New User Artwork & Layout Problems

[dhdtv]

Hi,

 

I'm a new OSC user and am trying to recreate my current website & store using OSC. My questions are:

 

a) Is there an OSC glossary of terms used with the OSC application which would help a novice like me to find where various items are located?

 

B) I'm trying to replace the osc image above the light grey bar with my images and I can't find anywhere to do this. When I use the banner manager, all I can do is replace the image at the bottom of the page. Can anyone point me to where this is handled?

 

c) I like the layout of OSC user www.jayateas.com and I'm trying to find where in Configuration I can change my layout and design and add images, etc. Where can I do this?

 

These are probably very simple questions to answer but I have been unable to find any references to them in the forms or knowledgebase. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

David

[Sincraft]

get ready for a long hard journey if you don't know php hehe. I started off a little over a week ago, and still don't have everything down. Everything is SO much different than HTML. May I suggest you first download a php editor before you try doing ANYTHING. You will have errors like crazy if you use a plain online editor or worse, notepade and upload via ftp.

Also, if you do a search in the MAIN search area for ALL forums, you can find much of what you need. Not to mention, the most common questions are posted within the first 5 pages. If it's not answered in those, I hope it's not urgent because chances are...it won't get answered.

 

The knowledge base is lacking at best. It's a great start, with some definite information here and there, but for the most part..you won't find what you need there.

 

The standard OSC install has very little. In order to get other things , you need to research the contributions..which are also half broken or very confusing. You need to spend alot more time than you would orignally think on them.

 

once you get a hang of 'how things go', you can then make changes and edits with more confidence.

 

As far as making your OSC install look 'different'...i'd love to know that myself. I think it's all about working within the confines of the skeleton of this system. I've seen some REALLY nice websites out there with nice flashy intro and holiday/seasonal pictures all over the sites. OSC is rather plain at best. With MUCH editing, you can step it up to a better system. I personally would love to have buttons for my links rather than just words, but one step at a time.

You can checkout what I have done so far at www.nightsatins.com we are finally live after 1.5 weeks.

To be honest, if I was to lose everything, I would have a hard time trying to figure out how I did everything hehe. So much to learn and take in. But I plan on modifying this thing to death until it looks nothing like OSC :) Then I hopefully can use it as my main cart platform for years to come with much more ease and confidence.

 

Anyway, sorry to ramble,...been staring at code for almost 20 hours now lol. l8r and gl!

 

S

[ozcsys]

A. If you have not read the knowledge base you should do so. I would also just spend some time reading through the threads on the forum before you get started rather than just jumping right in without a clue. I think you will find it time well spent.

 

As far as structure goes there are two big things to keep in mind.

 

First is that for the most part your changes fall into two categories, function and text. For example if you want to change the layout (function) of your shipping page you would make your changes to your /catalog/shipping.php file but if you want to change the text on the same page you will need to make your changes in the catalog/includes/languages/english/shipping.php file (or if your site is in spanish then substitute that for the english) any time you want to change the text you need to start in the lanuage path.

 

Second you basically have two seperate sets of files, one for the catalog and one for the admin. The best thing to do is to think of them as two seperate sites and you will be less confused.

 

B. The banner is found in your includes/header.php file look for the following code and replace the osCommerce part with your own info.

 

<td valign="middle"><?php echo '<a href="' . tep_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT) . '">' . tep_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'oscommerce.gif', 'osCommerce') . '</a>'; ?></td>

 

C. That is a pretty standard layout. The entrance page is done in html but if you go to the store part it is mostly just color changes plus the logo and extra links in the header. Your colors are changed in your stylesheet.css file, you will find a list of what all the classes affect in the knowledge base.

 

AS already noted get yourself a good php editor and do not use the online file editor as you will have problems.

 

Be extremely careful about backing up your files and database before making any changes to your store. That way when you screw something up (and you will) you can replace your files and database and try again without losing any hair( or your mind) The danger point here is when you start thinking you have a good handle on things and then you get lax about your backups. This usually happens a few weeks to a couple of months in and will come back and bite you.

 

When adding contributions do them one at a time and test the complete store after each one has been added, this means going though the purchase process and all. You do not want to come looking for help and have to say I have a problem but I added four contibutions and I do not know which one screwed up my store as you will probably lose a lot of work that way.

 

Good luck on your store.

[dhdtv]

A. If you have not read the knowledge base you should do so. I would also just spend some time reading through the threads on the forum before you get started rather than just jumping right in without a clue. I think you will find it time well spent.

 

As far as structure goes there are two big things to keep in mind.

 

First is that for the most part your changes fall into two categories, function and text. For example if you want to change the layout (function) of your shipping page you would make your changes to your /catalog/shipping.php file but if you want to change the text on the same page you will need to make your changes in the catalog/includes/languages/english/shipping.php file  (or if your site is in spanish then substitute that for the english)  any time you want to change the text you need to start in the lanuage path. 

 

Second you basically have two seperate sets of files, one for the catalog and one for the admin. The best thing to do is to think of them as two seperate sites and you will be less confused.

 

B. The banner is found in  your includes/header.php file look for the following code and replace the osCommerce part with your own info. 

 

<td valign="middle"><?php echo '<a href="' . tep_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT) . '">' . tep_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'oscommerce.gif', 'osCommerce') . '</a>'; ?></td>

 

C. That is a pretty standard layout. The entrance page is done in html but if you go to the store part it is mostly just color changes plus the logo and extra links in the header. Your colors are changed in your stylesheet.css file, you will find a list of what all the classes affect in the knowledge base.

 

AS already noted get yourself a good php editor and do not use the online file editor as you will have problems.

 

Be extremely careful about backing up your files and database before making any changes to your store. That way when you screw something up (and you will) you can replace your files and database and try again without losing any hair( or your mind)  The danger point here is when you start thinking you have a good handle on things and then you get lax about your backups. This usually happens a few weeks to a couple of months in and will come back and bite you. 

 

When adding contributions do them one at a time and test the complete store after each one has been added, this means going though the purchase process and all. You do not want to come looking for help and have to say I have a problem but I added four contibutions and I do not know which one screwed up my store as you will probably lose a lot of work that way.

 

Good luck on your store.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Well I really appreciate both of you taking the time to answer my questions and providing me with some sound advice - which I will endeavour to follow. I own and operate a website currently, which is outdated in it's design and function. However, it does have 3,800 pages of current home improvement information and a working e-commerce store. The shopping cart software is a subscription based software which has some very good features, especially to do with the administration side. It seems that OSC lacks in that area and will need some work. I guess I'll have to thoroughly learn PHP and get a good PHP editor. On that note, does anyone have a suggestion for a good php editor which can run on a Mac OS X 10.3.7? Thank you again for all your advice.

 

David

[Guest]

On that note, does anyone have a suggestion for a good php editor which can run on a Mac OS X 10.3.7?  Thank you again for all your advice.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

BBEdit seems to be the most reliable now.... I have looked at a handful and settled on BBEdit....I wish there was something like Crimson Editor for the Mac but hey, it's the price you pay for using a superior OS... :-"