how to link zen cart to existing website

Hi I am a new zenner. I have purchased the book as well. I can't figure out how to link my zen cart to my existing website. I was able to install zen cart with a link from my hosting company, I am having a time trying to figure out where to go to make changes that I have seen on other threads addressing issues that I have. I hope this isn't too confusing any suggestions

I can't figure out how to link my zen cart to my existing website.
Not sure what you mean by this???
If you are looking to use your current site and have add to cart buttons on your pages - Sorry, Zen Cart is not modular...It is meant to become your site. So make it look like your current site and then abandon your present site.

Posting links to what you have generates better guidance

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately spent too much money getting website designed and was told by designer I could use zen cart as my shopping cart doesn't seem so. I will have to find another option too bad I like Zen.

Thanks again.

What things does your current site design cover? Does it include catalog & product pages? If so, the designer wasn't thinking when they started the job if they didn't have a firm plan for cart function. If not, you could do as some others have done and install Zen Cart in a subfolder (e.g. /shop/) of your main site and style it to match your main site. Not an ideal solution (there can be session issues) but it apparently works for them.

Wow a little hope. I am not sure how to do what you suggested but will tinker around, my website has naviagation buttons that should direct customers to product pages would I be able to create links from these buttons to the appropriate product page I have set up in Zen. I may have to hire someone else to complete but the more I know about it the harder it will be to pull the wool over my eyes. They almost got me for $1800 to install zen with 2 products and no design integration. Any insite is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,
Zenners are awesome

Post a link to your site and we can give better answers.
It would be possible to have links from your main site to individual product pages, but a bad idea to have that as the main route to shopping. Better to have a major link to the cart section, and navigate within that using the full-featured ZC navigation. You can have links back to your main site too - search on that, as it has been answered numerous times, most recently a few hours ago.

sringg:

Wow a little hope. I am not sure how to do what you suggested but will tinker around, my website has naviagation buttons that should direct customers to product pages would I be able to create links from these buttons to the appropriate product page I have set up in Zen. I may have to hire someone else to complete but the more I know about it the harder it will be to pull the wool over my eyes. They almost got me for $1800 to install zen with 2 products and no design integration. Any insite is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,
Zenners are awesome

Is this what you mean?
Go to http://www.imagesbydavido.com
This is NOT a splash page - it is an entrance to a Gallery.
In the Gallery folks can click on an image which eventually takes them to the ZENCART store (Purchase Link). The ZENCART store has been designed with only a left sidebox. It contains two elements - a What's in your Cart element and a blank side box element.
Additionally, the original ZENCART home page has been changed to a Purchase Help page...

If you go back to the site home page, I have included a link at the top right called "My Account" which takes the customer directly to the ZENCART store.

Images for the Gallery and Store both reside in the same folders... the hardest nut to crack...

The images for the Gallery pages are managed by an Access database (MySQL will work also) and the store pages by ZENCART's database (MySQL).

Is this what you have in mind?

jund

My site is https://www.royalmajestea.com as you can see the Buy tea, Gifts, and accessories have no additional pages created for them. I was hoping to have zc pages available for customers to make their purchases.

I am going to start studying your other suggestions as well.

Thanks again
Steph

You should integrate your design into Zen Cart completely.

Since you essentially have just a homepage and tea-of-the-month page, you don't have much to lose by working the design into the ZC structure, and everything to gain in the future in ease of working with the site.

Zen Cart can be made to look exactly like your design (which is very nice indeed, btw).

Glenn is right. You should be able to recreate your exisiting site in Zen Cart (so none of the money you spend on the design will be lost). It'll be much easier to maintain and expand your site if you let Zen do the whole thing.

By the looks of your current site, a lot of good planning went into your effort. Good planning, and a good foundation are essential ingredients of a successful business venture... especially regarding E-Commerce.

My vote is for you to do what the others have said... but I have only one question. And, this is really directed at Dr. Byte.
February of 2008 represents a major change in ZEN CART... would it be wise to re-create now, or wait until then to determine the impact of such a change?

It would be wise to poll the ZENCART veterans to determine your next move. They are a zealot lot.

jund

Thanks all, I truly appreciate the help. I want to make it work with Zen so I will continue to pursue making it work through Zen with all your suggestions.

Thanks again,
Steph

Jund, go ahead and start working on your Zen Cart. If you follow the template overrides, you should be able to upgrade to the next version of ZC without losing your work. February is a long way away. :smile: