Change of template with (havely) modified shop

[Frank Heinen]

Before I start programming my second (first failed because I started integrating all contribs I liked which resulted in one big mess) shop I want to think about adding/changing the look of osCommerce.

 

Case:

1- I want to modify the shop/add allot of features.

2- I like to have the option to change the look of the shop without changing allot programming of the shop.

3- I'm a bad in designer, so I want to buy a template.

4- This template must be easy to modify.

5- Most important it must look great.

 

My question is:

Is the BTS template contrib the best/most flexible solution for this case?

[Guest]

BTS and STS both have their strengths and weaknesses. One weakness that they both share is that after installing them, it's a little more of a pain (or a lot more of a pain in some cases) to install other contributions.

 

If you're going to go with a template, my recommendation would be to try and find one that's be coded without using either STS or BTS. Then you won't have such a hard time integrating other contributions later.

 

-jared

[Frank Heinen]

Okay, so basicly there is no such thing as having a modified shop and installing a template without changing code. Or you should first install the template and then start to modify it. But I don't like this because I want to be flexible (if I change my mind and want someting different and I have that habbit then I can start all over again).

 

Second thought is waiting for MS3, because there is a template system in it. But I think it will take time before most contribs and templates are modified to MS3.... so this isn't the perfect solution either, is it???

[Mediajuggle]

no...

[Guest]

It depends on what you mean by "template". Much of the look/feel of your site can be changed with the stylesheet, header, footer, and moving around infoboxes. That doesn't require much code changes, and is easy to "change your mind" later.

 

Even with a template system, if you install contributions then you have to change the code, possibly interfering with a later decision to move to a different template.

 

-jared