Understanding CS-Cart File Paths: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the file paths in a CS-Cart installation is essential for customization, debugging, and development. Here’s an overview of the key directories and their purposes in CS-Cart:

Key Directories and File Paths in CS-Cart

1. Root Directory

• The root directory contains the core files and directories of the CS-Cart installation. Important files here include config.local.php, index.php, and init.php.

2. app/

• app/addons/: Contains the core add-ons provided by CS-Cart.
• app/controllers/: Contains the main controllers for both the frontend (frontend) and backend (backend) of the store.
• app/functions/: Contains various function files used across the CS-Cart system.
• app/lib/: Contains third-party libraries used by CS-Cart.
• app/schemas/: Contains schema files that define how different components of CS-Cart interact and are configured.
• app/Tygh/: Contains the core classes and the main framework of CS-Cart.

3. design/

• design/backend/: Contains the templates, styles, and JavaScript files for the admin panel.
• design/themes/: Contains the themes for the storefront, including templates, styles, and JavaScript files.
• design/themes/basic/: This is an example of a specific theme directory. Each theme will have its own directory here.

4. js/

• Contains JavaScript files and libraries used across the CS-Cart frontend and backend.

5. images/

• Stores all image files for the store, including product images, category images, and other miscellaneous images used by the site.

6. var/

• var/cache/: Stores cache files generated by CS-Cart. Clearing this directory can help resolve caching issues.
• var/files/: Contains various files uploaded through the admin panel.
• var/langs/: Contains language files for different languages supported by the store.
• var/logs/: Stores log files for debugging and tracking system errors.
• var/themes_repository/: Stores default theme files that can be used as a backup or reference.

7. config.local.php

• This file contains local configuration settings for the CS-Cart installation, including database credentials, cache settings, and other environment-specific configurations.

8. index.php

• The main entry point for the CS-Cart application. All requests are routed through this file.

9. init.php

• Initializes the CS-Cart application by loading essential configurations and libraries.

Customizing and Extending CS-Cart

When customizing or extending CS-Cart, you’ll primarily interact with the following directories:

• design/themes/your_theme/: For theme-related customizations such as templates, styles, and JavaScript.
• app/addons/: For creating or modifying add-ons.
• var/langs/: For adding or modifying language translations.

Summary

Understanding the file structure of CS-Cart is crucial for effective customization and management. The key directories such as app/, design/, js/, images/, and var/ serve distinct purposes, ranging from core functionalities to theme files and caches. When making customizations, focus on the design/themes/ for themes and app/addons/ for add-ons.