Just Starting Out

[DerekJ]

HI ALL,

I'm just starting out with e commerce. Never done a site, never installed any software yet.

I'm a C and Foxpro programmer and someone suggested OsCommerce as a good place to start looking.

Where should I start, what software will I need and why should I use OsCommerce rather than anything else? OK, so this type of site is a big + in its favour, but would any of you have started with something else knowing what you do now?

Thanks in advance
Derek

[michael_s]

Hi,

It is free, has tons of features (as many as most commercial packages), 100% open source, and a community of thousands. Those are great reasons to use it.

Take a look at the package, run it through its paces and compare it to others out there. That is the great thing about open source, you can test drive it, take a look at the sourcecode, and see if it is what you need.

What software will you need? Well, you will need whatever any web designer needs. HTML editor, text editor, graphics editor. You will also need a webserver (apache or other) with PHP and MySQL installed.

[DerekJ]

Thanks for the reply MSASEK
I have all the HTML editors and FTP stuff thanks (I should have said!)

What's the difference between oscMAX and OsComerce? Which should I use?
My ISP charge will go up from about £50 to about £120/year to add MySQL is this usual?
Any pointers do "pot holes to avoid" when starting out with OsCommerce?

Thanks again
Derek

[michael_s]

Go with osCMax all the way. It is a hot rodded osCommerce and has many more must have features than a standard osCommerce.

As for things to avoid, unfortunately that is different for everyone and depends on your experience level.

[DerekJ]

I started with standard OSC 'cos it seemed easiest, and most tightly bound with the ISP my client is using.

I copied the catalog folder as described in the set up, ran the install and BOOM….

A fully working shop….WOW…..

That was the SLICKEST set-up I've ever seen! I’m IMPRESSED!

OK, I know there is a load of work to do to get it looking right and to put the detail in, but to have a complete site working in seconds is impressive.

WOW….
Derek

[groggory]

I started with standard OSC 'cos it seemed easiest, and most tightly bound with the ISP my client is using.

I copied the catalog folder as described in the set up, ran the install and BOOM….

A fully working shop….WOW…..

That was the SLICKEST set-up I've ever seen! I’m IMPRESSED!

OK, I know there is a load of work to do to get it looking right and to put the detail in, but to have a complete site working in seconds is impressive.

WOW….
Derek

If you are sure about going with just normal MS2 then I'd say start adding contributions till it meets the functionality you desire.

But in reality...GO WITH MAX!!! MAX is easier in the long run because it has so many contributions already installed. Including a secured admin which will add headache for you right from the getgo with normal MS2. Not only that, but there are just so many features in MAX that if unused, will still be slightly easier than MS2. Go MAX and read this board religiously along with the wiki. Also, when I first started I bought the two reference books sold in the advertisments on this site and they proved to be somewhat helpful. If nothing else go with MAX because of BTS...it'll make customizing the look of your site just soo much easier. I implore you!

Good luck!

Greg

[michael_s]

If you didn't start with osCMax, it is a mistake. The BTS system alone makes it worth using osCMax. A simple example : to change the main page in standard osc, you need to manually edit a php file and understand php code.

In osCMax, you just use the web based wysiwyg editor in the admin panel.

Also, to change the look/design in standard osC = nightmare of epic proportions. You will need to hand edit no less than 40 files.

In osCMax, the same can be accomplished by editing 2 files, and they are html templates, not php scripts.

Just my opinion...

[DerekJ]

OK OK, I’m convinced.

I ripped out the standard version and installed oscMAX this morning. The only thing I did not do was securing the admin dir.

I know this should go in the installation forum, but....

I don’t have access to a command shell on the server and I don’t know enough about the system to know what .htaccess is doing or how to set it up.

Any pointers?

Thanks again for the help
Derek

[groggory]

max is secured by default. You don't have to do anything but type in the default password to get in and change it to your own.

[DerekJ]

In the installation document it says:-

Password protect your /catalog/admin dir using .htaccess
Your admin section should be password protected. The easiest way to do this is to use .htpasswd and .htaccess to secure the directory. If you are not sure how to do this, please follow the procedure outlined below:
....


Are you saying that this is not required?


???
Derek