Getting started - HOWTO??

[timbeckham]

I've activated the OSCommerce-2.2/MySQL facility available at the ISP that hosts my website, and I'm trying to get a basic understanding of how OSCommerce works. I've got a beginner's understanding of MySQL and PHP, and I'm ready to learn a lot more to make this a good installation, but I have no idea where to start in comprehending OSCommerce.

 

By the way, Version 2.2 is OK for my purposes, I think, because I don't expect to launch the shop portion of the site for a year or so, and I figure 2.2 will be quite stable by that time.

 

One thing I have done is check out the "default.php" page, to get some idea of the logic of the website, and, frankly, I find it daunting. Tracing the code, especially when one includes modules like "application_top.php" and others, is going to take me forever. It's got me wondering if that is what I have to do to get good at this program.

 

(Incidentally, I really am impressed by the work you have all put into this project. It is feature-packed and promises to be all I need, if I can only figure it out!)

 

Reading the information on the OSCommerce website, I see that there is no instruction manual, so can anyone point me to anything that could help me just get a first, test-case version of my own shop online? I've looked over the sample provided in the download, and its layout would not be appropriate for what I have in mind for my site, so rather extensive changes to the graphics and overall presentation will be necessary.

 

Right now the sample site is installed at an unlinked location on my site, so everything is working on the server-side, as far as configuration is concerned. If you need to check that out, go to:

 

http://www.ironwork.com/shop

 

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

 

Tim Beckham

[ukracer]

Reading the information on the OSCommerce website, I see that there is no instruction manual, so can anyone point me to anything that could help me just get a first, test-case version of my own shop online? I've looked over the sample provided in the download, and its layout would not be appropriate for what I have in mind for my site, so rather extensive changes to the graphics and overall presentation will be necessary.

 

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

 

Tim Beckham

 

Hi Tim

 

I am also here with a veiw to using os commerce for the first time.

 

I am further behind than you in that I am just researching server requirements to see if any of my sites could be used as developemnt site as the final resting place will require a platform change to accomodate the PHP side of things instead of ASP as we currently use.

 

I also saw the lack of documentation but to be fair the support I have got with another cart that cost 100 dollars is not that good and means I can not progress so.............if you find anything I will let you know if you find anything can you mail me with the details also?

 

BTW the company I intend to use eventually is Fasthosts.co.uk and the one I intend to use for development is supanames.co.uk so if anyone knows if these can or can not be used with os commerce could they please shout up!

 

hope you get some support Tim BFN

 

 

regards Andy T

[mattice]

check out http://www.oscdox.com

 

it is the perfect 'newbie' guide.

Read that first, it covers most questions asked by new users.

Any other questions can be found / asked in the forums.

 

Regards,

Mattice

[ukracer]

check out http://www.oscdox.com

 

it is the perfect 'newbie' guide.

Read that first, it covers most questions asked by new users.

Any other questions can be found / asked in the forums.

 

Regards,

Mattice

 

jeeeez that was quick . Thanks for that.

 

One quick question can installations of os commerce be copied from one server to another easily?

 

I dont want to do much on one server if it cant be moved to the working one quickly?

 

I will read the docs you suggest now though :)

 

thanks again

[mattice]

You can move your installation but you'll have to alter all the settings regarding filepaths again no matter what you do. Might as well do a clean install and drop your own database in the empty one.

 

HTH,

Mattice

[besheer]

Thanks for that link. It is very helpful. But I am stuck at Step 1 :D This part is very confusing for me:

 

Once you open the zip or tar archive of Oscommerce, you will

be able to see the directory structure of the archive. There are 2

levels of catalog and admin directories. The files you want to

upload are in the second level of each respective directory tree.

Catalog

Catalog

Admin

Admin

Next, copy the bottom folders (in bold type above) over to your server document

root directory like this:

Document Root (public_html or www)

/catalog

/admin

Or if you want the catalog to be in your document root instead of the subdirectory

/catalog, simply structure it like this:

Document Root (upload contents of the catalog folder here)

/admin

1

 

I have created two directories under /public_html/ called /catalog/ and /admin/. I don't understand the "second level" part. It sounds like I'm supposed to upload local_drivecatalogcatalog to /public_html/catalog and so on. Is that correct?

 

The rest, I just have absolutely no idea what they're trying to say. Is there another FAQ for installation? Thanks.