How can I add a forum to my store?

What is the best way to have a forum in zen cart? I would like it to match the zen cart template, I would also like to post some RSS feeds into the forums if possible. Any advice is appreciated!!

If you want a 'bridge', where customer accounts created in Zencart are mirrored in the forum, there's this:

http://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=1598

If not, just install the forum software in a subdirectory (/forum, for example) and link to it from Zencart.

The RSS thing will depend on the forum software.

LOADED question, and the answer is not super simple because it really depends on the forum package you choose.. The plugin stevesh refers to just simply allows Zen Cart and your forum software to use a method of single sign-on.. You will still need to configure/setup your forum, and then theme it to match your Zen Cart store..

DivaVocals:

LOADED question, and the answer is not super simple because it really depends on the forum package you choose.. The plugin stevesh refers to just simply allows Zen Cart and your forum software to use a method of single sign-on.. You will still need to configure/setup your forum, and then theme it to match your Zen Cart store..

Thanks, DivaVocals. Yup, I meant to mention that styling your forum to match your Zencart store (which I think you want to do) is up to you. I've done that with two different pieces of forum software, and it requires knowledge of CSS and also modifying some forum files' HTML. Not terribly difficult, but not a job for a beginner, either. The good news is that there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of free template packages available for the popular forum software, so you can likely find something that's close to your Zencart 'look' and go from there.

stevesh:

Thanks, DivaVocals. Yup, I meant to mention that styling your forum to match your Zencart store (which I think you want to do) is up to you. I've done that with two different pieces of forum software, and it requires knowledge of CSS and also modifying some forum files' HTML. Not terribly difficult, but not a job for a beginner, either. The good news is that there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of free template packages available for the popular forum software, so you can likely find something that's close to your Zencart 'look' and go from there.

Indeed, and I'll add this.. Depending on the forum package, how it's themes are structured, and one's knowledge of the underlying structure of BOTH the forums theming structure and Zen Cart templates, it's POSSIBLE that the two could POSSIBLY "share" parts of their theme/template.. This is something I have nearly worked achieving with WordPress themes and Zen Cart templates, so I'm fairly confident that this means it's probably doable with other open source stuff like forums.

BUT like you said.. it's not for the faint of heart.. and for someone who is somewhat of a newbie, the BETTER bet is to do as you suggest and find a FREE forum theme and modify it to closely match the store's template..