Need help getting started with ecommerce pages

Hello,

I'm working on a site that's already been built in Zen Cart and is fully customized,
but the ecommerce pages haven't been built or activated yet. The site doesn't
need to offer products for sale but will allow online registration for events.

I've created a couple of categories, a subcategory and a product (upcoming
event) but need help with the next steps. I am thoroughly confused--lol.
I code XHTML and CSS and can make my way through the PHP edits, but
for some reason can't seem to get a handle on what pages are required and
how they should fit together. Problem is the underlying structure isn't clear
to me yet.

The pages that exist so far are just content pages, mostly E-Z pages, with
a home page that's a defined page. There's a form to allow visitors to register
for the mailing list and the site owner would like the e-commerce pages to
be linked to that page. There are customized templates in /zen/includes/templates, but I'm still not sure where to start??

Can anyone help?

A link to see what you have

The "underlying structure" of Zen Cart or any dynamic PHP cart is not based on "pages" as you may be used to in XHTML practice. It is based on files that interact as required to produce the (X)HTML output on the fly for each page as it is called for by the user. Pages never exist outside of the user's browser.

Thanks for your reply. I understand that the php pages are created on the
fly--what I need to figure out is what pages we need to end up with--maybe
it's really a question about how the customer needs to move through which
pages to end up at the payment gateway (at which point they leave the
site and go to the bank's site to enter cc info). Underlying architecture is
what I'm after--regardless of whether the pages are static or created on
the fly. I want to use Zen Cart's built-in functionality to do as much of
this as possible.

The site is at http://www.makingitinthecity.com

Thanks,
Jeanne

Not sure I see the problem... Zen Cart will automatically go to the appropriate next page when you have a product added to cart, etc. You don't have to instruct it unless you have a non-standard desire for pageflow.

Your best bet is to make a test product or two and play with them, to see the standard functionality. Then if you want something different, ask about it.

Setting up a local development site on your pc and installing the demo products when prompted at cart installation will give you a good overview and lots of details of what is possible without even adding customization.

I have a product but not sure what the next step is--customize the product
page? Client wants customer to go from site registration page (which already exists) to a custom page displaying an ad box describing the product to checkout. If sale confirmed, they should receive a confirmation page with a confirmation code--which may not even be built-in to zen cart??

Bear with me--I'm dreaming about this stuff at night--lol. That's usually
a good sign but things haven't come together yet.

Client wants mock ups ASAP--so I don't really have time to install a demo
and play with the possibilities.

Thanks!
Jeanne

Zen Cart is not made to be the back end - which is sounding like what you want to do.

Kim,

Not me--lol. But I think you nailed the problem. There's a whole website
built in Zen Cart with no ecommerce turned on yet. And the challenge for
me is to figure out how to fit it into the site. Because zen cart DOES have a backend--I just need the frontend to get to the backend. I know that must sound
crazy--but the sample storefronts I've been looking at seem to display
links to categories, products, registration, payment--all on the main page.
But I can't do that. So need to figure out where they go??

Thanks,
Jeanne

They are actually using Zen Cart for their whole site, even though they have removed the identification in metatags:
<meta name="author" content="Adina Neufeld and ask productions, llc" />
<meta name="generator" content="Content by Adina Neufeld and ask productions, llc; Design by BrightLaunch.com" />

Your best bet on a time constraint is to start by creating your product the standard way (admin > Catalog > Categories/Products); then you can tweak the product info page. Note: you need to make a top category to put your product in, or weird behavior may result.
It is possible to change the redirect from the create account page - this kind of thing has been discussed here in the last few days.
The standard sale confirmation e-mail can be customized to include any information you want.

If you don't want any way to get to the product except through the create account page, you can do that.
You have to have a link to the create account page on the main page - it would be the "Register" tab.

THANK YOU!! I guess I'm on the right track since I did create a category and
product--and now know what to do next. whew. I really appreciate your help!

Jeanne