Offline Database

[Valerie]

My web host Hetzner Africa offered me oscommerce as the shopping cart they provide for free. Do I pay at some time and if so, how much?

 

Can I update the products in a database offline or is it all web-based? If db, which dbase is it eg MsAccess?

 

If online, does that mean I must pay to stay online all the time I'm working on the shopping cart? I'd like to be able to customize everything offline in addition to updating the products offline.

 

I went through the demo and briefly looked at documentation but couldn't find the answers there.

 

thanks - Val

[ozcsys]

My web host Hetzner Africa offered me oscommerce as the shopping cart they provide for free. Do I pay at some time and if so, how much?

 

Can I update the products in a database offline or is it all web-based? If db, which dbase is it eg MsAccess?

 

If online, does that mean I must pay to stay online all the time I'm working on the shopping cart? I'd like to be able to customize everything offline in addition to updating the products offline.

 

I went through the demo and briefly looked at documentation but couldn't find the answers there.

 

thanks - Val

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

1. You do not need to pay for osC at any time only your hosting charges unless your hosting company decides they want to charge you.

 

2. osC uses a mysql database.

 

3. If you are going to edit your files you should do so locally and then ftp them to your server. You can install osC on your local computer to use a test store for changes and updates but you need certain things for it to work. You can install easyphp and then you can run it on your local machine as it includes everything you need.

 

However if you are going to have a version of your store locally to make your changes and updates on first you need to make sure that both your local and online store are the same version or you will have problems which means you may have to manually install osC on your server instead of using the version your host has.

[Guest]

And you can find EasyPHP at www.easyphp.org/.

[ozcsys]

And you can find EasyPHP at www.easyphp.org/.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Good point and I also forgot that you can find very easy to follow install instructions HERE

[TCwho]

I am very interested in installing easyphp, but I think I read somewhere about it doesnt come with ssl or legal issues...(cant recall)

 

will that be a problem? or should I go ahead and install.

 

also would it be a good idea to install on clients computer so they can update the store offline? I will still handle site maintance such as backups...so they will be safe if they mess up :P ... just want to know if this is a good idea... right now they will start updating the site online through admin panel..

[Guest]

I am very interested in installing easyphp, but I think I read somewhere about it doesnt come with ssl or legal issues...(cant recall)

 

will that be a problem?  or should I go ahead and install.

 

also would it be a good idea to install on clients computer so they can update the store offline?  I will still handle site maintance such as backups...so they will be safe if they mess up :P  ... just want to know if this is a good idea... right now they will start updating the site online through admin panel..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, there are legal restrictions on distributing the compiled version for windows. The situation might change in the near future. Search www.apache.org for more info.

 

If you want SSL as well, the easiest free option right now is to use Abriasoft Merlin Server .

 

Good luck! :thumbsup:

[TCwho]

Thanks for your reply Alpha Ray

 

having ssl feature for just a local copy isnt even neccessary is it?

 

....especially if it will be on a clients machine who will only be adding products....

 

but on my end I actually want to start configuring offline.....right now I back everything up and then I ftp changes...(and hope it works :P )

[Guest]

having ssl feature for just a local copy isnt even neccessary is it?

I agree, that's a lot of trouble to go through to gain litttle or no advantage.

 

Not to mention that you'll have to get a professional host eventually.

[Guest]

Sorry Val, we went a little far off the original topic.

[Valerie]

Thank you! - also can you tell me, for the choice to shop in US$ or GB?, can I have:

 

1. the choice between any two currencies?

 

2. And more than 2 currencies? eg 4, like US$, Au$, GBP and SA Rands?

 

3. Is there somewhere in the s/ware I can change the exchange rate each day, between currencies?

 

Thanks, Val

[Valerie]

No you didn’t go off-topic at all. I need to go the easiest route possible as I am not too computer savvy - just know basic HTML from writing my web-sites. Don’t know Java or Perl.

 

The SQL and PHP route look like Big Scary learning curve. Manually installing osC on my webhost server would be impossible for me (not knowing perl or whatever’s needed) and I don’t think Hetzner would allow it, they’re a little sticky (being Deutsch, though I’m super-grateful for German efficiency here at the bottom of Africa).

 

> If you are going to edit your files you should do so locally and then ftp them to your server.

>on my end I actually want to start configuring offline.....right now I back everything up and then I ftp changes.

>right now they will start updating the site online through admin panel

 

Are you perhaps saying between you that I need to first enter all the products on-line through the admin panel? But then I can see which files are the product files in my ftp screen? - by date updated? or by filename? Download these files, edit them offline in UltraEdit (my dos text editor) then ftp them back?

 

That means I can update products eg description and prices, offline, but whenever I need to add new products, I can only do this online?

 

This store is a lifetime job for me. Do you think long-term it would benefit me to learn how to install osC and php onto my computer (groan) and how to work with mysql dbase (groan) and then do everything offline (grin).

 

Re versions, couldn’t I simply download the same version Hetzner has, eg ask them to email it to me zipped?

 

Thank you - Val