Managing Infoboxes via Admin

[aiyou]

I'm working on completely redesigning my existing site, and am currently working with a (nearly) new install on localhost.

 

In reviewing some of the threads on performance improvements, I noticed a number of references to removing unwanted/unused infoboxes (languages, currencies) etc. This got me thinking, as while I don't may not need these now, there may be a need in the future. Couldn't I just toggle them on/off via Admin, and potentially minimize code changes in the future?

 

Before I go much further, could this be considered a best-practices approach? Or, am I going down a steep and slippery slope that could have catestrophic results? For a newbie like me, this looks promising, but I would certainly like to hear from the more experienced developers for any dangers or risks. While this would increase the number of initial records returned for config values, its probably better than performing a sql query each time to check and see if the item is enabled.

 

To accomplish this, I ran the following SQL to add a configuration value to the Maximum Values group:

INSERT INTO configuration 
(configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, last_modified, date_added, use_function, set_function) 
VALUES ('', 'Display LANGUAGES infobox', 'DISPLAY_LANGUAGES', 'false', 'Enable display of LANGUAGES infobox', 3, 99, '2009-01-15 21:00', '2009-01-15 21:00', NULL, 'tep_cfg_select_option(array(\'true\', \'false\'),');

 

Then, in /includes/column_right.php (since I'm working with a new install), made the following change

FROM:

 if (substr(basename($PHP_SELF), 0, 8) != 'checkout') {
       include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'languages.php');
include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'currencies.php');

 }

 

TO:

 if (substr(basename($PHP_SELF), 0, 8) != 'checkout') {
  //BOF: Manage Infoboxes via Admin
   if (DISPLAY_LANGUAGES == 'true') {
   include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'languages.php');
   }
 //EOF: Manange Infoboxes via Admin

//include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'languages.php');
include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'currencies.php');

 }

 

If this is viable, and worth pursuing, I would probably create a new config group to support these types of settings.

 

I've also done something similar, modifying one of the Center Store contribs, so that I can toggle the display from 100% to 500 px, or anything else I want. Initial testing has worked, but would like to modify the function that sets the config value to be a bit more robust - another topic for another day, depending on the feedback from this initial post.

 

Honest feedback and critique would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

-Rob

[♥geoffreywalton]

Unless you are likely to want multiple currencies in the future why not just remove the code displaying the boxes.

 

You will be doing an unnecessary test every time a page loads.

 

It would only take minutes to add them back in later if they are every needed.

[aiyou]

Thanks Geoffrey.

 

Makes sense - I was focused on minimizing the SQL queries and future development, but overlooked the overhead caused by additional tests.

[poppetpink]

Unless you are likely to want multiple currencies in the future why not just remove the code displaying the boxes.

 

You will be doing an unnecessary test every time a page loads.

 

It would only take minutes to add them back in later if they are every needed.

 

 

Hi, I have ben trying to remove three info boxes from my site but I still cant figure it out. Would you be able to tell me please? I read somewhere that you have to add // in front of the box you want removed but I don't know which bit of the code I need!

Hope you can help! :blush:

Thanks

[aiyou]

Certainly...

 

For example, to remove the Languages infobox

 

Open the /catalog/includes/column_right.php file. Find:

include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'languages.php');

 

And add the leading slashes

 

//  include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'languages.php');

 

Remember...back up first!

 

--Rob

[poppetpink]

Certainly...

 

For example, to remove the Languages infobox

 

Open the /catalog/includes/column_right.php file. Find:

include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'languages.php');

 

And add the leading slashes

 

//  include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'languages.php');

 

Remember...back up first!

 

--Rob

 

 

Thank You!!! :D

 

Dont suppose you could also tell me how to move a box from the left column to the right?! I would like to move the search box to the right column.

Thanks again

[dickysolo]

Thank You!!! :D

 

Dont suppose you could also tell me how to move a box from the left column to the right?! I would like to move the search box to the right column.

Thanks again

 

 

Remove / comment the following line from your "catalog/includes/column_left.php" and add in "column_right".php

  require(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'search.php');