Adding to an existing web site

[gjh42]

"They sell things that get engraved and the like and need that information sent to them when the order finishes getting processed."

Zen Cart has the ability for customers to input text and image files during product ordering, so this is not an obstacle.

[OrcaSoul]

This is the part I just cannot understand. How could anyone take on a job that includes an eCommerce component, and design the whole site almost to completion, and only then go looking for the eComm part? That is just plain nuts, if you don't mind my saying so.

Rob

Rob, perhaps this might help you understand.

I have written some Python scripts that allow the user to put their 3D product purchase history into a database. I did this first for my own use, showed it to some friends, they showed it to some friends...and it has become a product to sell. So, I needed a HTML/php/MySQL web site to sell these (since the potential market could be hundreds if not thousands, I wanted to avoid the casual e-mail sales). I know HTML, but not php/MySQL...so I bought a book, modified the code to reflect my needs, and now just need the PayPal shopping cart, with the IPN capability that the book doesn't cover. I looked around, found Zen Cart, and I do like the capabilities of the platform...but it really isn't the most obvious learning path when you first dive into the pond. I finally read most of the available info, 3 days long hours, and think I have the core of an understanding of how & what it does. I actually think I may have something up & working in a couple of days. But I too am not pleased with having to re-code everything I already wrote - I will do it, but that doesn't make me eager to do so.

But to have to deal with the blindness - almost arrogance - of "This is the part I just cannot understand." is irritating...not everyone of us who comes to this point does so as fully knowledgeable of all you have to offer us. Some of us got here through some fairly thick underbrush, and are weary of having to learn yet "another" new way to redo what we've already done. And we DO appreciate the help we are getting - thus far I've gotten some great assistance. The WIKI, once you get orientated, is very useful. But being looked down at for having tried to do it without you is not helpful. Help if you can, but remember that not everyone is as lucky as you to have found Zen Cart right at the start, avoiding the stumbles...in fact, I consider the time spent stumbling as very useful in seeing the advantages of your product.

[Adalast]

Rob, perhaps this might help you understand.

I have written some Python scripts that allow the user to put their 3D product purchase history into a database. I did this first for my own use, showed it to some friends, they showed it to some friends...and it has become a product to sell. So, I needed a HTML/php/MySQL web site to sell these (since the potential market could be hundreds if not thousands, I wanted to avoid the casual e-mail sales). I know HTML, but not php/MySQL...so I bought a book, modified the code to reflect my needs, and now just need the PayPal shopping cart, with the IPN capability that the book doesn't cover. I looked around, found Zen Cart, and I do like the capabilities of the platform...but it really isn't the most obvious learning path when you first dive into the pond. I finally read most of the available info, 3 days long hours, and think I have the core of an understanding of how & what it does. I actually think I may have something up & working in a couple of days. But I too am not pleased with having to re-code everything I already wrote - I will do it, but that doesn't make me eager to do so.

But to have to deal with the blindness - almost arrogance - of "This is the part I just cannot understand." is irritating...not everyone of us who comes to this point does so as fully knowledgeable of all you have to offer us. Some of us got here through some fairly thick underbrush, and are weary of having to learn yet "another" new way to redo what we've already done. And we DO appreciate the help we are getting - thus far I've gotten some great assistance. The WIKI, once you get orientated, is very useful. But being looked down at for having tried to do it without you is not helpful. Help if you can, but remember that not everyone is as lucky as you to have found Zen Cart right at the start, avoiding the stumbles...in fact, I consider the time spent stumbling as very useful in seeing the advantages of your product.

Thank you so much. I was just ignoring the post, but had I replied, I don't think I could have phrased it better myself.

[rstevenson]

Rob, perhaps this might help you understand. ...
But to have to deal with the blindness - almost arrogance - of "This is the part I just cannot understand." is irritating...not everyone of us who comes to this point does so as fully knowledgeable of all you have to offer us. ...

Sorry to have upset you. I was responding to the situation as outlined to that point in the thread. The situation seemed to be that of a designer who accepted a job that they didn't know how to finish. Later info in the thread tells me that was not so, but there was no way to know that at the time I posted my remark. And it is an all too familiar situation, which I have had to deal with in my own business, cleaning up after someone else has failed. I hope it's obvious now I was just speaking out of momentary frustration and did not mean any offense to any particular individual.

Rob

[Adalast]

Thanks for the apology Rob. I did get in over my head a bit on the whole commerce portion of the site, but I'm learning. Still no answer on any possible alternatives to zencart that might be a little more simplistic? If not, is there anywhere else I might be albe to go to get an answer? I would like to have a few methods to propose to my clients along with the pros and cons of each so that they can make a decision of how they want me to procede.

[rstevenson]

... Still no answer on any possible alternatives to zencart that might be a little more simplistic? ...

Like many here, I came to Zen Cart after finally deciding the "simple" alternatives were anything but. Yes, it would be nice to be able to drop a Buy Me button into an HTML-based site anywhere you want, but the invisible things you get with a full solution like Zen Cart, including but not limited to security, multiple payment gateways, shipping modules to cover any situation, etc. really outweigh the pain of the learning curve.

If you can get through the first few weeks of learning and become an expert at designing within Zen Cart (and there really is almost nothing you can't do visually within ZC) you'll have a leg up on the competition, and can offer your clients a solid alternative.

And the best part of the whole thing is that you'll find lots of helpful people on this forum (and some occasionally grumpy ones ) to help you up the learning curve.

Rob

[OrcaSoul]

Sorry to have upset you. I was responding to the situation as outlined to that point in the thread. The situation seemed to be that of a designer who accepted a job that they didn't know how to finish. Later info in the thread tells me that was not so, but there was no way to know that at the time I posted my remark. And it is an all too familiar situation, which I have had to deal with in my own business, cleaning up after someone else has failed. I hope it's obvious now I was just speaking out of momentary frustration and did not mean any offense to any particular individual.

Rob

Rob,

Apology accepted - and please accept mine in return. I had just gotten up from a restless night - something to do with a cat that has discovered my body makes a wonderful walkway in the middle of the night...and offers her thanks by massaging my neck...

I love her dearly, but...