Question about how to link user product selection with tabel content

[delboy]

I understand that the generic template Act_Primary.html produces the main table used to set out product categories which themselves appear to be dynamically generated by some Actinic Java code. What I would like to be able to do is bring up some product specific information panels in the first column of the product detail page. I have no problem in positioning a nested table just where I would like it BUT, can anyone tell me how to link product selections to achieve dynamic content in my nested table?

I suspect this can only be done by manipulating the Actinic Java routines, but I'd be grateful for any pointers.

I am running Actinic V6.1.5 with a semi-customised version of the CURVES design theme.

[NormanRouxel]

The Actinic generated JavaScript (not Java) structures only contain information about the Section (page) structure (page name, URL, section image and it's dimensions).

There's no product data available except as HTML within the statically generated pages.

[delboy]

Thanks for your response Norman, my site is not yet uploaded so I am using the Actinic Preview system to view my pages.

I can see that in the Preview directory additional html product pages have been created by the Actinic program for local viewing and I guess this would also happen on the host server when uploaded? If so I guess I could I directly embed the additional info tables I want to add into these pages on the server?

Appreciate the help.
Delboy

[NormanRouxel]

It's best not to change files after they've been generated by Actinic. They'll just get overwritten the next time you do an Update.

You should make all such changes either to the Templates (in Site1) or by embedding HTML (just surround it with !!< and >!!) in the Product Descriptions or Brochure Fragments Text.

[delboy]

Thanks again Norman but let me explain a little further about what I'm endeavouring to achieve.

When a user clicks to go to my shop from the home page, they are presented with a bunch of product categories on the main product page (this page being generated by Act_Primary.html). Anything I embed on this page will appear in every category which is not what I want. The information panels I want to include are large and are generic to a given category. I want to position any given panel to run down the left hand side of a number of products in a specific category. The positioning I can cope with but the html pages I want to embed my info panels in don't seem to exist until they're generated by Actinic either on preview or (I guess) upload to the server.

Any further suggestions?

Thanks again.
Delboy

[Nadeem]

Hi there

Anything I embed on this page will appear in every category

Not if you have multiple "Act_Primary.html" templates. What you could do, is embed what you want on a primary template and give it a name of "Act_Primary_Front".html. Now in "Design | Option | Layouts", for "Primary Template", you simply set the "Act_Primary_Front.html" to "Front Page Layout", leaving the default primary template alone. What this does, is show the panels on the front page of the catalog, but leaves it alone on all other sections.

Kind Regards

[delboy]

Hi Nadeem,

Many thanks for your suggestion which, as you say, does separate my product category page from sub-categories and actual product pages. However, it doesn't allow me to embed additional table elements in specific sub-categories which is really what I'm aiming to achieve. Would V7 give me the flexibility I am seeking?

As an aside, I find this forum and the support it enjoys from the Actinic community immensely constructive and helpful.

Delboy
(a grateful learner)

[delboy]

Nadeem,

This is by way of a follow up, you (of course) were correct. Generating multiple Act_Primary.html pages (with different names) and then linking the new html pages by clicking on the various sections in the Catalog Product Categories Chart and selecting the new page in the “Overall Layout Tab”, does the trick.

To borrow a quote from OLDERSCOT, my hat’s now on straight!

Thanks again.
(It’s only easy if you know how)

[Nadeem]

Hi there

Excellent, this is the best way to achieve what you want, and the same can be done in version 7.

Kind Regards