Would Love To Use Zen Cart

If it were compatible with my programs. I can't figure out how to install it on my Google Website. I can't use FTP.....

Windows XP, IE6, Google Apps, Google Checkout

https://www.fitnessbymarilyn.com

Is a Google Website a program that is hosted by Google? Or something that depends on your pc? Your pc's operating system and browser have nothing to do with a remotely hosted site.

All the necessary FTP and editing programs can be installed on your pc; but if you are trying to shoehorn a new shopping cart into an existing functional Google website, it can't happen. Zen Cart will become your website.

You need to make a new database for the Zen Cart site, and FTP the ZC files to the server (not into the Google site). If your host does not allow that, it is not able to handle a real e-commerce program and you need to find a new host.

I am using Windows XP, IE6, Google Apps (Page Creator), Google Checkout. Yes it is hosted by Google and my registrar is Go Daddy......

https://www.fitnessbymarilyn.com

From the Google Page Creator Help pages:

** Can I use FTP to publish? **

No, we don’t offer FTP at this time..

** Does Page Creator support CSS? **

Currently, Google Page Creator isn't fully compatible with CSS.

I haven't even checked if mySQL databases can be created, or if php is supported, but I have a sneaky feeling you're on a hiding to nothing.

One solution might be to link to another host that does meet the requirements.

One option would be edited* where my Zen Cart has been running for a few months. There only requirement is that you regularly contribute to their forum but it only takes a post or two a day so it's hardly onerous. Besides - they seem a good crowd! You can find them at edited*

I'm sure there'll be other options that others can advise you on.

GSIS:

From the Google Page Creator Help pages:

I haven't even checked if mySQL databases can be created, or if php is supported, but I have a sneaky feeling you're on a hiding to nothing.

One solution might be to link to another host that does meet the requirements.

One option would beedited* where my Zen Cart has been running for a few months. There only requirement is that you regularly contribute to their forum but it only takes a post or two a day so it's hardly onerous. Besides - they seem a good crowd! You can find them at edited*

I'm sure there'll be other options that others can advise you on.

Gee thanks! I will check out this recommend. Strange as they promote Zen Cart for Google Checkout on their sites. Google is wonderful but very slow sometimes setting up their features. I think they are spreading themselves too thin now.....:smile:
https://www.fitnessbymarilyn.com

You will find a number of good hosting recommendations by following the "hosting" link at the top of this page.

It's not wise to run an ecommerce site from a "free" hosting service, for a number of reasons, including reliability issues, loading issues, credibility, search engine rankings, and more.

At first glance I'd say their Google Pages development is geared towards people who just want a quick and easy set-up. I'd expect to see Google offer some sort of proprietary shopping cart

While Zen Cart can be fairly straightforward (if you don't want to customise anything) it's far from that if you want to make it much more than it already is, tinker with templates, add new product types etc. - especially if you're not familiar with php and mySQL.

Here's a worrying quote from Google Pages Help:

"Exceeded bandwidth limit" basically refers to how much traffic your site can get during a given time. While we do have a limit set on it, we are not at liberty to disclose the amount at this time. (my emphasis)

That, to me, means it's probably very low.

edited will give you 10GB monthly - I use about 75MB just ftping a weekly back-up of my site to my PC. Another free host I found gives just 100MB before shutting down the site ...

GS

unless you are changing your files weekly then you are wasting bandwidth downloading a copy every week,

a simple DB backup would be a much better approach

Merlinpa1969:

GS
a simple DB backup would be a much better approach

One size fits all? :frusty:

For the moment I'd rather not fiddle about with incremental or sequential backups. Life's a lot easier (to do the backup and to do either a full or partial restore) if I just do a full backup of the whole site then download it to my PC.

The back-up itself only takes a few minutes. The download time is irrelevant as long as I get it somewhere secure.

Once the system's properly settled in and I'm not making so many changes I'll look more closely at changing my backup strategy when it becomes an issue.

@ DrByte

It's not wise to run an ecommerce site from a "free" hosting service, for a number of reasons

Is it wise to use a 'free' shopping cart - for the same reasons? Or should I get myself a paid-for one for the reliability and credibility?

I rather suspect most customers don't know and wouldn't care if they did.

Besides, using a free host (which has no advertising other than any I choose to add myself - from which I get the PPC revenue) is an ideal way to get through the learning curve and build the business before committing to any long term hosting agreement and expense.

GSIS:

Is it wise to use a 'free' shopping cart - for the same reasons? Or should I get myself a paid-for one for the reliability and credibility?

I rather suspect most customers don't know and wouldn't care if they did.

Besides, using a free host (which has no advertising other than any I choose to add myself - from which I get the PPC revenue) is an ideal way to get through the learning curve and build the business before committing to any long term hosting agreement and expense.No need to take the comment personally.

I was referring to credibility attributed by things like Google's algorithms which evaluate who you're hosted with, what server you're on, who else is on that server, the types of content served by others on that server, and so on. While you're busy "building your business", Google is busy building a history and profile on you. Might be good to get moved into your "home" when you're ready to "launch".

Anyway, you're free to do as you like, especially during a learning curve. Just keep in mind that there's more involved in choosing a host than just the price paid per month.

Well thanks to all. I love my Google site and think I would like the Google Checkout if I could get a shopping cart going. I have spent quite a bit of time getting all of this setup. I don't want anything that requires a great deal of time or expense. Just a simple database/shopping cart and hopefully with the tools I already own. I have all of the files downloaded but have been unable to setup the cart. I guess I thought there would be a magic button or file in there which open it up for me. And that somehow Zen Cart and Google would get it together as it appeared they were now offering Google Checkout on Zen Cart and vice versa. I like the appearance of Zen Cart which seems blend in with my scheme and it appears really functional. Maybe later..........

https://www.fitnessbymarilyn.com

FYI: Google is now a hosting site with domain registration. It is not an instant website but bare bones (no bells/whistles or flashing lights) The programs are designed to be professional (Premium) for educational/non profit (free), IT and corporations NOT for free. There is a free version for home and small business which is more than ample for most people. The Google Apps (Page creator) is a full fledged editor and the program uploads it's own pages and files as with Frontpage and I assume Dreamweaver and most others. It is NOT ftp. New features are added often now including Google Checkout for Zen Cart your upgrade 1.4 which is what I had downloaded. A tech on Google Checkout Zen Cart suggested uploading the upgrade first and to separate drectories. That is why you use Google is because you are automatically spidered and ranked and promoted plus a lot of Google gadgets are plugins.....

I would like to get a new complete version with Google Checkout as with the Pay Pal one....

There is a Google Checkout mod for Zen Cart which as far as I know works. But unless or until Google allows you to use FTP and a MySQL database, Zen Cart cannot be properly run and maintained on the service you describe.

Okay thanks so much for your help! I thought I could make my own database as spreadsheet (Google) or something and upload as have with some files but it is just too big. I had the same problem when I was using Pay Pal but my host then was on Apache and had these tools. I wonder if there will ever be a full version Zen Cart for Google Checkout as with Pay Pal.....:cry:

Ok, Please read this slowly

Google is free hosting that dosnt support php or mysql, ( required by zen cart )

you can however use zen cart with google checkout,
this is available,
however you have to FIRST get a host that will let you run the software needed

once you have ZC installed you can drop inth e google checkout module,

this will let users go to your DYNAMIC store and put items in cart,
when they are ready to checkout they can simply hit the google checkout button on the shopping cart,

voila zen cart and google checkout all wrapped into one