Questions about functionallity

[skylos]

Hello everyone
I'm about to start a self-hosted music eshop and right now I'm experimenting with the available software. Among others, I've downloaded zenCart and set up the demo eshop (on a linux server).

My technical skills: eventhough I never got to learn php, with guidance, I can find my way around to edit the code. I can install addons etc as long as I have the instructions. I know html, SQL, and I'm handy with managing a website and a mySQL database.

My needs
In addition to the standard functionality (browse products, search for products etc) I have the following needs:

• custom product fields (with multiple high resolution pictures)
• ability to sometimes set auditions for specific (rare) products
• filter browsing (imagine you sell both new and second-hand products; when you browse the catalog you see both but you might check a box and only see the new ones)
• product cross reference (customers who bought this, also bought these other products)
• product similarities (we think that if you like this one, you might also like that one)
• accept payments via credit card and paypal
• have the eshop appear in a couple of different languages
• prompt support and guidance

My questions

• Is zenCart up to the extra functionality? and if yes, how?
• What about support and guidance?
• Most probably I am going to buy some nice template. But for starters, are there any free templates suitable for music shops (I'm looking for a template where apart from the skin, also the database is set up suitable for a music store) so that can play around already?

and a possible bug:

• After installation I had to fill in my date but the software incorrectly claimed that my email was not valid. But it is valid. It just belongs to one of the new TLDs (.international). Can you please fix that? Or else, I cannot use any of my domain's email accounts with my eshop!
• Minor: I was advised to rename the admin directory, which I did, and then of course, when I clicked the offered link to get to the admin page, the link didn't work which was kind of funny.

thnx

[stevesh]

custom product fileds, cross reference, 'similarities' and multiple languages are possible with plugins.

Credit Card and Paypal modules are included

I don't know what you mean by 'auditions'.

Zencart is supported (for free, anyway) only here in the forums.

As for your minor 'bug', it's true that the link on the installation success page is hard-coded to /admin.

[skylos]

thanks for answering, stevesh..

I don't know what you mean by 'auditions'.

sorry, typo.. I meant auctions.. ebay style auctions where members can bid, for say a week, for a rare product.


I'm starting to like zenCart and I'm looking for some nice template, right now. See what's available, how and for how much.

[stevesh]

There are a lot of opinions here about templates. Mine is that the appearance of a website is secondary to the functionality.

I would avoid Template Monster and Algozone, especially those templates which are marketed as being for a specific type of store.

Look in the Plugins area for templates (free) by Picaflor Azul. She also offers commercial templates. Both her free and paid templates are very nice.

[mc12345678]

Well, I had attempted to guess at what was meant by auditions, but that was a long time ago, guess I don't have much to add to the original post except:

I don't recall seeing an email address requirement per se. Perhaps there was a misconfiguration of the server settings for the email address?

And that I would echo what stevesh said about the warnings on templates. Picaflor Azul's are highly functional. I haven't seen one (at least of those compatible with ZC 1.5) that unknowingly reduces functionality of the default template. There are some that do state certain functions may not be available or ifnot originally stated are identified in the support thread. These templates are surprisingly highly supported provided the information is not in the readme files. And if the info is there, typically a gentle reminder is given. :)

As all things ZC, if a support thread is available it is recommended to read through or at least search it as well as the rest of the forum if having any type of difficulty. Beyond that can basically suggest to review the posting guidelines and other threads about posting to the site as there is a wealth of information out there. :)

[skylos]

I would avoid Template Monster and Algozone, especially those templates which are marketed as being for a specific type of store.

Do you mean that skins like this one and this one have a reduced functionality? and if yes, like what?

Because they do have a nice look and feel and I thinκ that even if I was to install a different skin, I'd make all efforts to have my eshop look something like these ones...

But if there's functionality missing... that'd be a drawback, indeed.

I understand you are quite experienced and I appreciate your advice.

Beyond that can basically suggest to review the posting guidelines and other threads about posting to the site as there is a wealth of information out there. :)

I always do search beforehand and searching is what got me to zenCart and this forum, in the first place. Right now I'm doing reading on zenCart.

Thanks for helping :)

[stevesh]

I can't speak to those particular templates, but the problem isn't always reduced functionality. TM often uses changes in the PHP files to create some of its styling effects, probably so that people can't just copy their stylesheets to recreate the template. Then, if those files are among those edited for the next Zencart version, you'll need to go back to TM, credit card in hand, for an update.

It's my opinion that custom templates, free or commercial, should only include stylesheets and files which begin with tpl_, and as few of the latter as possible.

Presumably, you won't be using the imagery that comes with those templates on your site. If you can look at the demos and mentally remove the images, you'll see that there isn't anything particularly 'musical' about the design. Any experienced Zencart hand could reproduce the design of those templates (or very close) without breaking a sweat.

My advice would be to install Zencart, get some tools like Firebug and/or Web Developer so you can examine the Classic template to see what/where everything is located, and roll your own template. At the very least, your site won't look just like the sites of everyone else who bought that template, and you'll save $140.

[skylos]

Then, if those files are among those edited for the next Zencart version, you'll need to go back to TM, credit card in hand, for an update.

so very true.. like i wrote in another thread, they say they charge more than 300 € for any update (in order to keep up with zenCart updates).

I'll take your advice, Steve. I'm going to install some free template and play around a bit more.

Thanks :)