Can it Run On A Mac?

Hi everybody,

I have been searching for a "shopping cart" and after looking at many of them and even trying a couple, I am leaning toward Zen Cart.

My only question - Is Zen Cart and it's new "owner's manual" really setup for Mac computers?

I'm sure that it works great on a PC, but I am using a Mac with OS X 10.5 and I need to be sure that there are instructions and other people on the forum that are using Zen Cart on a Mac before I invest all of the time I need to learn it.

I would really appreciate any comments/help on this.

Have a peek at the other threads in this forum - http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=24

Hi Kim,
thanks for the redirect.

I have some reading to do...

A specific question, though.

There doesn't seem to be much traffic here in the Mac section, is that because Zen Cart is not OS specific and questions are answered elsewhere?

Thank you for your help. :smile:

Zen Cart is not OS-specific. It can run on any Linux/Windows/Mac platform that runs PHP, MySQL, Apache (or IIS).

The easiest way to get it running on your local Mac computer is to install MAMP and then add Zen Cart. You'll see instructions for that in another thread in this section.

And, installing Zen Cart is NOT like installing an application on a Mac. Zen Cart is software that runs on a website, not as a traditional application on a Mac or PC.

NOTE: MAMP is not suitable for running a live/production website. It is only intended for "testing" or "staging" while working on developing a site for a live server, and/or testing out new addons etc before putting them on a live server. If you want to learn how to set up a live webserver running on Mac OS for a real live active website, that's a discussion for another place, perhaps webhostingtalk.com.

DrByte,

thank you very much for taking the time to post a response. I really appreciate it.

I only work on Macs (except when testing) and have used ZC for years.
Essentially zen cart is just a bunch of php files and some images so it makes no difference which platform you use as long as you have a text editor, ftp access and something to create images (if needed).

Hi Tinman,

I'm just wondering how you've got on as I've just embarked on this and am pretty mystified by the whole process. I've spent ages reading FAQs and I think I'm just more confused for doing so. Even the readme_installation.html which comes with Zen Cart has left me with loads of doubts as to what I'm actually doing?

Billy

Just dig in and have a go at it -- on a local install of course.

I installed ZC about 5 times locally and redid my first site 3 times before I was pleased enough with it to make it publically available. Yes, it's a learning curve, but it's very doable, and the people here in the ZC forum are very helpful to newbies. (We were all newbies once.)

So if you use a Mac (as I do), install MAMP (mentioned above) then download and install Zen Cart including the sample products. Have a look at everything in it, including all the things you can do in admin. Explore -- it's a new country.

When you'rre ready, start setting up a few products of your own, and try customizing things. Ask lots of questions.

Rob

I have a Mac. And Zen Cart works well with the Mac. No trouble with anything so far. I'm getting the idea about using it. And doing things wrong. But I'm sure in time. I'll learn everything there is about Zen Cart

Kim:

Have a peek at the other threads in this forum - http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=24

Kim,

I noticed in one of your posts that you had a link to this book:
http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=16

Would using this book work for the Mac? I'm trying to find a step-by-step tutorial where it guides you through the process of setting on an ecart on a mac.

I downloaded the zencart software and haven't been able to even get the stuff loaded locally on my macbook pro. The installation process isn't working, so I need some really basic thing for a mac.

I'm having trouble just getting the zencart software installed. It says the following:
If you are running on a your own computer, this will be

http://localhost/{zen-cart-directory}/zc_install/

or if on a live server:

http://{www.mydomain.com}/zc_install/

I installed MAMP (or whatever it is called) and unzipped the zencart stuff.

What exactly do I type for "localhost" if I'm on my computer. If I type http://whatever...
it says "site not found" so presumably it;'s trying to find something on the web rather than locally (ie my laptop). How do I get it to install locally?

Snicklefritz:

It says the following:
If you are running on a your own computer, this will be

http://localhost/{zen-cart-directory}/zc_install/

...

What exactly do I type for "localhost" if I'm on my computer?
You type exactly what it says.

"localhost" is the name of your standalone computer.

DrByte:

You type exactly what it says.

"localhost" is the name of your standalone computer.

Ok. It ended up working when I typed in the IP address.

When I did that I was able to run the Zen Cart install script. The welcome screen shows up, then after that the license screen. I read through it then click on the "accept" button and get the following message:

"Deprecated: Function set_magic_quotes_runtime() is deprecated in /Users/snicklefritz/Sites/Site/zencartdir/zc_install/includes/application_top.php on line 22"

The window won't go on to any of the other items like setup database and stuff like that.

How can I fix this error?

That looks like a message I would expect if you were trying to run Zen Cart v1.3.8a or older on PHP 5.3.0 or newer.
But ... I thought the latest MAMP version (v1.7.2) only used PHP 5.2.6 ... which is compatible with Zen Cart v1.3.8a, and should not give you that particular error message.

Are you sure you didn't install XAMP instead of MAMP?

The easiest way to get it running on your local Mac computer is to install MAMP and then add Zen Cart.

How do I install MAMP? Is this an Xcode item? If so, is it possible to run the installer off the OS disk without harming my currently installed OS?

Thanks, folks!

TYancy:

How do I install MAMP?http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96011
TYancy:

Is this an Xcode item?
No, it's an application suite.