oscommerce PHP and dreamweaver

[jacksoncountyal.com]

I'm old to web design, but new to php and oscommerce.

I have to get the keys to this to get up to speed. Why, when I'm looking at the oscommerce php files in dreamweaver, do I only see php placeholder instead of text and graphics?

I even tried opening it in the site and still only placeholders. I opened the examples and they showed plainly.

 

Part B of the question is how do I edit these files. Do I edit them on the site, or download only those files that I need to edit, or keep a copy on my computer?

If so which files do I mirror..

[dwatson]

I think that Dreamweaver can create more problems. It is easier just to look at the files in a text editor if you are having problems. If I use Dreamweaver, I really just use it as a text editor that highlights the php syntax. I saw some recommendatons in these forums for some good PHP text editors.

 

To edit files: I would create a mirror site on my local PC, installing osCommerce and PHP running with localhost. Then download the files for your site (if they are different than the standard osCommerce install). Get your site running on your PC (maybe disable e-mailing). Then make changes to individual files on your PC, test it, and ftp up the individual files. Make backups of the host of course so you can revert if you mess up a file. This method saves me a lot of headaches.

[Guest]

On a Windows machine macromedia Dreamweaver is a very capable and robust application for developing an osCommerce site.

 

You cannot use the design view or you will just get a bunch of placeholders. You will have to switch to code view...

 

Bobby

[vinces]

PHP is a server-side technology so therefore it is impossible for a PHP editor to show changes withotu uploading them to the web. It's not that big of a deal, you just have to learn PHP and some mySQL possibly.

[ArtRat]

if you want to render php locally, you need to install php locally.