Simple Blog - Documentation

PrestaHome Simple Blog

Overview

Thank you for purchasing our PrestaShop Simple Blog module.

If you have any questions that are beyond the scope of this help file, please feel free to contact us using our support system here.

This module is compatible with PrestaShop 1.5.3.1 and later versions of this software.

From version 1.6 of this module you'll need PrestaShop 1.6 and later to have access to all updates and new features.

Installation

Installation is quite simple, there is nothing more than default PrestaShop mechanisms.
First of all please unzip files from CodeCanyon, now you should see three .zip files, ph_simpleblog, ph_recentposts and ph_relatedposts

First method: Installation from Back-Office

1. Navigate to Modules -> Modules.
2. Click "Add new" button on the top right corner.
3. Now you may see upload form, please select ph_simpleblog.zip from your disk.
4. Confirm your choice, upload module.
5. Find SimpleBlog on your modules list, just type "simple" on search form and you should see your new module.
6. Click on the found result. This should take you to the module position.
7. Click "Install" button.

Second method: Manual upload on server and install from Back-Office

1. Connect with your server.
2. Navigate to /modules/ folder in your PrestaShop folder structure.
3. Unzip ph_simpleblog.zip and upload ph_simpleblog folder to your server.
4. The path should be like this: /modules/ph_simpleblog/ph_simpleblog.php
5. Now go to your BackOffice.
6. Navigate to Modules -> Modules
7. Find SimpleBlog on your modules list, just type "simple" on search form and you should see your new module.
8. Click on the found result. This should take you to the module position.
9. Click "Install" button.

After installation you should see new Tab in your BackOffice called SimpleBlog.

Configuration

SimpleBlog configuration is powerfull but quite simple in manage.

Navigate to Back Office -> Simple Blog -> Settings

There is few options... 

1. General Settings

1.1 Posts per page

How many posts will be displayed on one page on the blog home page and the category page.

1.2 Blog main URL (default: blog)

This is quite amazing thing, if you use SEO Url's in your store (you should!) than you can customize blog slug. What that is mean? Blog URL will be:

http://www.yourdomain.com/andThereIsBlogSlug/

by default your blog is visible on:

http://www.yourdomain.com/blog/

but you can change this, for each store!

1.3 Blog title

Title shown on your blog homepage

2. Appearance settings - General

2.1 Main layout

You have full control on displaying Simple Blog. In that option you can select which column you want to show on your blog page. Choose on from 4 options. 

You must remember that SimpleBlog adapted to the basic style of PrestaShop, this means that if you want to blog was beautiful without the use of columns you should also change the width of the thumbnails. Read below for more information.

2.2 Posts list layout

Just as the title says, you can choose between displaying posts on the grid or a horizontal list.

3.  Appearance Settings - Single posts, lists

Here, everything should be clear.

4. Thumbnails settings

In this section you can manage the settings of posts thumbnails. Remember to regenerate thumbnails after doing changes here, button on the top of the settings page.

4.1 Resize method

Select wich method use to resize thumbnail. Adaptive resize: What it does is resize the image to get as close as possible to the desired dimensions, then crops the image down to the proper size from the center.

4.2 Default thumbnail width

Thumbnail width for grid layout, in pixels.

4.3 Default thumbnail height

Thumbnail height for grid layout, in pixels.

4.4 Default thumbnail width (wide)

Thumbnail width for full width layout, in pixels.

4.5 Default thumbnail height (wide)

Thumbnail height for full width layout, in pixels.

5. Recent Posts widget settings

5.1 Recent Posts layout

Grid or full width like in Appearance settings.

5.2 Category

You can display Recent posts from:
- All categories
- Featured only (you can select which post is featured on post edit page)
- Selected category, from "News" by example.

Widgets

We decided to extend the capabilities of SimpleBlog using widgets.

Recent Posts

Installation is the same like in general ph_simpleblog module, please follow instruction in "Installation" section, just select ph_recentposts.zip instead of ph_simpleblog.zip

After module installation you should see new posts on your blog homepage (f you already write some), the settings of Recent Posts Widget are in Simple Blog -> Settings tab in your Back-Office.

Related Posts

Installation is the same like in general ph_simpleblog module, please follow instruction in "Installation" section, just select ph_relatedposts.zip instead of ph_simpleblog.zip

After module installation:

- new Tab under SimpleBlog called "Related Posts"
- new Tab on product edition page called "Simpleblog - Related Posts"

More widgets very soon!

Translation

Please go to Back-Office -> Localization -> Translations -> Installed modules. Search for ph_simpleblog, ph_recentposts and ph_relatedposts.

Module position

You can change position of module by going to Back Office -> Modules -> Positions. Press Ctrl (CMD on Mac) + F and search for ph_simpleblog/ph_recentposts. Now you can drag&drop modules here and change their positions.

If you need more information you can see detailed documentation about changing modules positions here: http://doc.prestashop.com/display/PS16/Front-office+Positions

Upgrading

How tu upgrade SimpleBlog?

If you have downloaded new version of the module frome CodeCanyon that is what you should do:

1. Unzip files.
2. Find ph_simpleblog.zip/ph_recentposts.zip/ph_relatedposts.zip
3. Follow instruction from "Installation" section 
4. You should have updated module right after upload new files on your server and navigate to Modules tab.

This method works for widgets too.

PrestaShop have quite amazing upgrade method in 1.5 version and newer so everytime when you download update from CodeCanyon the update will be the same as the installation and the module dont lose any of your settings, posts etc.!

If anything changes we will definitely write about that in the update guide.

For Theme Developers

Few important things,
 
1. Do not edit default .tpl files, you can override them using standard PrestaShop mechanism, for example:
 
If you want to change something in single.tpl just create file single.tpl in:
 
themes/YOURTHEME/modules/ph_simpleblog/views/templates/front/single.tpl
 
File from your theme directory will override default template file.
 
2. If you have any suggestions to enhance SimpleBlog flexibility please create ticket in our support system here

Support

If you have problems, questions or you have idea of new feature you can contact us by using our support system.

Support system is available here:

http://prestahome.ticksy.com