Can ZenCart be added to Microsoft Office Live?

[theresajb]

Is it possible to add ZenCart to my Microsoft Office Live website? Their Store Manager just isn't working for me. I'm just launching my business so I would need to open an online store asap. Thank you for all of your help and advice,

TheresajB

[fairestcape]

Zencart is a website (e-commerce) solution in its own right and I doubt if it can be "integrated" with anything that has the prefix "Microsoft".

Fundamentally, ZC is not designed to be a back-end system, and cannot be "bolted" onto other systems to perform operative e-commerce functions for a different front-end "skin".

I know nothing about Microsoft Live Websites, but it sounds as if it's a typically "one-size-fits-all" offering that MS are known for.

If you have a hosting account, the server may be configured to run ZC effectively, but if you want a functional and reliable ZC shop, then dump MS Live, find a host that will look after you, and help you build your entire site with ZC.

[bigbadboy]

Yes it is possible.

What you do is remove all traces of MSOL, install zen cart and use that instead.
Once you've installed ZC simply import all your products.

[fairestcape]

Ah, you see... you need an expert in MS !

[theresajb]

Thank bigbadboy,

Just to be clear, though, (please be patient with me, this is all new to me) when you say remove all traces of Microsoft Office Live, do you mean my website as well or just the Store Manager feature? I'm looking to see if I can just replace the Store Manager with another ecommerce functionality. I appreciate your time and help. Thanx!

Theresa JB

[afo]

They're both saying to drop Microsoft Office Live and use Zen Cart instead.

Zen Cart isn't designed to be the back end... just a cart or just a payment system, so the answer to your original question is no.

[fairestcape]

Hi Theresa

I think we are joking about MS at your expense - apologies...

Those of us who use NON-MS products tend to joke about MS all the time.

As I said earlier, ZC is not a back-end solution - it cannot "plug into" another software system and particularly not a MS System, that in all likelihood uses different code and different databases.

What you may like to do is this:-

Maintain your MS Office Live site for "informational" purposes.

Set up a Zencart shop on a different server, and preferably with one of the recommended hosts (see link at top of page).

Then, using simple hyperlinks, point visitors to the two sites, from each site.

[theresajb]

OK, I'm getting it. By adding a hyperlink, I can send customers to my ZenCart site to place an order. My next question, then, is if I were to keep my MS site for informational purposes as you say, upon opening a new site with Zen I will probably have to use a new domain name, right? Or is it possible to use the same? Again, many thanx!

Theresa JB

[fairestcape]

As I said, I don't use MS Office Live, but it seems that it's a facility that's offered "out-the-box" by MS.

This probably means it's on a server that's configured to its usage - in all likelihood, a Microsoft Server, and that could mean "challenges" if you're not familiar with servers and their settings.

While ZC can be installed on a MS server, it's prudent to install it on a LINUX server, on which appropriate versions of PHP and MySQL have been installed. I recommend looking at one of the certified hosts for this purpose (see hosting link above).

It would mean a unique domain name, but you could think of something like www.mydomain-shop.com . or perhaps something altogether different - it's up to you.

Find out where and how your MS Site is hosted, and ask them if they can host ZC as well.

In any event, your ZC site and your MS site would be (functionally) TWO DIFFERENT/INDEPENDENT INSTALLATIONS.