Multiple shop fronts with same products...

I was just wondering... is it possible to have several shop fronts, with the same products, but a different shop front design? The idea is to have several shops running off the same database.

I tried very quickly, but it seems that any change to, for example, the side columns in one store will reverberate throughout all the stores, and i want to customize the look of each, so it kind of defies the point.

Is it possible to isolate the products, and list the same ones on several stores, but change the presentation of each store?

This is exactly the same thing that I want to do.

Did you get anywhere?

I have tried OScommerce, but the multishop contribution just gives me grief.

Cheers,

DAVE

:)

It is possible..
Design different templates:
i.e Store1, Store2, Store 3 etc
but when you upload them to each store's zencart templates
folder, they should be named the same
i.e. custom1,custom1,custom1
so database thinks it has same template for all stores...

Thanks... i don't get what you just said. You mean, under the same shop, I should make multiple templates?

I don't see how that would work. So far I just managed to wipe out my entire database :cry: lol.

You mean, under the same shop, I should make multiple templates?
NO!!
Shop1...design template..name:custom1
Shop2...design template..name:custom2
Shop3...design template..name:custom3
then, ready for upload via ftp
Shop1..rename template, custom1, to mytemplate1..upload to Shop1
Shop2..rename template, custom2, to mytemplate1..upload to Shop2
Shop3..rename template, custom3, to mytemplate1..upload to Shop3

If you can keep them on the same server, it's more secure, but remember... you are using ONE database, so the dbase setting are GLOBAL... What features in shop A (and how it draws data), will feature in exactly the same way in shops b, c, d and e.

You'll be able to change a few cosmetics, but that's about it. If this is what you want to do, then it's possible - but not necessarily advisable. How will you know which shop is selling what?

You guys should check out Gerome's Multisite module.

I have just started using it with a proof of concept working nicely so far.

You can see my results here:

http://dcinet.com.au/catalog/
http://shop1.dcinet.com.au/catalog/
http://shop2.dcinet.com.au/catalog/

These are three discreet shops, each with a different look, all running from the one database so one product list with different products being offered at each site.

You can read Gerome's thread here: http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62908

Dave.

:)