Help! New to osCommerce.

[ksteed]

Hello,

 

I am brand new to osCommerce, and have very little understanding of .php, and have to update one of our clients osCommerce sites. (YIKES!)

 

So here is where I'm at. Our clients site already exists (http://cheapspirititems.com/), and all I want to do is install a new template I just downloaded to give the site a new look. I don't think it should be too hard to do, but like I said I'm brand new to osCommerce.

 

So I guess I'll just throw out some of my main questions:

 

1. Do I need to use ftp to transfer the files over, or can I just simply use the "file manager" inside the admin tools to upload my new template files?

 

2. Then, what files do I upload? There are .php files, .html files, .psd files, etc...

 

3. How do I go about removing the old look of the site without losing any of the content? (I'd just like to add the new template right on top of the existing site.)

 

Okay, I'll leave it at that for now and wait for some response. In the meantime I'll try not to lose my mind. :)

 

THANKS!!!

 

-Kyle

[♥Vger]

So - you bougth a template, presumably from someone like Template Monster. You don't know anything about osCommerce, PHP, and presumably not about FTP either (or else you wouldn't ask if you can use the File Manager to upload files).

 

Firstly the template you bought will probably be using a version of osCommerce without the bug fixes and security patches that have been issued in the past two years (why update a template once it has been written!).

 

The template will be trouble enough, but with your lack of knowledge on top of that your client could end up without a website.

 

Set up a folder, install the template into that with its own separate database - and work on it in the folder. This won't affect your clients real website - so if you get it wrong it won't matter.

 

Once the templated site is working correctly then you'll need to move it to the root of the domain, overwritingthe existing files - except for the two configure.php files.

 

Vger

[ksteed]

I am familiar with ftp. Just not with osCommerce or php.

 

I am currently trying what you recommended to do. But I am not able to display the template.

 

I also got in touch with the help desk from the people who made the template and they directed me to this address:

 

http://info.template-help.com/files/OsComm...-installing.swf

 

It's step-by-step which is perfect for me.

 

"Once the templated site is working correctly then you'll need to move it to the root of the domain, overwriting the existing files - except for the two configure.php files."

 

why not the configure.php files?

 

thanks.

 

kyle

[Gauravs]

"Once the templated site is working correctly then you'll need to move it to the root of the domain, overwriting the existing files - except for the two configure.php files."

 

why not the configure.php files?

Because existing site would go down if you overwrite configure.php.

Configure.php contains vital information on database connectivity and also, defines most of the constants that are used in almost every page of OSC.

 

HTH

[ksteed]

Because existing site would go down if you overwrite configure.php.

Configure.php contains vital information on database connectivity and also, defines most of the constants that are used in almost every page of OSC.

 

HTH

 

 

THANKS!

 

Any body have any ideas on to why my test templated site won't display. ??? It should show up at this address:

 

wavetwo.cheapspirititems.com

[ksteed]

THANKS!

 

Any body have any ideas on to why my test templated site won't display. ??? It should show up at this address:

 

wavetwo.cheapspirititems.com

 

I think I figured it out. I will need to use the "install.php" file to load the template to my test site. But first I have to find out what the database name is on the test site, because I don't want to use the existing database on the live site and overwrite any information.

 

Does that sound right?

[Gauravs]

I think I figured it out. I will need to use the "install.php" file to load the template to my test site. But first I have to find out what the database name is on the test site, because I don't want to use the existing database on the live site and overwrite any information.

 

Does that sound right?

you are getting there :) I hope you got chance to glance through the document that comes along with the cart, and also a quick view of documentation on http://www.oscommerce.info should give you enough insight on what NOT to do, apart from what to do.

 

Cheers

GS

[urbanegos]

you are getting there :) I hope you got chance to glance through the document that comes along with the cart, and also a quick view of documentation on http://www.oscommerce.info should give you enough insight on what NOT to do, apart from what to do.

 

Cheers

GS

Hi

I am having that problem to. I bought a template from template monster i uploaded it to my server through cute ftp. I then went to installatron on my host and installed oscommerce then went to my admin however it still showed os commerces own template. Then to make matters work i cant delete an images file within my host file manager!

can any one help with the first part of the problem!

[Guest]

Hi

I am having that problem to. I bought a template from template monster i uploaded it to my server through cute ftp. I then went to installatron on my host and installed oscommerce then went to my admin however it still showed os commerces own template. Then to make matters work i cant delete an images file within my host file manager!

can any one help with the first part of the problem!

Sounds like this is becoming the template monster support forum. Now that is against the rules.

[Gauravs]

Sounds like this is becoming the template monster support forum. Now that is against the rules.

Anyone willing to grab this biz opportunity to start a temp monster support forum:)

[Guest]

Anyone willing to grab this biz opportunity to start a temp monster support forum:)

Not me, that's for sure. Life is like a box of chocolates, ............

[ksteed]

Well, back on topic then, for ANYONE still experiencing problems with getting their template upload correctly. I found this link to be quite helpful:

 

Setting Up Your Existing Shop

 

Thanks, for everyone's help.