Ok, give me a push....

[jdog]

I have a domain. I know how to ftp. I've made a web site before, although it was a tedious pain in the butt (I wrote the html on notepad, and cut/passted Paypal stuff on it, to make a shopping cart).

 

I don't want to make a site like what I had before, because it was WAY too time consuming to update. My company now sells thousands of items, and we're planning on constantly revising, updating, adding/deleting new categories and products, etc. to/from our site.

 

So a database, e-commerce site is the answer. I downloaded an oscommerce template. I will soon "turn on" PHP/MySyql capabilities on my commercial server (that's gonna cost me a few bucks, but not much)..

 

So, what do I do, now? Can I use this template to design the ENTIRE site, or is this template incorporated into a basic html design? I don't know what the next step is.

 

By the way, I'm reading "PHP/MySyQl For Dummies," but I'm told I only need a basic grasp of this stuff to adjust the template....

[FIMBLE]

The template will either be a complete store that you install, or it will be an update that you have to add once the base store is up and running.

An understanding of PHP will help you plenty.

[lindsayanng]

I have to tell you.. DONT USE A TEMPLATE>. READ THIS THREAD FIRST!

 

My answer is ignore the whole idea of a template and look at the threads in the trips and tricks.. There is a link in my signature called OSCOMMERCE ROADMAP FOR NEWBIES (this will explain the file structure to you)

 

Then in the same forum, there is a basics for design.. there is actually a contribution called BASIC DESIGN PACKAGE which gives you a full instruction sheet on how to customize the look of your site.. I suggest downloading that.

 

You can install STS which allows you to use html to create the LOOK of your site (which means you can use dreamweaver or frontpage). I have no used this, btu some people rave about how easy it is..

 

Those should get your started.. but really.. think seriously about ditching the template.. There are LOTS of unreliable sources that are selling (or giving away) oscommerce templates that are not only just bad, but could be a security risk

[FIMBLE]

But there are also good ones out there too!

[lindsayanng]

thats why i linked to that thread.. It specifically says that MOST template providers that you come across when searching do not offer customer service and use outdated code.. There are some that do, but then the person wouldnt be HERE asking for help, they would be asking the template provider .. RIGHT??

[FIMBLE]

NOT necessarily no, perhaps they feel they would like to ask the question on the forum, PEOPLE (some) here, see the word template and assume that it is bad. Not all providers dump on their customers or make them pay for support, you have personally experienced this?

[lindsayanng]

yes. When i FIRST started, i was clueless about what php even was (im still clueless, but not entirely anymore).. The template provider.. a particular COMMON site.. was useless.. Not to mention that i found out later it was a much much older version, and wouldnt offer any help.. they gave me THIS forum for support.. where no one would help because it was a template..

 

I gave up for a while, and revistited web building and e-commerce about a year later and decided entirely against templates in general.. I like to use templates to give me inspiration though :) i like to look at them.. But using them is not a good idea in my mind..