How to start

[SkandieShop]

Hi people

 

I am new here and new to any kind of e-commerce. Me and a friend want to start selling our stuff on the internet and have chosen oscommerce to do it with, and I will be the one trying to get a web page up and running as cheaply and possible.

 

I have some experience in programming in html, but I have never created a domain or used FTP or had a host. I did have a page on the web at one point but got help with publishing it and uploading it etc.

 

I have some questions and I would be very great full if someone could answer them.

 

Q1: Do you guys think I am taking on a task that is to challenging or can any one with an average IQ and time create a web site with oscommerce?

 

We will not launch our site in the near future so I have a lot of time to play around with this project before it has to be ready and there for I would like to wait with starting to pay for a domain name and a host if possible. We also have not got the final name ready so therefore I would also like to wait to buy a domain name. So Q2 goes as follows:

 

Q2: Is it possible to start creating a web site with oscommerce with out buying a domain name and pay for hosting? Could I use some free hosting and domain name which rely on commercials and then move it all over to a different domain and host when we are ready to launch?

 

I'm not sure is Q2 makes sense cause I am a big newbee when it comes to all this stuff.

 

If someone could explain or direct me to a previous tread about this I would be very happy.

 

Tnx

[benny2012]

hi im new to this software, but in all honesty its simple to install, its the finer points that may bring you questions on how to

 

if you can get free host then yes you can install, its open source ;)

 

if your serious tho, a good host should cost you no more than 5-10gbp a month plus your .co.uk domain for about £8 a year or so.

 

hope that helps

[♥14steve14]

You can install oscommerce on your own computer if you install something like xamp on your local machine first.

[www.in.no]

@@SkandieShop

There are also many free hosting companies as mention above where you can have free sub domain under one of their domains or you can order one and use yourself.

 

Even if you don't have decided on name yet, you can still use a domain for running your test or development version, and then you are using the same tools that you will when you are going online.

[rpdesign]

Follow 14steve14's advice. You do not want to set up a live oscommerce catalog and then have it be fubared because you added an addon. You also need to check out security 101 for oscommerce versions 2.1-2.2 rc2 in the forums. As far as a domain name goes, you still need to have a webaddress so people can look you up online. for example yourfreesite.20m.com [note not a real site!]etc... If you want to host your site hostgator is excellent. If you want to learn how to program html,css,php or anything else website related go to http://w3schools.com And always register your name it costs 15/yr and is the first line of defence when transfering websites between hosting companies. :)

[rpdesign]

another side note, if you really want to add a lot of functionality to your catalog, you need to learn some php at the http://www.w3schools.com site! Anyhow, the standard oscommerce setup schouldn't give you any problems. If you want email me a personal message and I might be able to answer any problems you have when installing.