New to this. Question

[allenz]

Hello
Well I just installed MySQL database and I'm totally lost. Trying to set up the Ecommerce shopping cart on my site.

the MySQl database, is this where I would put my products I want to sell?

Sorry I don't have anymore specific questions at this point.

I did my own web site and never learned about eCommerce. But now it's time.. Ha!

Merry Christmas.
Allen

[tbonekkt]

If you're referring to osCommerce, there's an admin panel that you input your products. You don't have to add products directly through phpmyadmin.

[allenz]

Ahhhh. Thanks. Now I got to find that panel. Yes, I just installed the OSCommerce through my Ops Panel. Did a "once through" just to configure some stuff I knew about.

The rest I have to find out about.

I'll be having a credit card processor who will add the buy button, but what about setting up my store and shopping cart? Page layout and the like.

Right now the page I want my store on has just one produce (video) and is linked to PayPal. I need to add some products and get rid of PayPal as I figure I'm loosing about 30% possible sales because many folks still don't like PayPal.

Can I have my "store" right on the page I already have....
http://www.azagel.com/ASX.html

Thanks for your help.
Allen

[tbonekkt]

Here's your shopping cart:
http://www.azagel.com/osCommerce/catalog/

Here's your admin panel:
http://www.azagel.com/osCommerce/catalog/admin/

[allenz]

Oh. I was there before and didn't realize that's where I add the products. Is it the same as when I put my photos on my other pages? Linking the photo or text to the shopping cart?

The store. Is that on Powweb's server in my directory? Then I could just do the programming and change he page same as I did my HTML and uploaded a page FTP? That way the store would match my other pages.

So where does NYSQL come in then? Do I have to set something up or does it work automatically with the catalog and shop?

Allen

[tbonekkt]

MySQL is the backend to osCommerce. Your user information, products, orders, etc. are all stored in your database. This being said, you should never really have to browse the data directly in the database; you use the frontend (osCommerce admin panel) for this.

BUT (isn't there always a but? ;)), if you're looking for something that is easily customizable, osCommerce probably isn't for you unless you know a lot of PHP.

[allenz]

I learned HTML and Table Programming. I learned some Java. I guess I can learn PHP whatever that is.

I didn't say easily customizable. I said "customize" change things around to suit my needs more or less. ;-)

Gee, if it's easy, it's not worth learning.

I went to my store. NOT MINE!.. I need to make it "mine". My name and stuff. Right now it's a sample store.

I went to "view-source". I could copy/paste all of that into my HTML software and re-work what I need? The upload the new page keeping the same name? or FTP into my site and download the page?

I'm talking colors and headings and adding thumbnails of the videos. And getting rid of some of the sidebar stuff.

Allen

[tbonekkt]

You cannot copy the HTML coding, edit it, and reupload it and expect it to work. I think you're looking for something other than osCommerce, in my honest opinion.

[ off topic ]

Where's Elgin, IL? I was born in Oak Lawn :)

[ /off topic ]

[allenz]

Elgin is NW of Chicago. Opposite of Oak Lawn. I-90 and RTE 31. West of 59 and 20. Going east, Bartlett, Streamwood, Hanover Pk, Schaumburg. Roselle. etc From Oak Lawn, 294 N to 90, west toward Rockford. Off at RTE 31 south.

I'm an engineer on NETRA commuter trains full time.

I don't knwo. Never been involved with ecommerce before. Need a shopping cart and Powweb has an installer for OSC, so I thought I'd take a look at it.

So everything has to be done through the admin panel?

Anyway I don't want negatives. I'd like some help, please

Allen

[allenz]

Oh! How do I get rid of those warnings at the top o my store page? I need to correct some things. How?

Actually I'd just want to change he wording to jake it my store. Not change the programming.
Allen

[tbonekkt]

1) Using an FTP program, delete the 'install' directory that's located within the osCommerce directory.

2) To get rid of the other error, in a new PHP file, insert the following:<?php
chmod('includes/configure.php', 0444);
?>save as chmod.php and upload to /catalog and /admin (just to be safe). Then access thetwo chmod.php pages in a browser and you'll be set.

[allenz]

Thanks Tom

Wow! It's 11:30pm CST. going to shut down for tonight, make some popcorn and watch a DVD.

Let me fix those warnings, then I'll look into customizing that store page.

Allen

[user00265]

Originally posted by tbonekkt
1) Using an FTP program, delete the 'install' directory that's located within the osCommerce directory.

2) To get rid of the other error, in a new PHP file, insert the following:<?php
chmod('includes/configure.php', 0444);
?>save as chmod.php and upload to /catalog and /admin (just to be safe). Then access thetwo chmod.php pages in a browser and you'll be set.
Isn't 644 good enough for protecting?
Why not use the .htaccess like this better:
<Files "configure.php">
Order Allow,Deny
Deny from All
Satisfy All
</Files>
and drop it inside the 'includes' directory?
I kind of consider 444 extreme. Thus everyone will still have read access, but the owner cannot edit it. That is something VERY important to take into consideration, I consider the CHMOD to 600 and that .htaccess conbination VERY good. Perhaps, you can shade some light on me?

Just my 2 cents.


-Samuel

[allenz]

Uh ho! OOPS! I messed up big time! eeks!

I was changing some text and I think I deleted part of a table. I forgot to copy/past out the original index.php in case of such instances.

Is there a backup of the front page somewhere?

Check out the error message.
http://www.azagel.com/osCommerce/catalog/

Thanks
Allen

[tbonekkt]

Originally posted by user00265
Isn't 644 good enough for protecting?
Why not use the .htaccess like this better:
<Files "configure.php">
Order Allow,Deny
Deny from All
Satisfy All
</Files>
and drop it inside the 'includes' directory?
I kind of consider 444 extreme. Thus everyone will still have read access, but the owner cannot edit it. That is something VERY important to take into consideration, I consider the CHMOD to 600 and that .htaccess conbination VERY good. Perhaps, you can shade some light on me? I believe the 444 setting protects you from accidentally overwriting your configuration. The 444 does not protect you from others getting to your admin panel, and in that case you're correct that htaccess/htpasswd should be implemented.

Does this clear it up a little more?

[Pig]

thread moved to oscommerice forum

[allenz]

Is there another "easy", one page shopping cart I could use? Maybe keep my existing product page, put a buy now button there and have a check out page?

OSC is way too much for me. I only have 3 video's right now to sell.

OSC seems more like a complete multi-page store front.

Thanks
allen

[stevel]

You're right - OSC is overkill for just a few items.

Consider the free PayPal shopping cart.

[Pig]

Paypal also offers single button checkouts. You complete a form online, and it gives you the HTML to create a button on your site to allow them to buy the item. Basically, they do everythign for you.

[allenz]

Got PayPal now. Need to get rid of it. Need something else. thanks

[stevel]

Lots of options if you're willing to pay for a service. What's your price limit?

Why do you want to get rid of PayPal?

[allenz]

A lot of people don't care for PayPal because they don't want to go throught the registering process. Rule of thumb? Figure I'm loosing 30% sales because of PayPal instead of a regular credit card processor.

Don't want a shopping cart service. I want a shopping cart. My credit card processor will put in the "buy-now" button.

Price? To get a good simple 1 page cart? I think I'd go up to about $100. Should be able to get the plain cart for $60 or less.

Downloaded "Redicart" which I think is free. Reading the docs now.....
http://www.itransact.com/redicart/cartd_l.html

About the best I saw was King Cart.....
http://www.king-cart.com/index.html
....but there seems to be some hefty nmonthly fees.

Anther I found was Mal's....
http://www.mals-e.com/services/standard.htm
......but didn't read too much on that cause it was getting late last night.

Darn! Anyone want to hang a drop ceiling for me? HA HA ugh!

Allen

Allen

[blueflowers]

!!!!!! You better change that admin name! Anybody can go in your site right now and change what you ahve for sale, the prices, credit cards. you name it they can do it... so password protect it or change it to something not as obvios as ADMIN...!!!!

[stevel]

The name isn't so important as password protecting the admin folder, as discussed in the "Note" at the top of this section.

[allenz]

HOw do I change the Admin name and password protert it? I've been all over the admin panel and can't seem to find out where to change it.

Right now the store is not operational so I'm not eally worried.
Allen

[natural]

If you want to change the admin name, just rename the folder.
In your admin/includes/config.php you have to change all instances of admin to the renamed folder.

If you have chmod config.php to 444, you will have to reupload it and chmod it again.

[stevel]

You change the name of the folder containing the Admin panel by renaming the folder on the server (or deleting the old one and uploading a new copy under a new name). It doesn't even have to be under catalog (a name you can also change). Be sure to reflect the new name in the configure.php files.

Use .htaccess to password-protect your admin folder. See this thread (http://forum.powweb.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21696) for details.