Setting up E-mail

[grandblancmusic]

Hello, I am new to Zencart and new to computer programming in general. I suffered through setting up a very basic information based website for my company using Dreamweaver and I am ready to start selling products online.

Zencart was the most highly recommended so I went with it. I set it up using simple scripts though my host, bluehost, and I bought the Estart your webstore with zencart book.

I am slowly setting up the store and customizing things, but I am confused when I get to the part about setting up my mail accounts.

" Besides enabling the sending of emails, Zen Cart needs to connect to a mail server in order to send emails. To specify
the connection settings to a mail server, concentrate on the following fields on the E-Mail Options screen. Use the settings in the following table to specify the mail server settings for your local Zen Cart store to connect to the local Mercury mail server you created in Chapter 2. "

Since I used simple scripts instead of setting it up myself like the book shows, I never created a mail server, nor do I think I have one. I have used a Gmail address for my store as long as Ive been around and Id like to continue using it.

Is there a way I can make Gmail my go to email site with Zencart? Can I get Gmail to send out the confirmation emails and newsletters, as well as take in orders from customers?

Do I need to set up a "mail server"? I dont know what this means, but like everything Ive been up to lately, I can follow simple instructions to get me there.

Do I already have a mail server that I can use through my host? If so, I can start bugging them to help me set it up.

Any advice on the issue will be greatly appreciated. Ive been looking around for a while and it seems my question is almost too simplistic. I think that's a good thing though.

- Kyle

[stiggy100]

Hey,

Hope I can help in a small way, pretty new myself!

The setting up of the mail server in mercury is just to create test customers and learn about automated emails etc in the Zen Cart Book. The details are in there on how to set up a localhost mail server if you did want to have a play around. That is completely you call...

Now I believe if you got to your store's admin you can just change your default email address to your gmail - this way all inquiries will be sent there etc.

configuration>email options

As for mailing to your customers (newsletters etc), the admin of the site is beautifully set up to do all this for you

tools>send email
tools>newsletters and products notifications

If I have missed the whole point just disregard the above...

Steve

[kobra]

Do I already have a mail server that I can use through my host? If so, I can start bugging them to help me set it up.

No need...just setup email accounts in the cPanel account manager - - some like sales@xxxx.??? etc

Then in your ZenCart Admin > config > email > set your email address for the things to be mailed

[grandblancmusic]

Thanks to you both for the quick replies, I really appreciate it.

I am going to go the cpanel route through my host, I figured I would have to abandon the Gmail account even though it has been so great.

Thanks again,

- Kyle

[kobra]

I figured I would have to abandon the Gmail account even though it has been so great.

I would retain it for several reasons...
You can setup a local mail client like OutLook, OutLookExpress, Thunderbird and others to retreive email from many accounts

[canopy]

Hi grandblancmusic,

Setting up a local mail server is entirely optional and for testing purposes only. It may sometimes be more trouble than it's worth if you already have a hosting account. So use your host's email server if you have one.

Btw, do note that Zen Cart may have trouble sending emails through 3rd party SMTP mail servers like Gmail. This is covered in the Troubleshoot - Email Problems wiki article.

As kobra mentioned, you can retain your Gmail account for other reasons other than sending your store emails.