Total Noob - Will I Succeed?

Hello All:

I'm looking for a shopping cart solution and was directed here. I have a lot of experience in SQL and some knowledge of HTML. I would say I am generally technically inclined, very good at adapting existing code, and my reading comprehension is excellent. Is Zen Cart a solution I can implement with this limited knowledge for a simple storefront? If not, what skills should I develop to be successful or would you suggest another off the shelf solution (eg. PayPal merchant tools).

Thank you.

Hello,

I have been using this solution for around 4 hours.

Top things you should know ->

Proficient in CSS
Good Understanding of HTML
PHP Knowledge helpful!
Read the FAQ's on the website/readme

Use Firefox 1.5 with the Web Developers Toolkit and Aardvark extension http://karmatics.com/aardvark/ - an absolute must!

This helps you identify what CSS to edit easily. :thumbsup:

Then it is just a case of creating a template ( see the FAQ ) and playing around for a few hours. Don't be worried about editing /common/ files, as this seems to be required to do any serious modding.

Other than that, its much easier than any other system I have used, and defo leagues ahead of OSC and Actinic.

The most important aspect will be speed/security on large sites, so lets hope they keep up to date on those issues.

:smartass:

Zen Cart is a power system with a steep learning curve, but if you've already good good SQL experience, then although there are different skills and knowledge bases to be acquired, none are more technically complicated than the one you have already frasped. So, with a little patience and persistence, you can do this.

Thanks for the input. Something new to learn!

Anyone who's got this far can set up a ZenCart. Additional skills are only needed when you want to customise the out of the box package...and the level of skill needed in the various categories mentioned (to which I would add "image editing" notwithstanding the usefulness of Image-Handler) depends on how much customising you intend to do.