Installing ZenCart with existing website?

I have an existing website on the domain root, and when I tried to install ZenCart through my web hosting (Lunarpages) I was told I can't because of exisiting directory. I still need the website to be up and running while I try to figure out ZenCart (since I have no idea how ZenCart will look and how I can customize it to fit my needs) before I fully switch from plain HTML to ZenCart. My question is....

1. Is there a way I can install ZenCart in a different directory and try to figure it out there, and when I'm done to transfer the entire site from the testing directory to the domain root?

2. If not, what can I do aside from shutting down the website?

Thanks!!

You sure can, you can install it on a subfolder of your current site.

yellow1912:

You sure can, you can install it on a subfolder of your current site.

But when I'm done with the store in the subfolder, can I move it to my root domain? Or do I have to basically do everything over? >< Thanks!

You can, you will just have to make changes to 2 configuration files, but that will be an easy job.

yellow1912:

You can, you will just have to make changes to 2 configuration files, but that will be an easy job.

Oh! Really? Awesome! Can you tell me which 2 config files and I'll copy it down? That way I can get on upgrading my site as soon as I can!

Also.... should I get the eBook of Zen Cart or I can hopefully figure out everything by myself? >< I've never installed an e-Commerce program myself and this will be my first try....

includes/configure.php
and admin/includes/configure.php

you will need to copy all files and folders under the subfolder you install ZC to the root folder, then make changes to the 2 files(to reflect the new link).

And which part of these 2 files will I have to change? (I'm so sorry I'm an idiot ><)

Also, is it possible for me to add pure HTML pages with a link in the menu in ZenCart? (I know when I tried to do it on osCommerce that a friend set up for me it screwed up big time). Or even a FLASH page? How would I go about doing that if that's possible? Thanks!

I had the exact same question - I was planning to take a different route - I have a site with info pages and general items about my business - I have several domains pointing to it. I was going to Install Zen in a subdirectory of the main domain and link from my web site to zen in the subfolder. My regular site would always be active and I could switch Zen to maintenance whenever I needed to ( I have no ideal what one actually does to make this switch. Any how I think this might work without having to do the edits for switching zen back and forth. I may be full of hot air on this but seems like a good plan.

The only "problem" is if a customer goes back and forth between your Zen Cart and the rest of the site, the session ID will be lost along with any items in the customer's cart. You might find it easier at some point to combine everything into Zen Cart.

Taking Zen Cart down for maintenance is simply a matter of changing the setting in the admin under configuration->website maintenance.

Iseulde:

And which part of these 2 files will I have to change? (I'm so sorry I'm an idiot ><)

Also, is it possible for me to add pure HTML pages with a link in the menu in ZenCart? (I know when I tried to do it on osCommerce that a friend set up for me it screwed up big time). Or even a FLASH page? How would I go about doing that if that's possible? Thanks!

If Zen Cart is installed in its own folder, you need to change references to "/" to "/myzenfolder/".

You can probably use EZ-Pages to add the pages you want. To see them in action, look at the Fan Odyssey site in my sig and look for "Past Events".

afo:

The only "problem" is if a customer goes back and forth between your Zen Cart and the rest of the site, the session ID will be lost along with any items in the customer's cart. You might find it easier at some point to combine everything into Zen Cart.

Taking Zen Cart down for maintenance is simply a matter of changing the setting in the admin under configuration->website maintenance.

• Its going to be tough to drop the existing site - Ive read a thread about the same subject where they say the cart contents are put on a tracking cookie and will hold the cart contents for 20 or 25 mins if someone Navs away from the site - after that it dumps - Im still a rookie at Zencart and have no ideal if this holds true for the current version of zen - If is is true Ill bet someone knows how to set the timeout - An hour would be ideal.

                      Thanks kindly
  

A "guest" will lose their cart contents after being away for that long. A logged-in customer will be logged out then, but will still have their cart when they return; of course, they would have to re-login, which is a pain. A php-based main site can be integrated so session info is maintained, if you know how to do it.

The timeout is set as is because of security concerns - if someone happens to leave a public computer logged in, their info could be available to someone who comes by while they are gone.