Stripped down usage of Zen Cart

[steveorg]

I'd like to start up with a stripped down usage of ZenCart. I only have a couple of products at this stage. The main reason that I want to start with Zen Cart is for the Jrox affiliate program implementation. Also, I hope to expand the catalogue in the near future.

For this initial implementation, I'd like to be able to just show the product page inside of a div or iframe on a page from my site. This way, I can worry about template customization down the road.

Is this possible? How would I do it? Am I insulting the capabilities of Zen Cart?

Thanks,
Steve

[Kim]

For this initial implementation, I'd like to be able to just show the product page inside of a div or iframe on a page from my site. This way, I can worry about template customization down the road.

Honestly - bad way to go. Php sessions and payment modules do not like frames.

Will be much easier for you to make Zen Cart match the look of your site using the overrides to start with. You do have the ability to turn off nearly all of the functions you don't want or need through the admin.

[steveorg]

Thanks Kim. These things are never as easy as I'd like.

Are divs also out? I was hoping to just use a php include to bring in the ZenCart elements. If necessary the path can still be in Zen Cart. I really want to avoid the work of recreating the site template in Zen Cart.

Steve

[Merlinpa1969]

there is still the session issue

[steveorg]

I'm starting to suspect that my knowledge of Zen-Cart is even more deficient than I realized. The session issue may have implications for the standard install that I would implement if I can't take the stripped down approach.

The install would be done on an existing website. What would happen if a customer hits a Zen Cart page, leaves the page for another part of the site, and then returns to another Zen Cart page? Does the session lose track of the customer? Do items that were added to the cart get lost?

If I'm being too paranoid and the above is not an issue, what would the session issues be for a stripped down Zen Cart in a div? Thanks.

Steve

[Kim]

The install would be done on an existing website. What would happen if a customer hits a Zen Cart page, leaves the page for another part of the site, and then returns to another Zen Cart page? Does the session lose track of the customer? Do items that were added to the cart get lost?

All highly possible and one of the reasons for not recommending your initial suggestion.

[steveorg]

All highly possible and one of the reasons for not recommending your initial suggestion.

Wow, that was unexpected! So the only way to reliably use Zen Cart with unrelated site pages is to make the rest of the site part of Zen Cart? Is that even possible with a diverse site?

[steveorg]

Okay, I've done a little extra research. Why would I have session issues if cookies are used to track users? Thanks.