Commercial OS templates or otherwise?

[btravlin2]

Hi.....total newby to OS. I've been reading and searching the forum to learn what I could. What a great place! I already thank all involved.

 

Now, it's not possible to ask all the questions I have in one post, so I'll start with 2 or 3.

 

My store has been on Yahoo for 3 years. I learned enough basic html and css to make it look like something other than a Yahoo store, but I really need to go in a much more sophisticated and flexible direction......and I'm sick of paying a percentage and a monthly. I'll start a new site from the ground up to replace what I have now.

 

I've researched the many ecommerce carts out there, ie: 3dcart, Volusion, etc. They all make me cringe. I know their game. So I want my own, stand-alone site. Trouble is, I'm a small, cottage-industry manufacturer, meaning.....I don't have any time. I can learn to do minor code, but I'm never going to be good at it.

 

First Q: is a ready-made commercial OS template a viable option to get past the initial learning curve? Do the commercial OS templates make me dependent on the creators, or can I handle most of the admin/editing afterward?

 

In other words, I'm trying to skip the initial hair-pulling and get to a place where I can run the rest, or I can hire a pro to help from time-to-time.

 

Much appreciated......

[Guest]

@@btravlin2

 

You can purchase a commercial template or a commercial pre-configured cart (which may even be better for you). MOST suppliers allow you to purchase the template (one time fee) and then you can use it as long as you want. There are some members here that offer such templates.

 

 

 

Chris

[btravlin2]

The "pre-configured cart" is the term I should have used. But will it allow me to retain the flexibility/changeability that is the heart of OS? Are there drawbacks to this approach?

[Guest]

@@btravlin2

 

A pre-configured cart is still open source and you can change it to suit your needs. I suggest checking out a couple of suppliers and carts to see which is best for you.

 

 

 

Chris

[♥toyicebear]

The "pre-configured cart" is the term I should have used. But will it allow me to retain the flexibility/changeability that is the heart of OS? Are there drawbacks to this approach?

 

You will usually not "loose" the flexibility, but adding further add-ons to the shop might be slightly more complex due to the templates changed structure.

 

The one thing you should take care to check is that it is based on the latest stable Oscommerce version. (At the time of writing this its V2.3.3).

[btravlin2]

You will usually not "loose" the flexibility, but adding further add-ons to the shop might be slightly more complex due to the templates changed structure.

 

The one thing you should take care to check is that it is based on the latest stable Oscommerce version. (At the time of writing this its V2.3.3).

 

That is helpful info. Will I be dependent on the makers, or can any experienced OS coder do mods?

 

Another question: is Firebug helpful for making style changes to OS? I used it a little on my Yahoo site, and it showed me changes that I was able to make on my own.

[♥toyicebear]

That is helpful info. Will I be dependent on the makers, or can any experienced OS coder do mods?

 

Unless you have gotten a totally hacked up version, any experienced OS coder can still do mods. (On most even an not so experienced DIY can also manage)

 

Another question: is Firebug helpful for making style changes to OS? I used it a little on my Yahoo site, and it showed me changes that I was able to make on my own.

 

Can be helpful, more so on templates than on a default Oscommerce 2.3.3. On default Oscommerce 2.3.3 most of the styles/colors are controlled via Jquery UI and the easiest way to change those is to download a pre-made skin or create a new one at jqueryui.com/themeroller/.