OS Commerce -

[Dora]

Ok.. go grab some coffee, 'cause this might take a while!

 

I bought a ready-made site (http://www.bargainpricemagazines.com) on E-bay, not knowing first of all that OS Commerce even existed. I knew what the site would look like, but assumed I'd just re-write some HTML and ta-da it would look the way I liked.

 

Once I got the site, I realized that it was not so cut-n-dry. I asked the seller for help, but all I got was "Edit the main page in the admin section. Tools/define languages/index.php is the main page." when I asked how to tweak the site.

It took a while, but I began to find out some things on my own with the help of all you wonderful contributors here on OS Commerce Community Support Forum.

 

HOWEVER.. my site still looks the same. I have yet to make any progress in reworking the site. Everything I have tried has not worked. I have downloaded the STS, I have downloaded the BTS. Nothing works right. If I load the STS, I get an error "Warning: mysql_connect(): Access denied for user: 'osc22ms2clean@localhost' (Using password: YES) in c:\program files\easyphp1-7\www\catalog\includes\functions\database.php on line 19

Unable to connect to database server!" (I'm trying it all out on a local host first!!)

Apparently the user "osc22ms2clean" is somewhere in the STS files I have loaded????

 

Also, the osc that I have downloaded to test on my local server looks very different from the one that is on my site, leading me to believe that they are different versions. Can I change the version that is actually on my site without destroying the set up? If so how? Along the same lines, if I actually ever figure out how to make the STS work, how do I incoroporate it into the existing site?

 

To make a long story longer, can anyone help me understand all of this stuff? Just assume that I am like 12 years old and have no idea what I'm doing, because some of the answers to questions that I have read are so complicated and technical, that if you don't have a very very very indepth understanding of all this OSC stuff, it's plain old greek!! I just want to make my page look nice.

[burt]

Forget STS and BTS for now. They just add an extra layer of complication, and there are not that many reasons why either should be used, and particularly as your site is already built, I would definately not use them.

 

What you need to do is to create your HTML site. Then divide it up inot header, footer, column left, main area, column right. This gives you a target to work to.

 

Now incorporate your HTML into Oscommerce. It's hard work, but it's something you need to yourself (unless you want to spend money)!

 

You haven't actually said exactly what you are trying to acheive. Simple colour changes or a drastic layout change ?

[241]

I would agree with burt on this one, forget the sts and bts for now and concentrate on getting up and running and finding your way around with some small changes to start with.

 

I also use Easyphp for development work, so I know that you have phpMyAdmin.

 

Connect up to phpMyAdmin and find out the name of the database

You shouls allready know the server, username and password from when you were setting up Easyphp.

 

This will help in resolving the issue of the warning mysql connect.

[Dora]

I just want to be able to place a table perhaps in the center where I can feature items of my own choosing, and perhaps to add some CSS properties to change the fonts and colors and the layout. And I'd like the search box to be visible in the first page instead of so far to the bottom.

[burt]

I just want to be able to place a table perhaps in the center where I can feature items of my own choosing

Search the contributions area for "featured products".

 

and perhaps to add some CSS properties to change the fonts and colors

in stylesheet.css

 

and the layout

header.php and footer.php as a start.

 

And I'd like the search box to be visible in the first page instead of so far to the bottom.

includes/column_left.php

 

As you know changing the look even slightly is not easy. Be prepared for much banging of forehead on keyboard.

[Dora]

You could say I'm already on my fifth keyboard!!

Thanks!! You guys are great!

[Dora]

Let me ask you this, then... since I have your attention!

Ok.. 241, you said that my site looks like a standard OSC with a color change (in a personal message... no need for more confusion!)

So if I want to make a color change, what would I do?

[Dora]

Or better yet..

On the STS, it says that you can stick $categorybox, $content, etc... in places.

But if I want to change the appearance of whatever makes up $categorybox or $content, where would I make THOSE changes?

Again, I appreciate the patience and kindness that you have all displayed.

[241]

The colour changes can be done in the stylesheet.css which is located as catalog/stylesheet.css this file allows you to make site wide changes.

 

Here is one to start you with

 

Make a backup of any file that you are to work on.

 

located this code in the stylesheet.css

TD.headerNavigation {
 font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 10px;
 background: #bbc3d3;
 color: #ffffff;
 font-weight : bold;
}

 

change the backgound to #fab174 and save the file now when you look at the site the header navigation bar will be an orange colour