Complete and total newb...

[Serious]

And here is the proof:

I'm building a website sell Stuff. I've got a Stuff vendor lined up and he has provided me with a mile long Excel spread sheet that contains all of the retail prices for his products as well as a .zip file of images of all his Stuff. The image file names correspond to the item numbers on the spreadsheet.

So now I've got pics and prices for Stuff! Let's refer to it as TheirStuff.

So while I've been lining up a Stuff vendor I've also been building a website using Xara Web Designer 6 to attempt building my own website.

I also build my own Stuff and want to sell it on my new website. lets call my stuff ....MyStuff.

So here I am with a bunch of Stuff to sell, a domain name bought and paid for over at G-Daddy( No free plugs from me!!).

As I'm playing around with my website I realize that paypal Ecommerce widgets are neat and all but it's going to take years for me to configure that many buttons....and no buttons for coupons either!!

So I end up with a copy of Zen Cart (v1.39) after looking around for a Shopping Cart Program and very quickly realize.....I'm really lost.

I've tried reading through some of the posts on the forum and although there is some good info....I'm just too new at this.

If I'm understanding this correctly, Zen Cart has to be uploaded along with my actual website via FTP onto my hosts server....right? No, I failed at that?

So my questions are as follows:
Does Zen Cart replace the web site I've been building or does it simply add buttons for selecting and purchasing items from my site.

How do I get Zen Cart to look at the spreadsheet from my Stuff vendor?

How do I get Zen Cart to fill in the blanks (so to speak) with regards to MyStuff. Do I create a separate spreadsheet with prices for Mystuff on it?


If you haven't already figured it out....I've never built an Ecommerce website.

I know there are a few folks shaking their heads and don't even want to begin to get involved at such a basic level...but I hope that there are a few (or maybe even one) brave souls out there that can get me pointed in the right direction.

[Donal]

you are def in the right place!

f I'm understanding this correctly, Zen Cart has to be uploaded along with my actual website via FTP onto my hosts server....right? No, I failed at that?
eh.. no
So my questions are as follows:
Does Zen Cart replace the web site I've been building or does it simply add buttons for selecting and purchasing items from my site.
eh.. yes it replaces it
How do I get Zen Cart to look at the spreadsheet from my Stuff vendor?
by using one of the free addons like easypopulate
How do I get Zen Cart to fill in the blanks (so to speak) with regards to MyStuff. Do I create a separate spreadsheet with prices for Mystuff on it?
sort of yes.. just add it to their stuff with a dif manufacturer

[Serious]

Okay....

So I bought a software package I don't need as long as I'm using Zen Cart. Of well...at least didn't spend $1800 for a full Dreamweaver package. I can handle dropping $50 down the crapper.... I suppose.


Easypopulate...I'll find it and make it mine!!
Will it handle images as well or just the $$$$?

I was thinking that adding to the Stuff Vendor's spreadsheet was probably yhe way to go...just need some reassurance.

Donal,
You have earned my undying trust and friendship, enough to last through the ages. I will write a Durge in your honor and name my next pet after you. OrI can give ya link to my site when it's ready and a free 10% off coupon for Stuff or MyStuff

Next round of questions!! wOOT!!

What the hell is XAMPP (sp?) and how come I need it?

The vendor's Stuff spreadsheet has 10,00 part numbers but I'm only using 400 or so that are scattered all over the spread sheet....what do I do?

[Donal]

What the hell is XAMPP (sp?) and how come I need it?
Its a system that allows you to run php and mysql on your pc...
you dont!! need it
The vendor's Stuff spreadsheet has 10,00 part numbers but I'm only using 400 or so that are scattered all over the spread sheet....what do I do?
why is that a problem? as long as your numbers are different

oh and btw
"a domain name bought and paid for over at G-Daddy"

I would check g daddy on these forums if I wer u

[Serious]

I should clarify....
He has 10k part/item numbers of which I'll only be selling 400.

So how doe I tell Zen Cat which of the 400 out of 10,000 numbers to use? The part/item numbers I'm selling are not 5557 thru 5957, rather they are scattered throughout the complete list.

Make sense?

No G-daddy luv here?
But they have commercials with boobies!! Whats not to love? Links or ban!!!

[Donal]

Zen wont be using their list, what easypopulate does basicaly is provide you with a csv file that you can use as a template for importing items into zens database, so you would need to extract the items you are selling and paste them into the EP file in the correct place and then import that into zen, and yes it can handle the image aspect

[lilkanini]

Serious, you are cracking me up.....and I had a few of the EXACT same questions you asked - but I was too embarrassed!

But if DONAL can answer this question I will be happy: I am using Zencart and purchased a template through Algozon...I am beginning to make changes with Photoshop. Once I am complete with the aesthetics (no products yet...that will take me much longer), do I have to physically upload my site using FTP again or does it happen "magically".....I know, pretty lame huh?

Thanks.

[Donal]

I assume you are just editing the images in photoshop?
in that case you will need to ftp them into the "custom" template folder overwriting the ones that came with the template. just be careful that they are named the same as the original ones and are the same dimensions, you can change dimensions and names but thats getting into more detail and a tutorial.
speaking of tutorials, while I (and a lot of other people) are very happy to point you in the right direction a lot of the basic stuff is covered in the FAQs

Dont be embarresed! we have all been there... it's only easy if you know the answer

[lilkanini]

Thanks!

[Lidders]

I can't help with your questions but I just wanted to reassure you that it will start making sense. Honest! I'm also a newbie and only been fiddling with Zen for a few months - to start with it was like Greek to me. It still is mostly Greek but there is starting to be a bit of English in there too and I've actually had some success doing the things I wanted to do (although I'm fiddling with a site that is already up and running rather than setting one up from scratch.)

This is a great resource so just keep reading. Good luck