Clearing the catalog

[bingymon]

Hi all, first time here and trying to figure this whole thing out.

 

The first thing I'd like to do is clear out the catalog of the demo store so I can have a clean store to start editing the pages. Not sure if this is the best approach but I think it's the way I'd like to start. Any other suggestions are welcome.

 

Thanks bingy

[charles]

I would do that last unless you know this software inside, outside, upside down... and then I'd reconsider. I've found that the test store info can be very helpful when I am making changes.

 

For instance, I wanted to take the 'monthly specials' box off of the main body of the welcome page. I found it in 'default' and deleted the code no prob. However, I later hit the link in the header to return to the main catalog page and all of the 'monthly specials' reappeared. It turns out that there is a second section of code in default which also has to be deleted.

 

By the time I was done redesigning just the main body of that page I had made changes in 10 places on 6 pages. They were easy to do but I had to do a little searching and this was my second time around.

 

Also, your products info may change the field structure of the database tables which in turn would affect what you want to dump to the monitor. Get the format down first, the database upload is a snap using a text file. Then customize the product specifics on the pages.

 

Add your products last, I say.

[Guest]

I have found it useful when developing my store to empty the catalog and put in the type of product I am selling....then it is easier to see just what I need for my specific product... I have made many changes to the standard catalog and admin specifically for the product I am selling.

 

There are things about the osC design I do not understand... the main one being that it is easy to get detailed product information into the catalog listing page, but when one looks at an individual product (where the detailed info SHOULD be made to show) there is barely anything... most people use the product description text area, but for me this was not a logical choice... i have added extra fields and dropdowns in the admin to enter the data i wish to display... these display under product_info.php

[bingymon]

Okay, so it looks like there is no "best way".

My thing is that I don't have a large catalog. In fact, it's only a single product and all I'd like to do is add a link on a static page to begin the checkout process, so clearing the catalog seems to be the natural choice...

 

Any advice on the best approach for using oscommerce on a single product would be welcome too :wink:

[Guest]

Certainly does... and getting rid of all the boxes you don't need.. I would set the catalog to open at product_info.php...

[charles]

Dick, I don't think we are in disagreement here. Maybe I misunderstood the original question. Bingymon said:

 

The first thing I'd like to do is clear out the catalog of the demo store so I can have a clean store to start editing the pages.

 

I took that to mean there were no products in the database when he started editing the pages. You need to have at least one product of ANY type in the database before making modifications, so you can see whether the products are appearing when, where and the way they are supposed to when you make those changes. I know this is common sense to me, but in the past I've pulled fast ones on my self due to over-enthusiasm and I know many other people who have done the same thing at one time or another in their lives. It is called an honest, well intentioned mistake. I was just trying to leave nothing to assumption.

 

Also, it seems to me that you would want to have the product tables customized to your products, for the most part, before editing the page presentation. This is a big issue for me because we have an aromatherapy business and product presentation involves so many variables.

 

For example, it is one thing when a pure essential oil comes in three different sizes. However, it is entirely another when considering the blends. The product is actually the blend - a recipe. However our blends come in 4 different concentrations, 5 different sizes, and there are occasionally choices of base oils and bottling. These all affect pricing and consequently the way the data is handled and presented.

 

For instance, do I present the blend as the product and use drop down options boxes, even down to the bottling and have some customers think I am nickle and diming them or should I make the blend its own category and have each 'combination of options' a product?

 

The point is, a little bit of quelled enthusiasm and a lot of forthought and planning can save a tremendous amount of trouble and result in an exceptional website.