OSCommerce STS template flow-How to get output of a box in html file - oscommerce

Question

I am trying to explore STS template system.
What i need to do is simple.
I just want to show a banner/box in the right column which is added from the OSC admin.
I have done the following steps:
added a banner from admin banner manager.
created a file in the includes/boxes directory under name customBanner.php
added this line in column_right.php include(DIR_WS_BOXES . 'customBanner.php');
And finally added the following code to customBanner.php
<?php
if ($banner = tep_banner_exists('dynamic', '170x158')) {
?>
<br>
<table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td align="center"><?php echo tep_display_banner('static', $banner); ?></td>
</tr>
</table>
<?php
}
?>
This code is basically used for OSC without STS template.
Now i need to know how STS template giving output in php.html files e.g.<td>$specialbox</td>. I mean how this variable is getting value from the sts.
and how can i show advertisement box in the right column.

Answer 1

You should add to the includes/modules/sts_inc/sts_user_code.php teh following code:
$sts->start_capture();
include(DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'boxes/customBanner.php');
$sts->stop_capture('specialbox');
It also posible to use your own file to add this code but you should include its name in the admin->modules-> Default -> Files for normal template

Answer 2

You could add as many boxes as you like in the same way:
$sts->start_capture();
include(DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'boxes/customBanner.php');
$sts->stop_capture('box1');
$sts->start_capture();
include(DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'boxes/OTHERcustomBanner.php');
$sts->stop_capture('box2');