The Reviews sidebox is displayed for both visitors (guests) and logged in customers.

The Reviews sidebox displays one product review that is randomly selected from a specific number of reviews – this setting is configured in Zen Cart Admin.

Working with the Reviews sidebox is easy.  To get you started, take a look at:

• Turn on / Turn off the display of the Reviews Sidebox
• Configure the Zen Cart Reviews Sidebox to randomly select product reviews for display
• Increase the length of the review shown in the Reviews Sidebox
• Modify the Reviews Sidebox to link to all reviews for that product
• Remove the product image from the Reviews Sidebox
• Update the rating images (stars) used in the Reviews Sidebox

If you want to learn more about customising the Reviews sidebox, sign up today to the Zen Cart Reference Book – the Ultimate Reference for Customising Zen Cart mailing list to receive sample chapters, bonus content and pre-launch specials.

More Zen Cart:

1. Configure the Zen Cart Reviews Sidebox to randomly select product reviews for display
2. Turn off Reviews in Zen Cart
3. Turn off the Manufacturers Sidebox
4. Remove Category Product Counts from Category Sidebox in Zen Cart
5. Manufacturers – Zen Cart Sidebox

In a default installation of Zen Cart, the Reviews sidebox is set to display one review.  This means that the random feature of the sidebox is not evident. 

However, Zen Cart Admin provides an easy way to set the number of product reviews to include in a ‘selection pool’.  The reviews are then displayed randomly, one at a time, in the Reviews sidebox.

The wording of the description for the configuration setting is a little confusing to say the least!

Log in to your Zen Cart store Admin

1. From the Configuration menu, select Maximum Values.
   
2. Select Random Product Reviews for SideBox and then click the Edit button.
   
3. As mentioned, the information given is not quite correct.  This setting is to enter a number of product reviews from which ONE will be randomly selected for display in the Reviews Sidebox.

   Enter a number higher than 1 in the box and click the Update button to save.
   

4. Now, on each page load or refresh, a different product review will be displayed.

More Zen Cart:

1. Reviews – Zen Cart Sidebox
2. Configure the number of items shown in the Order History Sidebox
3. Remove Category Product Counts from Category Sidebox in Zen Cart
4. Turn off Reviews in Zen Cart
5. Product Notifications – Zen Cart Sidebox

1.  Remove Reviews from Product Information pages

On each Product Information page, by default either a button for read the reviews (if one or more reviews exist for that product) or write a review (if there are no reviews for that product) will be displayed.  To remove the display of these buttons, follow the steps below.

1. Log in to your Zen Cart store Admin
2. From the Catalog menu, select Product Types.
   
3. Select the product type you wish to customise.  This will be Products General in most cases.
4. Click the Edit Layout button.
   
5. Select Show Product Reviews Button and click the Edit button.
6. Select False from the drop down menu and then click Update to save your selection.
   
7. Select Show Product Reviews Count and click the Edit button.
8. Select False from the drop down menu and then click Update to save your selection.

2.  Remove Reviews Sidebox

The Reviews Sidebox displays random reviews and also includes a link to the Reviews page.  To turn off the display of the Reviews Sidebox, follow the steps below.

1. Log in to your Zen Cart store Admin
2. From the Tools menu, select Layout Box Controller.
   
3. Select the Edit icon for the Reviews sidebox.
   
4. In the Edit Box section, select the settings as shown here and then click Update to save your settings.
   

3.  Remove Reviews from Sitemap page

The Sitemap page will still refer to the Reviews page, even if you are not using the Reviews feature.  To remove this reference, follow the steps below.

1. Open the tpl_site_map_default.php file located in the /includes/templates/template_default/templates/ directory.
2. Find this section of code:

   <li><?php echo '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_REVIEWS) . '">' . PAGE_REVIEWS . '</a>'; ?></li>

3. and remove or comment out this line.
4. Save the modified tpl_site_map_default.php file to your override folder.  This will be /includes/templates/CUSTOM/templates/ where CUSTOM represents the name of your current template folder.

4.  Remove Reviews from Welcome Email

1. Open the create_account.php file located in the /includes/languages/english/ directory.
2. Find this section of code:

   define('EMAIL_TEXT', 'With your account, you can now take part in the <strong>various services</strong> we have to offer you. Some of these services include:' . "\n\n" . '<li><strong>Permanent Cart</strong> - Any products added to your online cart remain there until you remove them, or check them out.' . "\n\n" . '<li><strong>Address Book</strong> - We can now deliver your products to another address other than yours! This is perfect to send birthday gifts direct to the birthday-person themselves.' . "\n\n" . '<li><strong>Order History</strong> - View your history of purchases that you have made with us.' . "\n\n" . '<li><strong>Products Reviews</strong> - Share your opinions on products with our other customers.' . "\n\n");

3. and modify to remove the reference to product reviews:

   define('EMAIL_TEXT', 'With your account, you can now take part in the <strong>various services</strong> we have to offer you. Some of these services include:' . "\n\n" . '<li><strong>Permanent Cart</strong> - Any products added to your online cart remain there until you remove them, or check them out.' . "\n\n" . '<li><strong>Address Book</strong> - We can now deliver your products to another address other than yours! This is perfect to send birthday gifts direct to the birthday-person themselves.' . "\n\n" . '<li><strong>Order History</strong> - View your history of purchases that you have made with us.' . "\n\n" . "\n\n");

4. Save the modified create_account.php file to your override folder.  This will be /includes/languages/english/CUSTOM/ where CUSTOM represents the name of your current template folder.

More Zen Cart:

1. Configure the Zen Cart Reviews Sidebox to randomly select product reviews for display
2. Reviews – Zen Cart Sidebox
3. Turn off Tell-a-Friend in Zen Cart
4. Turn on / Turn off the display of the Order History Sidebox
5. Turn Email Salutation On or Off in Zen Cart