Integrate Zen into Joomla

borat:

Hello again,
Just to provide an update on the current situation with our component.

This has been (since I last posted) now packaged this up and we are in the process of initial testing and combining documentation to make this as seamless as possible for end users to install.

What we are offering will be a Component for Joomla, which will allow new and existing zencart users to be able to take their zencart output and sit it within their Joomla site.

The two products will be kept separate so there are no hacks and they can be updated. All user sessions and logins, information etc will be mapped between the two programs so once logged into the Joomla site, users will be logged into zencart also.

We are working on a number of additional resources, modules, Community Builder plugins, and will be releasing these in due course.

I will post a link to a site which will host this project and other projects soon.
Regards, Al

Hi Borat,
When it is coming? we are eagerly waiting for this. Please update us!

You are my hero Borat!
I've been struggling with VirtueMart for a while now but the handling of attributes in VM is horrible.

There is a lot of people who will be greatful for this component.
Could you give us a update on the project development?

/Fredrik

Last week I sent an email to Amplify Web Services (projectamplify.net), the company putting together the zencart module and received the following reply:

connectage.com will be the home of the bridge component.
This has been delayed slightly.. we are looking at 2 - 3 weeks still.
If you register on connectage, we will inform you when the product is up and available.

Pretty encouraged about this.

Thanks for the information Asher.. I am on the mailing list!!!! Whoo hoo!!!

Hello, sorry for the lack of response, I have been very busy with projects.

Yes we are still going to deliver, although as you know ... we have fallen behind schedule.

It is true, the Connectage website will be the home of the new product.
You can go and sign up there now if you wish to be informed of the release date.

Really sorry for the delay on this, I do understand there is a urgent requirement for some people.. we will get there though..

stay tuned!

A

Will Cartage be a free component or do we have to buy it? If yes, how much?

Doesn't look like the connectage.com is working. It keeps timing out on me.

Took some time for Connectage to come back online but I'm signed up now to be notified when Cartage is available. Thanks for the info and all your hard work.

Kim:

We keep asking why, because so far no one has supplied an answer. So I will ask one more time - What does the CMS add that Zen Cart is lacking?

Strong an easy handling of "multi content", not just plain text - and a pain in the ###### handling of images and other media (not critic ;)).

Give Joomla! a test drive Kim, with open eyes. And please then keep in mind, Zen Cart is one of the best shopping carts - but it's NOT a CMS!

I think most understand what's lacking by comparing the two systems.

Any news on this Cartage component, please? I need to make a decision as to whether I start doing my own integration or use Cartage. Also, please would someone advise the expected cost if any? Will there be any problems using other add-ins.
Many thanks, RtX

rued:

Strong an easy handling of "multi content", not just plain text - and a pain in the ###### handling of images and other media (not critic ;)).

Give Joomla! a test drive Kim, with open eyes. And please then keep in mind, Zen Cart is one of the best shopping carts - but it's NOT a CMS!

I think most understand what's lacking by comparing the two systems.

If you prefer a good wysiwyg editor, with the ability to upload image and such, you can still do that with ZC you know? Just use the fck editor module available in the download section.

RtX:

Any news on this Cartage component, please? I need to make a decision as to whether I start doing my own integration or use Cartage. Also, please would someone advise the expected cost if any? Will there be any problems using other add-ins.
Many thanks, RtX

If you want to use it the other way around, that is to login/logoff/register from Joomla you can try this:

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95643

Still, ZC makes a good enough CMS already.

Hi, I really do not see this as a Joomla! v. Zen-Cart battle. Zen-Cart is the best e-commerce platform, but Joomla! is better at content management. ZC simply cannot do content management as well as J!. There are J! extensions which can do e-commerce, but not as well as ZC. It would be great to have them working as one integrated unit.
ATB,
RtX

RtX:

Hi, I really do not see this as a Joomla! v. Zen-Cart battle. Zen-Cart is the best e-commerce platform, but Joomla! is better at content management. ZC simply cannot do content management as well as J!. There are J! extensions which can do e-commerce, but not as well as ZC. It would be great to have them working as one integrated unit.
ATB,
RtX

I totally agree with you on this is not a we vs them deal, more like a partnership of "us". I have been waiting on this to come out before I reopen my store. As from what I understand the beta testing will be starting soon and hopefully after that it will open to general public.

puggy:

I totally agree with you on this is not a we vs them deal, more like a partnership of "us". I have been waiting on this to come out before I reopen my store. As from what I understand the beta testing will be starting soon and hopefully after that it will open to general public.

That's great news as I'm a lover of Zen Cart and Joomla and am unimpressed with the Joomla extensions for their shopping cart solutions.

As Joomla is orientated with great designs and Zen Cart is a complete shopping cart is would be great for both organisations to combine there talents for the future of both open source projects.

Its going to bring thousands of new users to Zen Cart plus extra developers which will bring both software forwards for the future and in my eyes be way above a lot commercial projects. A great CMS with tons of extensions and components and a great shopping cart with huge amount of options

yellow1912:

If you prefer a good wysiwyg editor, with the ability to upload image and such, you can still do that with ZC you know? Just use the fck editor module available in the download section.

It's not a question about that, you know.

I love ZC as a shopping cart system, but it's not a CMS - and I bet you are fully aware of that too. ;)

Please be open minded, and not lock your head in ZC as the one and only solution for people to handle content - beacuse it's not a Conten Managment system. It a shopping cart system, with a SIMPLE handling of extra content.

If people want to use the best from both worlds, why this need to fight against it? ;)

Ok, I want to stop the argument right here. Some people mentioned he/she wants joomla because its editor can manage files, so I simply point out that if he/she ONLY needs that, there is no need to use joomla, zc already has it.

If people want to use joomla or whatever, it's their own choice. What is the benefit for me to stop them from doing so? Why do you think I want to do something that do NOT benefit me (or others) in any way?

I don't know why some has to say that ZC can handle content good enough, every time someone is speaking about integration and/or need for content management - you tell me ...

You wrote

Still, ZC makes a good enough CMS already.

And this is not true, simple facts ... ;)

Ok, I lose, you win. Does this satisfy you? :)
I thought we were trying to solve a problem by giving out ideas and such, not trying to win an argument.

If so Im sorry, i was wrong, i will not give out any silly idea like that in this topic again.

My ongoing hope is that this will not be perceived as a cause for winning or losing. Everyone wins if we can find or create something as powerful and flexible as the integration of two brilliant systems like Joomla! and Zen-Cart.