Develop store offline?

[gjh42]

It is not recommended to use the cPanel file manager to edit PHP files, as it can sometimes corrupt them. You may get away fine most of the time, but it's not worth the risk.
If you have a question that is reasonably related to a particular forum topic, it would be best to ask there. I will be checking new posts for a while yet tonight.

[Ajeh]

I guess I don't get it ... what is the difference between the look of that WordPress down for maintenance and Zen Cart Down for Maintenance ...

Turn off the Header, footer, left and right column on the settings if you don't want the customer to see those ...

Change the text in the middle and image if you want ...

Or is there something special that WP Down for Maintenance is doing there that I am not seeing?

[LisaK]

It is not recommended to use the cPanel file manager to edit PHP files, as it can sometimes corrupt them. You may get away fine most of the time, but it's not worth the risk.
If you have a question that is reasonably related to a particular forum topic, it would be best to ask there. I will be checking new posts for a while yet tonight.

hmm yes that would be a problem, specially with the CSS soon as I changed it so much... thanks for the advice

[LisaK]

I guess I don't get it ... what is the difference between the look of that WordPress down for maintenance and Zen Cart Down for Maintenance ...

Turn off the Header, footer, left and right column on the settings if you don't want the customer to see those ...

Change the text in the middle and image if you want ...

Or is there something special that WP Down for Maintenance is doing there that I am not seeing?

I hadn't realized you could specify IP addresses that Zen Cart would allow to view the site...so I guess it really is the same...

[jasonhoward64]

Order the e-book. It provides step by step instructions on how to setup a store on your local machine. It will save you hours and help you product a better store. Its only 30$ and its a tax writeoff

http://www.cucumbermedia.com/store/i...&products_id=4

[BlindSide]

Hello BlindSide...Thanks for your reply.
I'm a designer, graphics, websites etc. but I'm happiest with Wordpress which of course is a lot different to Zen Cart, although customization follows the same principles I'm finding. I've customized the site to some degree graphically and everything is ok thus far, I was just wondering if there was a specific reason why local development was encouraged...

Alright, so this is not a question of how, but more why. One of the reasons you've gotten this advice is because Zen cart sites are totally different from Wordpress. If people visit a WP site under construction, they may get an error or a busted page. If people visit a Zen Cart site under construction, they may order stuff that isn't for sale yet, or be billed incorrectly. The stakes are a bit higher.

Linda's recommendation is the best way to develop in place while avoiding the issues I described above. You can also do the dev/live setup I described. Keep in mind that a separate development area is pretty much a necessity once you have a bustling live shop.

[LisaK]

Order the e-book. It provides step by step instructions on how to setup a store on your local machine. It will save you hours and help you product a better store. Its only 30$ and its a tax writeoff

http://www.cucumbermedia.com/store/i...&products_id=4

Thanks Jason...This sounds like a good investment...one I wish I made 2 weeks ago lol

[LisaK]

Alright, so this is not a question of how, but more why. One of the reasons you've gotten this advice is because Zen cart sites are totally different from Wordpress. If people visit a WP site under construction, they may get an error or a busted page. If people visit a Zen Cart site under construction, they may order stuff that isn't for sale yet, or be billed incorrectly. The stakes are a bit higher.

Linda's recommendation is the best way to develop in place while avoiding the issues I described above. You can also do the dev/live setup I described. Keep in mind that a separate development area is pretty much a necessity once you have a bustling live shop.

Yes I see :) Although that's changing somewhat with the WP-ecommerce plugin, I suppose if someone is building a Wordpress shop they would now have the same issues. It's not unusual for people to build WP sites offline though and I've done it myself, but never felt the same overwhelming feeling I did when looking at all the Zen Cart folders that are involved in overiding the default theme....with Wordpress you just stick everything in one theme directory pretty much.

I couldn't see the post by Linda...sorry, new around here and not familiar with everyone's real names yet

[Ajeh]

That would be me ...

Just put the site on Down for Maintenance and if you want to not show anything turn them off and you will have a screen for the customer and for you, or anyone else with an IP address in the list, the shop ...

This is a handy feature for developing as well as for upgrading etc. ... and done with just a flip of a switch ...

[LisaK]

That would be me ...

Just put the site on Down for Maintenance and if you want to not show anything turn them off and you will have a screen for the customer and for you, or anyone else with an IP address in the list, the shop ...

This is a handy feature for developing as well as for upgrading etc. ... and done with just a flip of a switch ...

ah there you are!
Yes I think this is probably the best bet for me, thanks Linda :)