estimated installation/setup time

[sunlightindustries]

hello.

 

i am considering osCommerce as a solution for an online store. i am hoping to get some feedback from other members who have had experience installing and setting up an online store. specifically, excluding customization and design, generally how long will it take me to get a store installed, online and running?

 

i have no experience with php or mySQL. i have extensive experience in microsoft web development (ASP, ASP.NET, VB, C#, MS SQL). i have looked at php before and i know it is sort of similar to the ASP scripting language vbscript, although it looks more powerful and robust. i expect mySQL to be a no-brainer for me. i will not have direct access to a webserver or backend, only FTP access and whatever the equivalent of enterprise manager for mySQL would be.

 

is the installation relatively automated? once installed, is it just a matter of using the GUI to select options, add products, etc? how much programming is actually required...is this a turn-key solution?

[davidinottawa]

hello.

 

i am considering osCommerce as a solution for an online store. i am hoping to get some feedback from other members who have had experience installing and setting up an online store. specifically, excluding customization and design, generally how long will it take me to get a store installed, online and running?

 

i have no experience with php or mySQL. i have extensive experience in microsoft web development (ASP, ASP.NET, VB, C#, MS SQL). i have looked at php before and i know it is sort of similar to the ASP scripting language vbscript, although it looks more powerful and robust. i expect mySQL to be a no-brainer for me. i will not have direct access to a webserver or backend, only FTP access and whatever the equivalent of enterprise manager for mySQL would be.

 

is the installation relatively automated? once installed, is it just a matter of using the GUI to select options, add products, etc? how much programming is actually required...is this a turn-key solution?

 

 

with your experience I would guess you could download the product, untar it, run the install.php file, create your database using phpmyAdmin, set your permissions and be live in about 30 minutes.

 

php is very similar to asp.

 

You can do all your db workin phpmyAdmin using the sql query window.

 

you need to bookmark these sites and you'll be good to go :

osc structure :

http://oscommerce-reference.swisscart.com/...0817/index.html

php reference :

http://php.net

oscommerce third party add-ons (careful, they're developed by the community at large) :

http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions

 

It's also worth noting there is no 'upgrade' option once you have install contributions. contributions are delivered on a script by script basic. so modifications you make per file, will need to be noted.

Kepp track of the contributions you have installed, and put in comments using your name or something.

then all you have to do is a : find . | xargs grep yourname to see all the files you have ever changed.

 

hth, david

[jasonabc]

If you're more familiar with Micro$oft technologies you'd be far better off looking seriously at something like this:

 

http://www.vpasp.com/

[b101aa2]

with your experience I would guess you could download the product, untar it, run the install.php file, create your database using phpmyAdmin, set your permissions and be live in about 30 minutes.

 

php is very similar to asp.

 

You can do all your db workin phpmyAdmin using the sql query window.

 

you need to bookmark these sites and you'll be good to go :

osc structure :

http://oscommerce-reference.swisscart.com/...0817/index.html

php reference :

http://php.net

oscommerce third party add-ons (careful, they're developed by the community at large) :

http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions

 

It's also worth noting there is no 'upgrade' option once you have install contributions. contributions are delivered on a script by script basic. so modifications you make per file, will need to be noted.

Kepp track of the contributions you have installed, and put in comments using your name or something.

then all you have to do is a : find . | xargs grep yourname to see all the files you have ever changed.

 

hth, david

 

 

as an mcse, this one is easy. mysql and administrating the databases behind it are simple as it gets. php code driving osc is onyl a learning curve with onyl being a 3 on a 1-10 difficulty scale if you already have experience with ms db's and queries. And yes, way more robust. Youc an do literally whatever you want with t. It's only limitations are your own skill levels and creativity.