Module installation under OSCMax 2.5 beta 3

**gmarkham** · 03-22-2011, 03:52 PM

Hi all,

I recently installed OSCMax 2.5 beta 3 under a new domain. I'm attempting to install the theme switcher module (see post here), however something's not right. Upon following the instructions verbatim, there appears to be no new entries under the Modules section in the Admin panel.

One thing I should mention... Upon installing OscMax, I didn't install it in the default directory of:

../public_html/<domainname.com>/catalog/

but under:

../public_html/<domainname.com>

Could this be the cause of the problem? Or does the installation process merely need to be tweaked in order to make this work? Or is it a compatibility issue and won't work at all w/ the beta version?

Thanks,

Greg

**pgmarshall** · 03-29-2011, 01:19 AM

Firstly - you have posted in the osCommerce v2.2 forums ... so unlikely to get a response to a question about osCmax v2.5!

Theme Switcher is also for osCommerce v2.3.1 so is not compatible with osCommerce v2.2 nor osCmax v2.5

However, osCmax has template switching already built in! You can even switch them through the URL ... so I am not entirely clear what you are installing or why ...

Let me know if you need more help but I would start with a quick read through the wiki ...

Regards,

**gmarkham** · 03-29-2011, 07:34 AM

Yes, I apologize for that. While I realized I was posting under the wrong version, I didn't notice that it said "OS Commerce" (instead of OSC Max). I was simply looking for the forum corresponding to the latest version number and as there's no v2.5 section, posted here.

I'm new to OS Commerce / OSC Max and thought (in my naivety) the beta would be backwards compatible with previous modules.

As for the native theme switching, after playing with it, it seemed as though it would ONLY work through using URL switches and I didn't see a way to make the change more permanent based upon a setting elsewhere.

The documentation (wiki included) is incomplete making it frustrating for someone new to the platform to find the information needed.

Regards,

Greg

**pgmarshall** · 03-29-2011, 12:28 PM

Greg,

Don't mix up osCmax with osCommerce!

They are two different software packages ... osCommerce was the basis of osCmax many years ago ... since then osCmax has evolved well beyond basic osCommerce.

Since then osCommerce has gone through a change into v2.3.1 which is not compatible with osCommerce v2.2 nor osCmax. In fact, osCommerce is about to launch v3 which will not be compatible with either osCommerce v2.3.1 nor v2.2!

To switch themes in osCmax v2.5 all you need to do is go to Configuration -> Templates -> Template Setup -> Default Template Directory and change it! That's it. Just switch - the URL switching is there to allow you to test out your designs on your live store without showing your customers ... so you can test it all works.

The wiki is a work in progress - we have put a lot of work into it but we need community members to commit more info to help us out ... make sure you read both the v2.0 and v2.5 wikis - most of the info from v2.0 is transferable ... We have made literally thousands of improvements in osCmax recently and the wiki will naturally lag the roll out of the new v2.5 platform ...

Stick with it ... it will all become clear soon ...

Regards,

**gmarkham** · 03-29-2011, 01:48 PM

Don't mix up osCmax with osCommerce!

They are two different software packages ... osCommerce was the basis of osCmax many years ago ... since then osCmax has evolved well beyond basic osCommerce.

Since then osCommerce has gone through a change into v2.3.1 which is not compatible with osCommerce v2.2 nor osCmax. In fact, osCommerce is about to launch v3 which will not be compatible with either osCommerce v2.3.1 nor v2.2!

That's good to know. Thanks for setting me straight. I didn't realize it had evolved to that degree. How long has OSCMax been in development?

To switch themes in osCmax v2.5 all you need to do is go to Configuration -> Templates -> Template Setup -> Default Template Directory and change it! That's it. Just switch - the URL switching is there to allow you to test out your designs on your live store without showing your customers ... so you can test it all works.

That is easy. Why didn't I see that before? <Sigh> Making easy things difficult is a bad habit I need to break.

The wiki is a work in progress - we have put a lot of work into it but we need community members to commit more info to help us out ... make sure you read both the v2.0 and v2.5 wikis - most of the info from v2.0 is transferable ... We have made literally thousands of improvements in osCmax recently and the wiki will naturally lag the roll out of the new v2.5 platform ...

Again, good to know. I'll take a look.

Stick with it ... it will all become clear soon ...

I'm sure you're right. Thanks for your help (and your patience.)

--Greg

**pgmarshall** · 03-30-2011, 12:17 AM

How long has OSCMax been in development?

I have been helping to develop osCmax for about a year and a half now but the software has been around since 2003 ... (maybe even before that ... Michael_s is the original architect)

We try to remain as close to the osCommerce v2.2 core code as possible (since this has the most modules available) but we have developed our own stuff as well as integrate the modules together (and extend them in most cases) ... For example, the admin panel, page module controller, quick links, etc. are our own work ...

The best way is to build a demo store (on localhost - if you don't have any server space) and have a play ... search the forums/wiki if you get stuck ... ask in the forums if you get really stuck ... we are a fairly friendly bunch!

Good luck with your store.

Regards,