Catalog or Root?

[GINAG]

Firstly - excuse my ignorance - I am new to this. Am only at the stage of uploading oscommerce to my server - and I see there is the option to keep all folders within the catalog folder - or to remove them and place them at the root. Personally I would prefer it if my domain was not www.mydomain.com\catalog so am therefore hedging towards placing the files at the root - but before I do so - would appreciate if if anyone could give me any words of wisdom ie, the short-comings of this action, threat from hackers etc - basically anything that makes it more of a problem that if it all ran off the catalog directory. Could well be that there is no difference using either methods - but would prefer to get it right!

 

Many thanks for your help - and patience :-" :'(

[♥mdtaylorlrim]

Firstly - excuse my ignorance - I am new to this. Am only at the stage of uploading oscommerce to my server - and I see there is the option to keep all folders within the catalog folder - or to remove them and place them at the root. Personally I would prefer it if my domain was not www.mydomain.com\catalog so am therefore hedging towards placing the files at the root - but before I do so - would appreciate if if anyone could give me any words of wisdom ie, the short-comings of this action, threat from hackers etc - basically anything that makes it more of a problem that if it all ran off the catalog directory. Could well be that there is no difference using either methods - but would prefer to get it right!

 

Many thanks for your help - and patience :-" :'(

It really makes no difference in how osC operates. If your site is always and forever going to be nothing but a shop then go with installing in root. If your shop is a small part of your entire site then install in catalog or some sub directory of root.

 

Just and opinion, and a choice only you can make.

[MrPhil]

Even if you're not planning to add any additional applications (forum, blog, gallery, etc.) to your site, I would still install into /catalog/ and use URL rewriting (redirection) to transfer visitors from your root / to /catalog/. There are two advantages:

1) You keep your site root clear of application-related stuff (tidier and easier to get around, and you're less likely to stomp on a site file when working on osC).

2) You keep the flexibility to change your mind and add other applications later, along with a "landing page" in the root (at which time you get rid of the URL rewrite). You won't have to move your osC files, fix the configuration, and lose all your customer's bookmarks and Search Engine results.

 

See my sig > FAQs > "domain/ vs domain/forum" and "Put an application in the site root, or a Subdirectory?"