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osCommerce FAQ

  1. What is osCommerce in general?
  2. What requirements are needed to get osCommerce shop running?
  3. What kind of database is osCommerce using?
  4. I'm a total newbie to web development, but I'd like to use osCommerce to build up my online business. How can you help me?
  5. How to change the colours of the pages?
  6. I'm having trouble editing the colors of my site in the stylesheet.css. What should I do?
  7. I would like to change the colors of my shop, but I am confused with the numbers that represent the colors in stylesheet.css. Where can I learn more about it?
  8. Ok, I've seen stylesheet.css but haven't found how to change the background color there?
  9. How are changes to the texts in osCommerce done?
  10. Is there a place to change what the text says when a new customer signs up and/or purchases a product and then gets the email?
  11. How do you edit the copyright footer text and link?
  12. How do you change the default.php introduction and welcome text?
  13. How do you change the text that shows up in the title?
  14. How do you change the words "click to enlarge" under the product graphic pic?
  15. How do you change the words "Forgot your password? Click here" on the login screen?
  16. How do you change the words "There are no products to list in this category." on the bar that comes up when you click a category?
  17. How do you change the text like "Top", "Catalog" on the top bar?
  18. When I look at Shipping & Returns or Privacy, I don't see where to edit the text?
  19. I just don't understand how to upload the saved file to the site. In my admin, am I supposed to use the upload file button?
  20. My osCommerce says "Error: I can not write to this directory. Please set the right user permissions on:...". What is the problem?
  21. What is the most secure way to edit files in my osCommerce shopping cart?
  22. Can I change columns order in products listing?
  23. How To Define META Elements?
  24. How To Change The Default Currency?
  25. STYLESHEET EDITS: Here's a brief description of some stylesheets classes in stylesheet.css

What is osCommerce in general?

osCommerce is an open-source PHP based shopping cart software. This e-commerce solution allows you easily setting up and maintaining an online store with minimum costs involved.
You can read more about osCommerce and its functionality on the site of osCommerce developers or on our web page dedicated to osCommerce.


What requirements are needed to get osCommerce shop running?

You need to have the following:
  • A web server that is capable of using SSL, in case you would like the transactions to go via secure connection (https);
  • PHP version 3 or 4;
  • A database server;
Although not a requirement, the more knowledge you have of each component, the better prepared you should be when running your online-shop by yourself.
Help4Hosters. can assist you to run an osCommerce shop.


What kind of database is osCommerce using?

This project uses an SQL compatible database called MySQL, which is common in PHP web-based applications.


I'm a total newbie to web development, but I'd like to use osCommerce to build up my online business. How can you help me?

There's an option for you: if you would like to customize your online store, add new contributions to it, but you don't have enough experience or time to do that, then you can sign up for any of our Web site Maintenance Plans.


How to change the colours of the pages?

Most of the colours and the styles are stored in the configuration table inside the database, and you may even modify them from the admin module.
There are some exceptions to this, though. A few of the colours are still defined in application_top.php yet, so you might modify it too, specially in what relates to some backgrounds.
Lastly, you will probably want to edit the styles at includes/stylesheet.css (remember there's another stylesheet.css under admin if you want to customize it too)


I'm having trouble editing the colors of my site in the stylesheet.css. What should I do?

The simplest method to edit "stylesheet.css" is by using osCommerce Admin Tool. Follow the next steps:

  1. Go to File Manager (http://www.yoursite.com/admin/file_manager.php)*
  2. The current path must be "/hsphere/local/home/yourlogin/yoursite.com/shop"*;
  3. Click on "stylesheet.css" link at the bottom of the page (http://www.yoursite.com/admin/file_manager.php?info=stylesheet.css)* and click the edit button on the right-top corner of the page.
  4. Edit "stylesheet.css" and click the "Save" button.


I would like to change the colors of my shop, but I am confused with the numbers that represent the colors in stylesheet.css. Where can I learn more about it?

Any tone/color has its own sRGB value.
Here's a block with description of the style of the header navigation (Top>>Catalog ...My Account|Cart Contents|Checkout) at demo shop.
Initially it was:

TD.headerNavigation {
font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;
font-size: 10px;
background-color: #00ccff;
color: #ffffff;
font-weight : bold;}
In order to change the color of the navigation from light blue (#00ccff) to black (#000000), we have replaced the line: "background-color: #00ccff;" by "background-color: #000000;". #000000 is a sRGB value of black color.
You can find the sRGB value of the color you like in any graphic editor or web page editor like Adobe Photoshop or Macromedia Dreamweaver, and many others.
Also, you can see basic colors and their values at http://html-color-codes.com/ or http://www.bfree.on.ca/HTML/lesson10.htm


Ok, I've seen stylesheet.css but haven't found how to change the background color there?

You are right, the background color is defined in in the coding of all pages in osCommerce catalog dir.
Change bgcolor="#FFFFFF" to bgcolor="to background colour you want" in those pages located in the catalog dir where you want to see the new background.


How are changes to the texts in osCommerce done?

Most of the changes are done in corresponding files of /*/includes/languages/ directory that can be accessed via FTP protocol or via Define Language Tool in your osCommerce Admin (Localization -> Languages -> (select the language in which the files texts you want to edit are written) -> Click on the "define" button of the corresponding language-> Define Language).


Is there a place to change what the text says when a new customer signs up and/or purchases a product and then gets the email?

That would be /*/includes/languages/create_account_process.php


How do you edit the copyright footer text and link?

Make changes in /*/includes/languages/english.php


How do you change the default.php introduction and welcome text?

/*/includes/languages/english/default.php
You will need to change default.php in all of the language folders


How do you change the text that shows up in the title?

In /*/includes/languages/english.php
// page title
define('TITLE', 'osCommerce');


How do you change the words "click to enlarge" under the product graphic pic?

includes/languages/english/product_info.php
and
includes/languages/english/product_reviews_info.php


How do you change the words "Forgot your password? Click here" on the login screen?

includes/languages/english/login.php


How do you change the words "There are no products to list in this category." on the bar that comes up when you click a category?

includes/languages/english/default.php


How do you change the text like "Top", "Catalog" on the top bar?

catalog/includes/languages/english.php


When I look at Shipping & Returns or Privacy, I don't see where to edit the text?

To edit the text of Shipping&Returns you have to do these steps:
  1. Follow the link: http://www.yoursite.com/admin/define_language.php;
  2. Click on "shipping.php" in the "Define Language" tool; You will see the following in the text area: <?
    define('NAVBAR_TITLE', 'Shipping & Returns');
    define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Shipping & Returns');

    define('TEXT_INFORMATION', 'Put here your Shipping & Returns information.');
    ?>
  3. Replace the 'Put here your Shipping & Returns information.' with 'the text you want to see at the "Shipping & Returns" page'.
  4. Click "Save" button.
(!) The single quotes should remain where they were before.
(!!) If you want to display the " ' " (single quote sign) in the text, you should put " " before the single quote, e.g. 'We'll keep...'


I just don't understand how to upload the saved file to the site. In my admin, am I supposed to use the upload file button?

You can use your osCommerce Admin Tool to upload a file (http://www.yourdomain.com/admin/file_manager.php) or any FTP-client such as CuteFTP, WS_FTP, etc.
The simplest method to upload "yourfile.ext" is by using osCommerce Admin Tool. Follow the next steps:
  1. Go to File Manager (http://www.yourdomain.com/admin/file_manager.php)
  2. Choose the path to the directory where you want to upload the file by browsing the catalog tree;
  3. Choose the file(s) in your local computer with the help of "Upload" box. Click "Upload" in the end.


My osCommerce says "Error: I can not write to this directory. Please set the right user permissions on:...". What is the problem?

Such a message means the user who runs the Apache web server has no permission for writing in this directory. In this case you should address your site administrators.


What is the most secure way to edit files in my osCommerce shopping cart?

Stylesheet.css and files with text definitions can be edited via osCommerce Admin Tool.
As for other files that are written in PHP, it is potentially dangerous and insecure to give access to executive files via admin tool with web interface (we recommend that changes like that are done via FTP).


Can I change columns order in products listing?

You can select which columns you want to show and in which order with the Administration Tool.
You can find the following configuration values available:
PRODUCT_LIST_BUY_NOW - Buy Now column
PRODUCT_LIST_IMAGE - Product Image
PRODUCT_LIST_MANUFACTURER - Product Manufacturer Name
PRODUCT_LIST_MODEL - Product Model
PRODUCT_LIST_NAME - Product Name
PRODUCT_LIST_PRICE - Product Price
PRODUCT_LIST_QUANTITY - Product Quantity
PRODUCT_LIST_WEIGHT - Product Weight
You can also configure the closely related value:
PRODUCT_LIST_FILTER - display the Category/Manufacturer Filter
The columns shall be configured assigning them a numerical value as it follows:
0 = column not shown
number = position of that column
For example:
PRODUCT_LIST_MODEL = 1 // 1st column
PRODUCT_LIST_NAME = 2 // 2nd column
PRODUCT_LIST_PRICE = 3 // 3rd column
PRODUCT_LIST_BUY_NOW = 0 // Disabled column


How To Define META Elements?

TITLE info is defined in catalog/includes/languages/yourlanguage.php
For Meta keywords you could add something like:
define('KEYWORDS', 'buy cosmetics online, makeup gifts, valentine gifts');
Then in your catalog/*all*pages.php near line 25 you will find the <head> tags where you can paste


How To Change The Default Currency?

The default currency is defined in catalog/includes/application_top.php:
define('DEFAULT_CURRENCY', 'USD');
You'll have to change USD to your needs, for example, EUR for Euros.
Currency rates are defined in catalog/includes/data/rate.php, by default they are all related to USD (US Dollar). You'll have to put the number of times every currency unit means 1 default currency unit.
For example:
If your default currency rate is Euro (EUR), you would have to put for Australian Dollars:
'ESP' => '1.67687', // Australian Dollar
(1 Euro = 1.67687 Australian Dollars)


Don't forget to add the default rate too:
'EUR' => '1.0000', // European Union Euro


STYLESHEET EDITS: Here's a brief description of some stylesheets classes in stylesheet.css

Changes Text colors in the left and right boxes like "Advanced" and the information box text.
A.headerNavigation
Text colors in the top colored table (Top Catalog etc...links listed only)
A.hover
link hover color
BODY
Type color is text color in the left & right column boxes and the "text body". Background color in the "text" body but not the header. Set the border color which goes around the page.
DIV.pageHeading
Color at end of order page that says "Your Checkout Has Been Processed!" I have it in red for Camille's site.
FORM
Changes the color of this text, Use keywords to find the product you are looking for in the "Quick Find" box on the left.
SPAN.greetUser
Your name on the default page
SPAN.newItemInCart
New product added to cart is different color under right column "shopping cart"
TABLE.formArea
In "My Account Information" the inside box color of my details. Set the border around the boxes in the border section.
TABLE.infoBox
Border color around the left & right column boxes in the background section. Set the background color and it removes the white separation line between the table box heading bar and the body of each table box & evens up the boxes.
TABLE.infoBoxContents
Color inside the left & right column boxes in the background section. You could set the text color for the boxes in the "Type" section also.
TD.checkoutBar
Bottom text on the checkout page that says [ delivery address | payment method | confirmation | finished! ]
TD.footer
Bottom table & text color
TD.formAreaTitle
Changes the text color on top of the boxes on the "My Account Info" page. Leave the text color box blank and the color is black.
TD.headerNavigation
Top bar background color and the arrow colors that point forward
TD.infoBoxHeading
Left and right column boxes heading color and text color.
TD.main
If you set the text color it is the text color in the boxes on the "My Account Info" page.
TD.pageHeading
What's New Here? Enjoy Your Shopping! Text on all the product pages. Change the size of the text here.
TD.productListing-data
Changes the color of the text of the product model numbers on the product pages.
TD.productListing-heading
Top product bar color that has "Product Name" "Price" "Buy Now" in it. Set the text color under this section for the words "Buy Now".
TD.smallText
Copyright text color at the bottom of the page.
TR.accountHistory-even
Address bar color at top
TR.accountHistory-odd
Address bar color at top
TR.addressBook-even
Address bar color at top for entries in your address book
TR.addressBook-odd
Address bar color at top for entries in your address book
TR.alsoPurchased-even
Address bar color at top
TR.alsoPurchases-odd
Address bar color at top
TR.footer
Bottom bar color on the right and left sides of the bar and not in the middle of the bar.
TR.productListing-even
White background listing when you click on a product under a subheading
TR.productListing-odd
Lime green background listing when you click on a product under a subheading
TR.productReviews-even
White background listing under the review section
TR.productReviews-odd
grey background listing under the review section

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