Newby Advice Needed - how to build website

So, I think I'm going to use bluhost for hosting. They gave me several option for building the website (which I want to use ZenCart with). Any recommendations for which of these might be easy to get up and running? I have good computer skills, but not much for website design. I've looked at wordpress before but wasn't impressed as it seems to be setup for blogging not ecommerce. My store with have a couple standards products and also some customs. Also, if I could post a product that could only be viewed by one person, it would be a nice way to handle customs jobs. Any advice is appreciated! Here are my options according to bluhost:

WordPress
PyroCMS
b2evolution
Croogo
Joomla 2
phpwcms
ocPortal
Chyrp CMS
Drupal 7
liveSite
Drupal 6
Joomla 3
seotoaster
Textpattern
MODx
Geeklog
XOOPS
concrete5.6
PHP-Nuke
e107
Anchor CMS

Ok, I think the answer in none of the above. Zen Cart is all I need. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks

That's right. Zencart is a stand-alone shopping cart.

That list looks suspiciously like an automated install list. DO NOT use an autoinstaller to install Zen Cart. Download the file, consult the docs directory, follow the instructions.:yes:

dbltoe:

That list looks suspiciously like an automated install list. DO NOT use an autoinstaller to install Zen Cart. Download the file, consult the docs directory, follow the instructions.:yes:

And if not sure from where to download the file, a link is available at the bottom of http://www.zen-cart.com to obtain the latest.

Also as a side note, everyone here offers assistance on an as able/as desired basis. Sometimes answers can take a while. Sometimes immediate. Please have patience in the future.

Turns out that list is something else. There is another tab for ecommerce on blue host which has Zen cart. It installed automatically. This is reccomended by blue host, so It seems very legit. I have it installed, now I just need to learn how to edit the store.

This video seems helpful starting around 23:00 (considering the install was done for me)

CosmosK:

Turns out that list is something else. There is another tab for ecommerce on blue host which has Zen cart. It installed automatically. This is reccomended by blue host, so It seems very legit. I have it installed, now I just need to learn how to edit the store.

This video seems helpful starting around 23:00 (considering the install was done for me)

Those that have weighed in about where to obtain and how to install ZC have significant experience with ZC. And unfortunately, they have experience correcting the issues of these automatic installs... It is not too late to install the program as suggested here. Realize that if you continue down the path of using the auto-installed version, that we are more than likely to see you back on the forum posting about how this or that doesn't work, and one of the first suggestions will be to install ZC as downloaded from this site.... You are more than welcome to continue using this one-click install that seems so legit. (Just like the guy that has the iPod for sale at the corner in it's "original" packaging, receipt, and other "official" looking items.)

Is there a definitive install guide somewhere? The getting started guide is a few FAQs!?!

So, I looked at the hosting list recommended by Zen Cart. Blue Host is the one I decided to use. Blue host powers mojo marketplace and it installs automatically: https://www.mojomarketplace.com/install/zen-cart You're telling me this is suspect in legitimacy? I have no problem reinstalling it manually if there are current instructions somewhere. Thanks

When you first install Zencart, there is an advertisement on the main page for 'The Book'. That's the best written guide to configuring Zencart. Also check out Kerrin Hardy's site: http://www.kerrinhardy.com/

I don't know if there's anything really wrong with using most auto-installers, but installing manually gives you that much more hands-on experience with the file system and other aspects of Zencart.

CosmosK:

Is there a definitive install guide somewhere? The getting started guide is a few FAQs!?!

Not sure what is considered wrong with the installation being covered in the FAQs, the process believe it or not hasn't changed significantly over the many years of it being around. The install process also really is that easy...

There is documentation in the downloaded fileset, as well as the faqs here, and as you have found out the input of others... Ideally, take the time to read through and try to understand what it is you don't understand... Meaning, when/if you get to a step that doesn't make sense, provide a reference to the information, describe what you know, what you have done to figure it out, and what your question/issue is..

Yes, bluehost is recommended. Yes, their auto-installer MIGHT be just fine for an initial install. We really can't tell without looking at what the installer leaves behind.
It's long been a theory among folks that matching sets don't, adapters won't, and shortcuts aren't. The latter comes into focus here. There is never enough time spent for learning when a shortcut is used.
Those of us who said, "I can do that" have often been humbled and had to back up to "learn" the Zen Cart way.

Upgrades will come along. NO ONE here or at BH would advise the use of a shortcut to upgrade. Without some of the learning process involved with setting up your own site, you will have problems with the upgrade.

Go ahead! Zen Cart is absolutely the best option for e-commerce websites. Good luck

ok, to start over do I just delete the folders pertaining to zencart that the auto install placed?

I would suggest as general advice to anyone STARTING TO LEARN TO USE Zen Cart to go ahead, use the auto installer to start looking at Zen Cart the fastest way possible and not get fazed/tripped up by problems with the manual install procedure.

Play with it, think about HOW you want your store to work but NOT how it looks. DO NOT WASTE TIME CUSTOMIZING this shop as it will NOT BE YOUR STORE. It is a testbed to see if Zen Cart will do what you want.

Meanwhile/later set up a shop locally on your computer to learn the innards of customising as its SO MUCH EASIER to do it on a local pc than across ftp remotely.

When you are ready, some time in the future, you will be better armed to install a new version remotely and keep it mirrored to your local version.
The initial version can maybe stay where it is, use it to check when something doesn't work on your customised shop and you want to see if it actually works on an uncustomized shop.

I think the autoinstaller is very useful for new users, in this context only but never to use as a real shop.

I don't think the autoinstaller leaves any "debris" to be worried about but what is very dangerous is the subsequent enticing prompts and offers of a one-click upgrade which is actually a one-click self-destruct button to all your customisations.

CosmosK:

ok, to start over do I just delete the folders pertaining to zencart that the auto install placed?

You could copy/backup two files (or prevent their deletion), delete everything else and have a rather easier go of installing where you won't/may not have to recreate a database. Two files that are central to the operation of the cart are includes/configure.php and admin/includes/configure.php where admin is replaced with the secret admin directory name that should have been applied after installation.

The important information from these files if you would rather have a full go at installing the software is mostly the filename path (DIR_FS_CATALOG), the database information such as username, password, db_hostname, etc.., and basically the uri/hostname...

There are two thoughts of where in the file structure the store should be installed, but the suggestion in both thoughts is that the store/address should lead directly to ZC files... If not yet familiar with how to change the pointer of the uri as it relates to the file structure, then it is suggested to install zc to YOUR_HOST(DOT)COM/

torvista:

I would suggest as general advice to anyone STARTING TO LEARN TO USE Zen Cart to go ahead, use the auto installer to start looking at Zen Cart the fastest way possible and not get fazed/tripped up by problems with the manual install procedure.

Play with it, think about HOW you want your store to work but NOT how it looks. DO NOT WASTE TIME CUSTOMIZING this shop as it will NOT BE YOUR STORE. It is a testbed to see if Zen Cart will do what you want.

Meanwhile/later set up a shop locally on your computer to learn the innards of customising as its SO MUCH EASIER to do it on a local pc than across ftp remotely.

When you are ready, some time in the future, you will be better armed to install a new version remotely and keep it mirrored to your local version.
The initial version can maybe stay where it is, use it to check when something doesn't work on your customised shop and you want to see if it actually works on an uncustomized shop.

I think the autoinstaller is very useful for new users, in this context only but never to use as a real shop.

I don't think the autoinstaller leaves any "debris" to be worried about but what is very dangerous is the subsequent enticing prompts and offers of a one-click upgrade which is actually a one-click self-destruct button to all your customisations.

There are also some of the auto-installers that have removed admin access verifications allowing anyone to "login" to the admin if they have discovered the path to the folder, or those that disable the requirement to rename the admin folder, so effectively either making it possible/easier to obtain information from the "store" or to wreak havoc.

I set up a password when it installed, so I have a password protected admin. I just changed the directory to make it secret. Would it make sense that the auto installer just copied the files over and didn't do any of the details like rename things and change permissions? I was hoping to avoid having to do all that, but maybe it is unavoidable. Seems odd they would provide the service (auto install) if it didn't work. I actually need to get the site going soon. I was hoping the auto install would speed things up. I'm happy to start over. Is creating a new database included in the instructions? Are these the install instructions: http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?147-how-do-i-install-zen-cart
I appreciate all the help.

CosmosK:

I set up a password when it installed, so I have a password protected admin. I just changed the directory to make it secret. Would it make sense that the auto installer just copied the files over and didn't do any of the details like rename things and change permissions? I was hoping to avoid having to do all that, but maybe it is unavoidable. Seems odd they would provide the service (auto install) if it didn't work. I actually need to get the site going soon. I was hoping the auto install would speed things up. I'm happy to start over. Is creating a new database included in the instructions? Are these the install instructions: http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?147-how-do-i-install-zen-cart
I appreciate all the help.

Those are good instructions to follow for first time installation. Your hosts database that is/was identified in the includes/configure.php could be reused, though might recommend changing the credentials or something based on the autoinstaller... No telling how similar yours is as compared to the next site at the host.

Anyways, the instructions identify the need for a database and the basic requirements for it, but suggest contacting the host for direction. This software does not create the database, but it uses it heavily. Also there is a small amount of expectation of understanding some basics of webhosting/design, but not so much that a small business owner couldn't figure it out or ask enough questions. :)

CosmosK:

I've looked at wordpress before but wasn't impressed as it seems to be setup for blogging not ecommerce. My store with have a couple standards products and also some customs.
Wanted to throw my three cents in here.. then you all can carry on your discussion..

The term blog IMHO is a carryover term. In truth what is called a "blog" today is a far cry from the "weblogs" (from where the term "blog" originated) of yesterday..

That said, IMHO the more correct term for WordPress and packages like it (Joomla, Mambo) is "content management system". Meaning it is a tool that's PRIMARY purpose is to create textual content, but also image content or a combination of both. This can either take the form of static content (like an "About Us" page or a "Contact Us" page), or posts which are usually "consisting of discrete entries typically displayed in reverse chronological order (the most recent post appears first)".

Today a textual site built using a content management system can serve as a medium of news dissemination. They can also serve as a medium to enhance the communication and culture of a business or for marketing, branding or public relations purposes.

Open source content management systems can be used to build an e-commerce site through the use of plugins/extensions/modules to expand the base software's functionality.

The point I am making is that if you need a site that includes news dissemination, communications, marketing, branding or public relations content for your business as well as e-commerce, then WordPress can be used alongside Zen Cart to be an EXCELLENT expansion of your site's overall landscape. (just like forum packages are another kind of expansion to your site's overall landscape) In otherwords, you do NOT need to choose one over the other.. No reason if the nature of your site dictates it that you can't do BOTH. While I am a firm believer that MOST sites can be build in full with Zen Cart, I have been doing this long enough to know that Zen Cart cannot be all things.

If ecommerce is a PRIMARY function of the site, I look to Zen Cart as a business solution
If news dissemination, communications, marketing, branding or public relations content is a PRIMARY function of the site, I look to WordPress or Joomla.
If I need BOTH textual and ecommece, I usually will build a site that incorporates BOTH WordPress and Zen Cart..

Anyway.. carry on.. you are being given some very good advice here..