Any problems with Zencart?

[schoolboy]

Your choice depends on things:

1. Do you want to fully manage and control your own website (and by definition, whatever is hosted in it)?

2. Do you have sufficient knowledge / skill to manage it yourself?

3. Would you prefer to pay someone to do it for you?

I have used several systems (and still use some in addition to Zencart), but I prefer to build sites in Zencart. Mostly because it is a good, robust system, but also because peer support is excellent.

If you feel you are not up to the task of managing the technical side of software, then a hosted solution is the route you should take. While I do know of Volution, it may interest you that in the last 4 months I have had 3 enquiries from people who use Volution, with a view to moving from them over to Zencart.

[baldrn]

Your choice depends on things:

1. Do you want to fully manage and control your own website (and by definition, whatever is hosted in it)?
I manage my own sites now, but they are not ecommerce. I make updates and changes as needed as I built them from scratch in DW. They are hosted at Hostgator.

2. Do you have sufficient knowledge / skill to manage it yourself?
Again, I'm proficient with DW and basic CSS coding. For lack of a better phrase, in regards to shopping carts 'I don't know what I don't know...yet'. :)


3. Would you prefer to pay someone to do it for you?
I'd rather do it myself for my client. I can do anything if I have instructions.

I have used several systems (and still use some in addition to Zencart), but I prefer to build sites in Zencart. Mostly because it is a good, robust system, but also because peer support is excellent.
I can see the good peer support here for sure.

If you feel you are not up to the task of managing the technical side of software, I wished I knew what that 'task' entailed then a hosted solution is the route you should take. While I do know of Volution, it may interest you that in the last 4 months I have had 3 enquiries from people who use Volution, with a view to moving from them over to Zencart.

Thanks for your insights. I would wonder if they gave you reasons for moving from Volusion to Zencart?

[schoolboy]

Thanks for your insights. I would wonder if they gave you reasons for moving from Volusion to Zencart?

They want more flexibility... they find the Volusion environment too restrictive...

If you have some skills in website design and management that helps considerably.

However, if you have no experience of dynamic content sites, then your learning curve is steeper...

The first thing to appreciate about zencart (as with all other database CM systems) is that they are not flat HTML pages.

In fact, there are no "true" HTML pages in a CM System at all - so you cannot call up a html page like you can in Dreamweaver, tweak the layout, move a picture, etc, and then save it and away you go...

The pages are dynamic... they don't exist until a link or button calls for them to be created. This is done by the PHP code. It "assembles" a page (sometimes using hundreds of component pieces), parses everything into HTML, and sends the page to the browser.

When a new link is clicked, the page disappears completely - it "evaporates", and a new page is assembled.

So... get a bit of grounding in the templating system and how PHP assembles a page. You don't need to become an expert, but spend a few hours getting to grips with the overarching concepts behind PHP and databases.

NB: All CM systems work on this principle, so whether you choose zencart of any other database-managed cart, you will have to develop the same understanding.

[baldrn]

So... get a bit of grounding in the templating system and how PHP assembles a page. You don't need to become an expert, but spend a few hours getting to grips with the overarching concepts behind PHP and databases.

NB: All CM systems work on this principle, so whether you choose zencart of any other database-managed cart, you will have to develop the same understanding.

GREAT information! I will because I've had several people inquire as to shopping carts. but, I ran away..:)
Although I have developed some forms based on php code that a buddy gave me, so I've 'experimented' with php some...copying and pasting/editing as needed.
However, I didn't know that php pages 'disappeared'. wow.
Obviously, you've done your homework here. I know I can find lots of people who think they know what I need to know. But, seeing as I've laid this out, do you have any specific links that might help me learn php to the extent that I need to learn?
Thank you,
Mark

[gjh42]

www.w3schools.com is a good resource. You can find lots of others with Google.

[kobra]

But, seeing as I've laid this out, do you have any specific links that might help me learn php to the extent that I need to learn?

Most others here are more accomplished at php than I am.
I came to this knowing many other compiled and interrupted languages and being a bit on the old side, I have a mental block to learning a new language.
To be able to perform most items for a cart install, one does not need to know that much php and I can attest to this fact. Most things can be altered through re-ordering a default file and/or through css and this is cutting and pasting.
I always reserve the original file(s) renamed with a different extention - just good pratice.
Being a roubust general solution for the many it is quite extensive and at first crack, difficult to comprehend. But after following and learning a bit on how it is constructed most that have some programmiung ability or just good logic will begin to be capable of more than they thought

ZenCart has a great system for customizing IMO and it would do you well to not only study it - but also work with it and there are several tutorials here on the "template override system" It makes for good way to alter things without touching the "core" files and so if one makes an error they can just delete their edited "overriden" file and the default is again used....

This community is again IMO, one of the best in the eCommerce arena and a definite benefit to the ZenCart developrs and new users

[schoolboy]

GREAT information! I will because I've had several people inquire as to shopping carts. but, I ran away..:)

Well... run my way and we can work on them together !