In over my head

[chazzbro]

I put together a shopping cart site for some friends using Cart 32. I've recently moved over to a host which uses OS Commerce, so I set about trying to build this thing. I have entered in about 300 items into the shopping cart, but I have some general questions and I don't really know where to get help. If anyone is willing to help me get this going for my friends by fielding a few questions for me, I would really appreciate it. I'm not a programmer and I have no experience with CSS, so I feel a bit overwhelmed at this point. My questions are probably simple to answer, but I am stymied just as much by them as I would be by complicated ones.

 

For example:

1. how do I customize the header?

2. I have sort of figured out how to change colors thru the style sheet, but I don't understand how to change the background colors of the boxes on the page without doing it by trial and error. Is there a general reference for this kind of info written down somewhere?

3. are all users forced to register and log in to enter the site? is there a way to turn this off...or reduce it to simply requiring name and email? this could be a real damper for people who are just browsing.

4. am i forced to use just one picture size for the thumbnail pics? what if my pics are of various sizes and shapes?

 

I probably have (or will have) quite a few questions along these lines. If you can help me, please contact me at: [email protected]

I will have quite a few questions trying to get this online, but I promise not to abuse the privilege and you can always opt out. I'd be happy to hire someone, but this is bascially a pro bono effort on my part, so I have nothing to offer in exchange for the help.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

c-

[msaunders]

Chuck

 

For starters, do a search in this forum for some of the stuff your asking. This has been answered hundreds of times by different people.

 

Secondly, I would seriously recommend download the Modification guide from www.oscdox.com. It abswers lots of begineers queries.

 

hope this helps

 

martin

[burt]

I've recently moved over to a host which uses OS Commerce

Your host should be helping you if he is supplying the software to you...

1. how do I customize the header?

catalog/includes.header.php

2. I have sort of figured out how to change colors thru the style sheet, but I don't understand how to change the background colors of the boxes on the page without doing it by trial and error. Is there a general reference for this kind of info written down somewhere?

This is done in the stylesheet, IIRC:

.infoBoxContents {

 [b]background: #f8f8f9;[/b]

 font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;

 font-size: 10px;

}

3. are all users forced to register and log in to enter the site? is there a way to turn this off...or reduce it to simply requiring name and email? this could be a real damper for people who are just browsing.

Only forced to enter their details if purchasing.

4. am i forced to use just one picture size for the thumbnail pics? what if my pics are of various sizes and shapes?

Answered many times in the Forum, do a search. Quick answer: there is no problem using images of different shapes.

please contact me at

In my opinion its always better to ask/answer questions on Forum so that if anyone has the same problems in the future they can search the forum etc.

[msaunders]

"In my opinion its always better to ask/answer questions on Forum so that if anyone has the same problems in the future they can search the forum etc."

 

This is true Gary, but , as I pointed out , a lot of these issues are resolved in the Modification guide, along with lots of other tips/tricks .Its nice to be able to work some of this stuff out yourself.

 

rgds

martin

[medisave]

Couple of questions:

 

1. Did you host autoinstall OSC for you - if so what version are they with - most use 2.1 - If this is the case I would reccommmend that you yourself manually install the snapshot version 2.2.

 

2. The stylesheet is fairly easy - view your main page and then view source, copy this html into something like frontpage. View normal - highlight the box your interested in - switch back to HTML view and you should be able to see a highlighted line with CLASS= find this in your stylesheet and edit!

 

3. By default customers should not be forced to register to view the site - ONLY when they wish to proceed to checkout - which is pretty normal - not sure what has changed on your install (although i have only ever used 2.2 version!)

 

4. There are 2 things that can help with pictures both are plugins but as a non programmer they are both easy to do if you follow instrucitons

 

a: http://www.oscommerce.com/downloads.php/co...ions,493/type,3

The above keeps the image proportions so that that the thumbnail resize is kept in proportion - please note however that when OSC generates thumbnails - it is simply using the browser to resize - thus if you have a 40k large image the thumbnail is also 40k!

 

b: http://www.oscommerce.com/downloads.php/co...ions,435/type,3

the above is another useful one which allows you to specify 2 images - one for large and one for the thumbnail!

 

The above mods need 2.2 - so check which version your hosts uses. If you need to install 2.2 - iut has a nice install routine - you can also find install help at www.oscdox.com

 

If you need any help then keep posting here or contact me directly.

 

Cheers,

 

Graham

www.firstaidsave.co.uk

[chazzbro]

I appreciate the feedback. It gives me a great place to start. I have a hard time learning from docs, as I often don't know enough about what I'm looking for to have a frame of reference, but being pointed to a specific place to look is very helpful. Thanks much!

 

c-