is it just that top level you want to display in the Index Page ?

2. If it looks ok on a computer but not on a phone, it usually means something is being adjusted for smaller screens.

A couple of simple things to check:

-> Try clearing your phone browser cache (or open the site in a private/incognito tab)
-> Check if the layout changes when the screen gets smaller - phoenix is designed to look different on mobile

If you're still stuck, share a screenshot or the part that doesn't look right...

If you're asking how to add images to the slide show, it's in advert manager on the tools menu.

Hi Guys,

Thank you for your quick response.
www.astecmodels.co.uk is the original site I am trying to emulate within reason.
www.aztecmodels.co.uk is the CE Phoenix version.

I have tried clearing the cash, it must be problems in the css then, I will look deeper into it.

Before anything else...may I give you a pointer (without sounding like a nob)..

Never edit anything in the `default` template.

That folder is the core system. If you change it, you are tying your store to something that will break the moment you update.

Instead, use the override system.

Put your changes in override template
Leave default untouched
The system will automatically use your changes first

Why this matters:

• You can update safely without losing your work
• You avoid breaking your store later
• You keep control instead of fighting the software

Think of it like this:

default = the engine
override = your custom parts

You don't rebuild the engine - you add your own parts on top of it.

If you follow that way of working always, upgrades stay simple instead of becoming a nightmare.

Revert Steps

1. change back to use `override` template
Your Admin > My Store > Template Selection

2. undo all changes you have made to any file in `default`

Then you are back to a solid foundation.

Phoenix is unlike any ecommerce software when it comes to flexibility in what you can do with templates, but it is a learning curve.

Example: Categories on the homepage

Let's say you install a module that shows categories on your homepage. It probably comes with files like this:

/includes/modules/content/index/categories.php
/includes/modules/content/index/templates/tpl_categories.php
/includes/languages/english/modules/content/index/categories.php

You upload it and turn it on in Admin.

✔ Your homepage now shows categories. Done.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Want to tweak how it looks?

Start in Admin first:

Go to:
Admin → Modules → Content → Categories (Index)

Here you can change things like:

Sort order
Width
Background
Basic display options

✔ No code changes needed. Use this whenever possible.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Need something more custom?

This is where most systems go wrong - but not this one.

You do NOT edit the original files.

Instead, you use an override:

Copy:

```
/includes/modules/content/index/templates/tpl_categories.php
```

To:

```
/templates/override/includes/modules/content/index/tpl_categories.php
```

Now open your copied file and change it. For example:

```
<h1>TEST 123</h1>
```

Reload your homepage…

✔ You’ll see your change.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why this matters

You never touch the original files
Your changes survive updates
You can always undo or remove your customisation
The system stays clean and upgrade-safe

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It does take a little time to understand how Phoenix works - especially things like templates, hooks, and modules.

But once you've got the basics, everything becomes much easier to manage.

Instead of fighting the system, you work with it:

• You can change how things look without breaking the core
• You can add features using modules, not hacks
• You can update safely without losing your work
• You stay in control of your store

A learning curve is needed, but the payoff is long-term stability and flexibility.

In practical terms: once you "get it," running and evolving your store becomes far simpler - and far less risky.

Thank you Burt the css is now working on PC and mobile.
Now to suss the images on the index and sort the rest of the css to give the look I want.