View Full Version : How to set your website up?
becky123
6-21-07, 04:59 PM
Hi I have got my domain name and paid for that and have registered with powwebs and also paid for that
now i need to know how on earth you set up your website :confused:
all this is completely new to me and all the words are complete jargon!
i realy just need simple help on how to write words on my website, add pictures and add payments options and 'add to cart'
thanks in advance, help is gooing to be really ppreiciated ive been trying to work it out for hours
becky
entrecon
6-21-07, 05:02 PM
Are you planning on using a web design tool of some kind?
PowWeb offers a few different options for you to create your site.
Other than using some cookie-cutter style too there really isn't a "simple" way to create your website.
becky123
6-21-07, 05:03 PM
no i was just going to use the free basic ones but have no idea where they are or how you work them!
Try downloading NVU from NVU.com
You can create your web-pages in a WYSIWYG environment if you wish, or use HTML if not. You can do various things with it and it is free.
You need to think about what you wish to do with your web-space.
Do you want to run a store?
Do you wish to keep a blog?
Are cataloging your photos?
You will need to ask specific questions, and be prepared to answer questions for anyone to be of real help. (Also, as a new member, your posts will be moderated - 5 posts without a link, 10 posts if they include links - so be patient and don't double post.)
becky123
6-21-07, 05:20 PM
basically i sell my crafts and wish to sell my crafts through my website
so when i go to NVU it will be like a layout i follow? and how do i get it onto my website
im totally confused and thought it would be like freewebs where it tells you what to enter and where
wishing i didnt fork out all the money now as i have the feeling il never be able to set my website up :(
NVU allows you to start with a blank page so your page doesn't look like hundreds or thousands of others - it is your design.
It sounds like you need to think carefully about exactly what you wish to do. Have you thought about how you're going to take payment? Much of the web is international, how will you cope with international orders? Develop a simple plan and do some research. Maybe develop a website on a free host and use their general layouts to help you produce your own on NVU
Others may be able to suggest a free editor that has templates available for Content Management Systems other than the big bloated ones.
Getting it onto your website is the later step - design and produce it first locally. There are many ways, NVU allows you to 'publish' directly to the website or you can use FTP to send (upload) to the website. More on that once you've got your design sorted out.
becky123
6-21-07, 05:42 PM
ok this sounds far too hard :eek:
i have a freewebs site but just think that looks very unprofessional really!
i would take paypal payments for international and paypal, postal orders or checks for UK
you have to pay for NVU dont you, is that not what ive just paid for with powwebs?
is there anyway of cancelling now and gettin the money back?
NVU is free because it's open source software. It's a nvu.com.
You can cancel by contacting support.
YvetteKuhns
6-21-07, 07:03 PM
i realy just need simple help on how to write words on my website, add pictures and add payments options and 'add to cart'
You can install free software such as OScommerce. It is a free shopping cart script and you don't need to use a website editor as others described. OScommerce can be installed through the control panel.
is there anyway of cancelling now and gettin the money back?You should give OScommerce a try.
Cancelling will cost you and you won't get all your money back. Do some sums.
You paid (presumably) with a British CC - you paid (possibly) for conversion to $us (unless you're with one of the few CC's that don't charge for that)
You would have to pay for an International phone call - or convince support to cancel via OPS explaining you're not in the US as cancelling via OPS isn't normally allowed.
To get your money back you'd lose the domain name money (it's not free if you cancel) and have to pay the CC again for any conversion back from $US to £GB - not a cheap option.
It's worth giving the suggested OScommerce a go - don't give up just yet. Try looking locally for a geek friend who may be able to assist, I'm sure you must know someone who'd help locally.
entrecon
6-22-07, 07:49 AM
If you cancel within the 30-days, but also got the free domain through PowWeb, what happens tot he domain name?
You get the domain name, they deduct 1yr's registration (or 2yr depending on Package bought) from the amount refunded. They deduct the money at their standard charge rate for domain names so it is an expensive way to get a doman name! It is the money for the hosting that is returned not the total fee paid.
If you cancel within the 30-days, but also got the free domain through PowWeb, what happens tot he domain name?
A look through the T+C's suggests that a full refund would be given less the cost of the domain name which isn't really free, it's included in your first annual payment. You have to indicate when cancelling whether you wish to continue maintaining the domain name. As you've paid for it, it's yours to do what you want with it if indeed you still want it.
YvetteKuhns
6-22-07, 10:15 AM
It's worth giving the suggested OScommerce a go - don't give up just yet. Try looking locally for a geek friend who may be able to assist, I'm sure you must know someone who'd help locally.
We can be your online geek friends. The OScommerce website has information and its own support forum, too. I recommend reading the information BEFORE installing, so you can avoid or handle mistakes others already made. Don't be intimidated. Just try it!
entrecon
6-22-07, 10:26 AM
PowWeb also offers CM4all and Sitedelux (they promote these as quick easy solutions to build websites). I remembered sitedelux, so i searched through the PowWeb site and found this page: http://www.powweb.com/product/sitedelux.bml . What i find interesting is in the page says that SiteDelux is included in MANY PowWeb packages. Doesn't PowWeb have just One Plan?
Powweb does have one plan, but it's a holdover from a time when there were other options, some of which included sitedeluxe.
Having tried it, I'd steer well clear of it! Stick to tried and tested and supported software - supported in the sense lots of people who can help you!
YvetteKuhns
6-22-07, 10:42 AM
I discourage those online HTML editors. It wouldn't fit this person's needs, anyway.
I think when they signed up, they expected one of those 3 clicks and instant website type of places.
OSCommerce or Zencart will do what you need. Whatever you do, don't use any of the easy install options on this site as they contain outdated versions and may not even be the full software sometimes but go to the website for the program you need and download to your local computer.
I know zencart which is a derivative of OSCommerce. This will apply for either.
01) Go to http://www.zencart.com and download the software.
02) Create a MySQL Database on Powweb by going to http://members.powweb.com/webControl/mysql/manage.bml and using the "Add New Database" section. Make a note of the fields. Also note the "Database is on mysqlXX.powweb.com" that will apear after it is done.
03) You will need an ftp program to upload zencart to your website. Try CuteFTP from http://www.cuteftp.com/products/ftp_clients.aspx. It has a fully functional trial period but you may want to buy it for uploads in future. Windows Explorer can also be used.
04) I don't use CuteFTP but it will need an ftp username. Log into your powweb account and go to http://members.powweb.com/webControl/FTP.bml. Under "Master FTP Account" you will find your username. The connection will be to "yourFTPUsername@ftp.powweb.com". You should be able to use the same password as you use for your powweb account I think.
05) After connecting, you should be in, or should navigate to the folder called htdocs. This folder is where people come to when they type "www.yoursite.com" and anything under here can be accessed on the web.
06) If you want your site store to be "www.yoursite.com/shop" then create a folder using CuteFTP called "shop" (try to use lower case always). This is useful if you want to have a simple webpage before the shopping area. Such a page can then be put directly in htdocs. If you want users to go straight into a shop then don't bother.
07) Navigate to "shop" if used or stay in "htdocs" as you wish and upload zencart. This will take a while as there are a lot of files. While this is going on, go to http://www.zen-cart.com/forum and register. You will need the help there for fine tuning stuff later.
08) I think Powweb has now added the facility to upload zip files. I am not sure if it is a facility to upload and extract (someone please confirm). If it is upload and extract, then just upload zencart as a zip file. Otherwise, you will have to extract it on your computer first and then upload after selecting everything under the folder. (remember that if you select the folder "zencart" and upload this, your site shop will become "yoursite.com/zencart" or "yoursite.com/shop/zencart" as the case may be.
09) It will save a lot of hassle if you decide how the site will operate before uploading and installng as discussed in Point 06 as changing the installation folder means fiddling about although it is not very difficult.
10) After the upload is done, open your internet browser and go to "yoursite.com" or "yoursite.com/shop" as the case may be and follow the instruction for installing zencart.
11) Some advice, don't bother installing the sample stuff as they just mean you need to remove them later. Remember to note down the details from your MySQL activation as you will need them. Powweb also has a secure webpage which you will need. The address is "https://yoursite.powweb.com" or "https://yoursite/shop.powweb.com". This will display to buyers when they make transactions that your site is secure.
Most queries after passing this point will be better dealt with on the Zencart forums but do feel free to ask here as well.
All the best!
YvetteKuhns
6-22-07, 02:40 PM
dayo, you can't type THAT much info for noobs! They get intimidated and run and hide under their blankies! :D
I agree that manual installations are recommended, but some people can use the instant version for comparisons. That is LESS intimidating. ;)
phlembol
6-22-07, 02:45 PM
It is a shame, but I can not recommend the InstallCentral version of ZenCart. It would be so easy. You never have to touch the SQL creation or any path info, all automatic. But, the version it installs is 4 versions behind and unacceptable. So you are left trying to upgrade. That means you have to find files, upload files, extract files, do conversions, reset permissions, and more. What a mess. Better to start from scratch for ZenCart.
To amend dayo's post:
02) Create a MySQL Database .. Make a note of the fields.
You need to collect 4 pieces of info here: SERVERNAME, DATABASE, USERNAME, PASSWORD
03) You will need an ftp program ..
http://sourceforge.net/projects/filezilla Filezilla works as well as any and is no-catch free.
07) .. go to http://www.zen-cart.com/forum and register.
Look along the top for "help(?)". All the questions you could have, from basic to advanced, are answered there already. I didn't find I needed to register.
09) It will save a lot of hassle if you decide how the site will operate before uploading and installng
If I read this correct, the point being made is that you can set your store up on your PC and work on it before uploading. Certainly true, but, unless you are capable of setting up your PC as a server, you can't do much. If you are a beginner, I'd build it online, but be careful to put it back off the root folder. As has been said, install it into yoursite.com/shop or sumsuch.
11) Some advice, don't bother installing the sample stuff as they just mean you need to remove them later.
I don't recall that it gives you an option regarding this, however, there are only a few items and I personally find examples sometimes helpful.
ZenCart or any other free cart will not be a simple plug-and-play solution.
dayo, you can't type THAT much info for noobs! They get intimidated and run and hide under their blankies! :D
I agree that manual installations are recommended, but some people can use the instant version for comparisons. That is LESS intimidating. ;)
It can be but if Becky prints out the instructions and just follows them step by step, she should at least find that she has a working site.
A possible option is to use the instant installer and then upgrading immediately to the latest version from the zc site or just living with the powweb version.
However, my recommendation is to take one evening off from going down the pub and going through the steps. Sure many will be happy to help with queries at least until she gets past the actual install.
It is a shame, but I can not recommend the InstallCentral version of ZenCart. It would be so easy. You never have to touch the SQL creation or any path info, all automatic. But, the version it installs is 4 versions behind and unacceptable. So you are left trying to upgrade. That means you have to find files, upload files, extract files, do conversions, reset permissions, and more. What a mess. Better to start from scratch for ZenCart.
I think the sleeve rolling option is best too. Sure she can do it.
09) It will save a lot of hassle if you decide how the site will operate before uploading and installng
If I read this correct, the point being made is that you can set your store up on your PC and work on it before uploading. Certainly true, but, unless you are capable of setting up your PC as a server, you can't do much. If you are a beginner, I'd build it online, but be careful to put it back off the root folder. As has been said, install it into yoursite.com/shop or sumsuch.
Wasn't talking about a local version just knowing whether she wants people to first visit a page under hersite.com with the shop in hersite.com/shop which will mean having to design that first page or whether she wants people to go straight in as zc can be used as a main page. Also if she wants "shop", to decide on the name rather than trying to change it later.
ZenCart or any other free cart will not be a simple plug-and-play solution.
The open source route appears dificult at first particularly to people used to just clicking "install" but really rewarding once you commit. I went through that myself.
entrecon
6-22-07, 04:52 PM
Is Becky still here or did you scare her off?
YvetteKuhns
6-22-07, 05:29 PM
She probably got her refund by now! Any instructions more than three sentences long is intimidating to new people! ;)
Is Becky still here or did you scare her off?
She probably got her refund by now! Any instructions more than three sentences long is intimidating to new people! ;)
She is a Brit. They are made out of stern stuff and never surrender. :D
Heck, it takes me three sentences just to get warmed up! :)
It is a piece of p*ss really.
Take it step by step and you don't have to do it in one sitting. Do one step, come here, ask questions and when you are ready, go for the next.
If you bail out, you will have to go through this anyway or pay rip off prices for someone to do it for you.
Just go for it.
She is a Brit. They are made out of stern stuff and never surrender. :DWe did eventually, as a result of something done on July 4th 1776 :( Now what was that? Sometime around 1781? Anyone any ideas?
vBulletin v3.6.0, Copyright ©2000-2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.