*Local Install*

[DrByte]

Since I do not have a copy of the e-book is there other documentation on how to do this?

Someone wrote a guide for WAMP users, available in the downloads area:
http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=586

There are other forum threads discussing XAMPP as well.

You'll likely find some information on the xampp.org website as well.

And/or get yourself a copy of the book -- it's not just an installation guide, it's the Zen Cart administrator's manual.

[DrByte]

"localhost" means the "webserver on your computer" ... typically starting at C:\xampp\htdocs
So, if you have your Zen Cart files in xampp\htdocs, you use http://localhost
If you have your Zen Cart files in a subfolder named "zencart" ie: xampp\htdocs\zencart, then you use http://localhost/zencart



Also, you are referencing the "install.txt" file, but you may have missed the first two lines of the file which say:

THE FOLLOWING IS A VERY SIMPLIFIED INSTALLATION DOCUMENT.
WE SUGGEST YOU USE THE HTML VERSIONS IN THE /docs FOLDER FOR MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS.

The much more detailed /docs/1.readme_installation.html may be more helpful with many of your installation issues; although it doesn't address Xampp at all.

[oxymoronz]

I have got zc working on my local server now. Is it possible to add new products and attributes to my offline store using xampp or do I have to go through the zen cart admin?

[DrByte]

Is it possible to add new products and attributes to my offline store using xampp or do I have to go through the zen cart admin?

Xampp is only a tool to let you "run" a copy of Zen Cart on your home computer (rather than a publicly-accessible webserver).
To run Zen Cart on your home computer, you'll have to use it the same way you'd use the public site: via your browser.
To add products to your home computer's database, you'd use your admin area via your browser pointed at your Zen Cart install on your home computer ... ie: localhost/admin

[oxymoronz]

Alright, thank you. I am now in the process of setting up the admin. It askes for a database name. Then it says that the database does not exist. Do I have to create a folder of that name in a particular place?

[DrByte]

I have got zc working on my local server now.

I am now in the process of setting up the admin. It askes for a database name. Then it says that the database does not exist.

Huh?

You said "I have got zc working", but then you start talking about "setting up the admin" and "it asks for a database name" ... That doesn't make any sense.

What exactly did you mean by saying "I have got zc working on my local server now." ?????

[oxymoronz]

I mean that I have installed xampp and I'm able to pull up my site on my local host without being online. After that I opened a browser window and called up localhost/.../admin. That then said it could not be found in that directory and had a link that said "click to install" which brought up the zc page with questions guiding me through the install.

[DrByte]

Okay.

You *do* have to do an install in order to get Zen Cart running.
To do an install requires first unzipping the Zen Cart files to your htdocs folder.
Then you must create a database, a username, and password in your database engine.
Then you must do your Zen Cart install using zc_install.
These are the basic installation steps outlined in the 1.readme_installation.html file I mentioned earlier.


To create your database, you'll need to open http://localhost in your browser, and select phpMyAdmin, and create a database by typing a name into the "create database" field and submitting the form. Xampp already has a user named "root" and a blank password.

Then start the zc_install process. On the database screen, you have to enter "root" for the username, leave the password blank, enter the name of the database you just created in the "database name" field. All the other settings should be fine as-is.

After you've finished the install, you'll have a clean store. Then you can browse the store and the admin by using http://localhost and http://localhost/admin



I encourage you to get a copy of the book.

[oxymoronz]

Awesome. Thanks for the help. Got it all runnin smooth now!

[saz25]

Hi,
I have a similar question. I installed the latest Zen-Cart on my local PC with XAMPP. I went through the install process last week and everything runs. When I go to this URL, the stores appears:

http://localhost/zencart/files/

My question is, what URL do I go to to administer and customize the store. I think I did this when I installed it last week, but I forgot and I don't see it explained in any docs. I know its a dumb question. Can you help?

I do plan to order the Zen Cart book though, but I just need to play with zen-cart locally to get a feel for its features.
Thanks in advance,
Steve