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osCommerce

The e-commerce.

COMPLETE Newbie question ..how to get started


scott_thomas3006

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Hi all

 

im soo sorry to ask this question but here it is. I came across this osCommerce site by accident and i love it!

 

Now i know i need an online shop but how to I get started? I mean is there a template ? How do i get someone to do this for me (paid work) etc

 

Thank you

 

Scott.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Hi all

 

im soo sorry to ask this question but here it is. I came across this osCommerce site by accident and i love it!

 

Now i know i need an online shop but how to I get started? I mean is there a template ? How do i get someone to do this for me (paid work) etc

 

Thank you

 

Scott.

 

Yes Scott - I am in the same boat! A complete newbie here too, and not sure where to begin - can anyone point us in the right direction? Is there a wsimple step-by-step guide anywhere? (at this point i havent even downloaded anything so i really am right at the beginning...)

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1, Get a hosting account on an Apache server. Your account must allow you to create at least one MySQL database.

 

2, Create or ask your host to create for you, a blank database. Remember the database server name, database name, your user name and password as you will need this information later. Your host should give you that info but if you don't know any of the above, ask them.

 

3, Download osCommerce from here - http://www.oscommerce.com/solutions/downloads - and unpack it onto your computer.

 

4, If you want your shop to load from your domain name direct (www.your_domain.com), upload the contents of the catalog directory, from the unpacked download, to your document root. On the other hand, if you want your shop to be in a sub-directory (www.your_domain.com/catalog), upload the catalog directory to your document root. You can rename it to what you want - shop, store etc - or leave it as catalog.

 

5, Open a browser and type in - www.your_domain.com/install/ - if you uploaded the contents of catalog to the root or - www.your_domain.com/catalog/install/ - if you uploaded to a sub-directory.

 

6, Follow the instructions and input info as you go along (this is where you will need that database info). If you are on a shared server, during the install, choose the option to save sessions to the database.

 

7, After successful installation, delete the install directory, change permissions on the 2 configure files (includes/configure.php and admin/includes/configure.php) to 444, all other files should be 644 and directories to 755.

 

8, Go to your host's control panel and find the option to password protect directories. Password protect your admin directory.

 

9, FTP to your admin directory, create a new folder there and name it "backups".

 

10, Optional but advisable. Download and setup a server on your local PC so you can play with your new store there and upload any changed files to the live server. You can get XAMPP and that will install everything for you - http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html - Then you just need to go through the install process again but this time on your local server. During your editing, when you make changes to the database, you only need to backup the database from admin, upload the backup to your live admin/backups directory then restore the backup from the live admin.

 

That should start you off in the right direction. All you need to do now is read, read and read some more. These forums, the documentation that comes with osCommerce and the Knowledge Base from the Network links above this thread.

 

Any specific questions you have, post a thread and there is usually someone around who can help.

 

Have fun!

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1, Get a hosting account on an Apache server. Your account must allow you to create at least one MySQL database.

 

2, Create or ask your host to create for you, a blank database. Remember the database server name, database name, your user name and password as you will need this information later. Your host should give you that info but if you don't know any of the above, ask them.

 

3, Download osCommerce from here - http://www.oscommerce.com/solutions/downloads - and unpack it onto your computer.

 

4, If you want your shop to load from your domain name direct (www.your_domain.com), upload the contents of the catalog directory, from the unpacked download, to your document root. On the other hand, if you want your shop to be in a sub-directory (www.your_domain.com/catalog), upload the catalog directory to your document root. You can rename it to what you want - shop, store etc - or leave it as catalog.

 

5, Open a browser and type in - www.your_domain.com/install/ - if you uploaded the contents of catalog to the root or - www.your_domain.com/catalog/install/ - if you uploaded to a sub-directory.

 

6, Follow the instructions and input info as you go along (this is where you will need that database info). If you are on a shared server, during the install, choose the option to save sessions to the database.

 

7, After successful installation, delete the install directory, change permissions on the 2 configure files (includes/configure.php and admin/includes/configure.php) to 444, all other files should be 644 and directories to 755.

 

8, Go to your host's control panel and find the option to password protect directories. Password protect your admin directory.

 

9, FTP to your admin directory, create a new folder there and name it "backups".

 

10, Optional but advisable. Download and setup a server on your local PC so you can play with your new store there and upload any changed files to the live server. You can get XAMPP and that will install everything for you - http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html - Then you just need to go through the install process again but this time on your local server. During your editing, when you make changes to the database, you only need to backup the database from admin, upload the backup to your live admin/backups directory then restore the backup from the live admin.

 

That should start you off in the right direction. All you need to do now is read, read and read some more. These forums, the documentation that comes with osCommerce and the Knowledge Base from the Network links above this thread.

 

Any specific questions you have, post a thread and there is usually someone around who can help.

 

Have fun!

 

Thank you so much, it's really helpful.

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