Guest Posted December 4, 2004 Posted December 4, 2004 I'm new to osCommerce, apologies in advance for my ignorance. I'm just starting the configuration utility and am unsure of settings. Do I use local host for location and my PC ID/password? Also, can I use my existing Quickbooks database, or must I export into Excel, Access or other software and point to that? BTW, I find this whole collaborative effort very commendable, thanks to all of you.
peterr Posted December 4, 2004 Posted December 4, 2004 Hi, Try this ........ http://www.oscommerce.com/community?contri...ks&category=all Peter
Guest Posted December 4, 2004 Posted December 4, 2004 Wonderful, thanks. When I searched the site I should've had the category "all"! I'll look through these packages. Thanks again, Ron Hi, Try this ........ http://www.oscommerce.com/community?contri...ks&category=all Peter <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Guest Posted December 4, 2004 Posted December 4, 2004 There is a package that looks like it'll work once the oscommerce site is configure and has some data in it, but I think I'm still to early in the configuration package to use it. How do I configure with a default database? The initial configuration screen is asking for database IP. Is this the PC at my office or my server host? This answer will tell me which ID/password to use. The database name? I don't have one, I guess. Should I create an SQL database through MS Access just to get the site started and then add the Quickbooks package?
Guest Posted December 4, 2004 Posted December 4, 2004 I believe I found the answer. I need to get the SQL IP from my host so the default database will set up. Thanks
peterr Posted December 4, 2004 Posted December 4, 2004 Hi, I believe I found the answer. I need to get the SQL IP from my host so the default database will set up. Thanks <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No, you just use the domain name, and for db connections, the server is 'localhost' Peter
Guest Posted December 4, 2004 Posted December 4, 2004 Thanks Peter, so I use my server id/pwd or my PC id/pwd? My server people said they can create an SQL database on a mySQL server or an MS SQL server, but am I better off just pointing to my PC and I can make an MS Access database or possibly just use my Quickbooks database? Sorry, just a little confused and I want to make sure I get this part, the foundation of the construction, as 'proper' as possible to avoid future added work, like manual data entry in particular, or other work arounds. Ron
peterr Posted December 5, 2004 Posted December 5, 2004 Hi, so I use my server id/pwd or my PC id/pwd? My server people said they can create an SQL database on a mySQL server or an MS SQL server, <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Assuming (i) you want to use osCommerce and (ii) you want to use osCommerce on a website, then you will need to use: * MySQL database * MySQL username and a password * Grant full access rights for the user to the MySQL db Forget about a M$ SQL server, it is MYSQL you need for osCommerce. Your server id/pwd is used to gain access to your website, and will not be the same username/pwd needed for 'connecting' to the MySQL db. ..but am I better off just pointing to my PC and I can make an MS Access database or possibly just use my Quickbooks database? Sorry, just a little confused and I want to make sure I get this part, the foundation of the construction, as 'proper' as possible to avoid future added work, like manual data entry in particular, or other work arounds. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> One of the 'Quickbooks' contributions should be all you need. Forget about the M$ Access db, osCommerce doesn't use it (it's not really a db anyway, but a glorified spreadsheet) From memory, QB exports data in the .IIF format also, so you can easily load the osCommerce database. All of this depends on what you want to do, your objectives, do you want to continue to use QB, do you want osCommerce 'hosted' on the current server, or do you want to set osC up 'locally' and do the 'hosting' yourself (you need a dedicated IP and a domain name to do that, but no doubt you already have a domain name with your hosting company. Peter
Guest Posted December 5, 2004 Posted December 5, 2004 I'm thinking I should run Quickbooks as a parallel system, keeping it for the system of record, until I'm satisfied that the oscommerce site is configured and running correctly. From that point I'll likely keep QB only for functionality not found in oscommerce, (or that I haven't figured out yet) like payroll and some accounting functions. Having done a bit of MS Access to massage data from one system to another for various reasons, I thought it might be a way to avoid learning mySQL, and also avoid purchasing yet another software package (mySQL), since I can upsize the mdb into an SQL database onto the host server. (Okay quite a run-on sentence). I now understand the ID/pwd and my host is going to get back to me tomorrow with that, and the server address. I'll follow through on figuring out mySQl. Thank you, Peter, for your assistance. I hope to be able to make helpful contributions myself once I've learned my way around osCommerce.
peterr Posted December 5, 2004 Posted December 5, 2004 Hi Ron, I'm thinking I should run Quickbooks as a parallel system, keeping it for the system of record, until I'm satisfied that the oscommerce site is configured and running correctly. From that point I'll likely keep QB only for functionality not found in oscommerce, (or that I haven't figured out yet) like payroll and some accounting functions.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Having used QB and other accounting systems (BS/1 - http://dbsonline.com ), you will need to keep QB for especially the accounting side of things, and as you say, payroll. osCommerce does not have the depth of 'accounting' that QB and others have, for a start, no chart of accounts, no debtors, no creditors, no G/L, etc,etc. BUT, having said all that, osCommerce is not an accounting system, but an E-Commerce system, and a VERY good one. I would suggest you may need to have _some_ data flow between QB and osC though, on a continuing basis. Having done a bit of MS Access to massage data from one system to another for various reasons, I thought it might be a way to avoid learning mySQL, and also avoid purchasing yet another software package (mySQL), since I can upsize the mdb into an SQL database onto the host server. (Okay quite a run-on sentence).<{POST_SNAPBACK}> If you see from here - http://oscommerce.com/ , osCommerce uses MySQL. You will not have to 'learn' mySQL, it does not cost anything, and youur hosting company should not charge you anything to either setup or 'run' your db. IF they do, find another host. You can't use an MDB with osCommerce, it uses a 'real' database, MySQL. :D Peter
Guest Posted December 6, 2004 Posted December 6, 2004 Thanks again, Peter Makes perfect sense. Actually, a very close friend of mine is a network engineer at my host. I just spoke with him and he tells me that his programmers are very familiar with oscommerce and will do whatever is needed to set up and maintain the database and give whatever assistance I need with oscommerce. I found a program by Synergration that will take Quickbooks data and create a mySQL, or MS SQL or Access database. My friend will get back with me shortly as to whether or not they want me to use this program, called AccessBooksRT. Ongoing, I'll of course want to utilize the package that Adam created as you've suggested, I'm just thinking it may save some work in setting up the initial database if we use the AccessBooksRT program. My friend at the host knows that I'll want to continue running QB for functionality not available in oscommerce, as you've confirmed on your last reply. Hopefully in short time I'll be moving along with configuration and testing! Again, many thanks, my friend, for your guidance. Ron
peterr Posted December 6, 2004 Posted December 6, 2004 Hi Ron, I found a program by Synergration that will take Quickbooks data and create a mySQL, or MS SQL or Access database.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> I checked it out, seems it costs $$, my question would be why pay $$ when you can do it for free ? Try this Google search: http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=co...le+Search&meta= I'm sure there are PHP scripts around, you simply need to do the QB export first, so that you have the .IIF formatted file.. Have you looked at any of those osCommerce contributions, the ones related to Quickbooks ? Do you want to simply use QB to export ==> import to mySQL as a 'once off', or do you require QB to be updating data into osCommerce and/or osCommerce to be updating data back into QB ? Really, from having to look at the .IIF format a lot myself in the past, that should be all you need. However, if you need more than that, I do actually have software that exports "ALL" of the QB data (QB is well nown to not export all of the detailed trans, at least up until about 2002). I bought the software a year or so ago, a person was going to convert all his data into a DBISAM table, but it fell through, so I was left with software that never served any purpose. This is the software I'm talking about: http://www.datablox.com/qb/qboview.htm My friend will get back with me shortly as to whether or not they want me to use this program, called AccessBooksRT. Ongoing, I'll of course want to utilize the package that Adam created as you've suggested, I'm just thinking it may save some work in setting up the initial database if we use the AccessBooksRT program. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not easy to find prices at first glance, but why pay $348 to $498 ?? Why would you need a product like that ? My friend at the host knows that I'll want to continue running QB for functionality not available in oscommerce, as you've confirmed on your last reply. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It's hard to determine your short term and long term objectives, but here is a guess. 1. You want to use osCommerce 2. You now have QB and will continue to use that, but we don't know, apart form the accounting side of QB, what other data you might want to keep updated. 3. You need to use the QB data to load the MySQL db, but we don't know what particular data/info you want to initially load into osCommerce, and also, we do not know what data, if any , you would also like to be kept updated from QB ==> osCommerce. Peter
Guest Posted December 7, 2004 Posted December 7, 2004 Hi Peter, Well, I've got os commerce to the point that....well it's started. The database exists and I'm going through the different admin screens to get familiar with the site. This is an incredibly robust package! Okay, so I've been trying to figure out what it is that I really want. I think I only want to import all the QB data because I'm hanging on to QB psychologically. Rethinking this, I am leaning more towards only needing to populate stock/inventory in oscommerce. I don't have enough data to create accounts for all my customers, and don't think I really need to anyway. Here's more info on my business. I just closed my retail storefront where I sold swimming pools, hot tubs and related chemicals, parts, accessories and service/maintenance. My hope is to flow more $$$ to the bottom line by going this route. Local deliveries and service, as well as products shipped by carriers. To that end, my inventory list in QB is still appropriate, but I don't really think I need to import everything else into oscommerce. I agree that it doesn't make sense to purchase anything that I can do myself, i.e., with the help of already available code. I am not yet familiar enough with the admin end of oscommerce, but it appears that I will still need to move data back into QB for accounting purposes. Payroll functions should apparently remain completely seperate from oscommerce, as is all portions of accounting that really have little to do with the website, e.g. company expenses, etc. Service and maintenance will just be stock items in oscommerce, however specific charges won't really be known until after the services are performed....so I probably will just account for service calls in QB and I'll have to figure out how to do that, haven't yet looked for a package. Due to the service aspect, I may actually need to update the QB customers from oscommerce. Bottom line is I really need to go through several more iterations of my mindset before I can solidify goals for this site. Your insight has been extremely helpful. And all the work that went into oscommerce has humbled me greatly. If you care to see how very little I've accomplished so far, the URL is http://www.bhpoolspa.com/catalog I'll move it to the root once I'm done configuring, tweaking and testing. Thanks again, :) Ron
peterr Posted December 7, 2004 Posted December 7, 2004 Hi Ron, Great that you have your osCommerce store up, it's looking good, and that was a quick install. As you say, because your business has changed quite a lot, there will now be different ways of doing things. I can see that, yes, you may only need to import all the stock/inventory from QB into osC, and then as products are sold on the website, or new customers sign up, then data will flow back the other way, into QB. Even though you say "because I'm hanging on to QB psychologically", as osCommerce is not an accounting system, you will still need QB (although personally there are better accounting systems) for all your accounting, and the payroll in QB, would go into the GL side of things. There is no 'chart of accounts' in oscommerce, so your 'pending' orders in osC will be accounts receivable into QB, returned orders (wow, magine returning a swimming pool, I'd need a big truck,eh) go to the AP side, and of course, it all flows into the GL side in QB. It will be a matter of working out what 'system' (QB or osC) need to 'inform' (transfer data) the other system of 'events'. Peter
Guest Posted December 7, 2004 Posted December 7, 2004 Just about everything has been fairly intuitive so far. When I try to edit the text on the index.php, however, I get a parse error. Even when I just insert a random character into the text, it gives the same error. The only way to stop getting an error is to copy over the index.php file with a backup of the original. Other than that, and coming up with a new logo, I'm moving along fairly well. :rolleyes:
peterr Posted December 7, 2004 Posted December 7, 2004 Hi Ron, Just about everything has been fairly intuitive so far. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well that was a good pun, possibly unintended though, Quickbooks, made by Intuit, ...."intuitive so far", good one. :) Don't worry about the parse errors, I still pull my hair out at times, but we can be thankful that PHP does 'parse' the script before executing it, in some ways. Often good to copy the code you are trying to modify into a small script, isolating parse errors is easier that way. Peter
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