Which PDF Publishers sell direct from their Websites?

[FraserRonald]

If zencart is as easy as everyone says, that may be a solution. Still, I feel pretty much the same as Phil, in that I doubt my own ability in this regard. What about a quick rundown--even a few sentences--regarding how one would setup something like zencart? Please write it as if you were talking to a complete moron. Yes, that would be me.

 

[Jason Anderson]

If zencart is as easy as everyone says, that may be a solution. Still, I feel pretty much the same as Phil, in that I doubt my own ability in this regard. What about a quick rundown--even a few sentences--regarding how one would setup something like zencart? Please write it as if you were talking to a complete moron. Yes, that would be me.

ZenCart really is easy to install (as far as large scripts like this go) - the real killer is making the store look exactly how you want

To install ZenCart you need to

a) Transfer the files to your server via FTP
b) Run the "installer" (simply means pointing your web browser to the directory you installed the script in)
c) Part way through the installer, log in to your web host and create a database for the script to use.
d) Once the installer has run, use your FTP program (or features provided by your web host, if available) to delete the installer folder, and change access permissions on two files so people can't come in and destroy your store.

Now if you've installed any web scripts before (I've done content management systems and membership site scripts, so I had a fair amount of experience), all the above is really easy. If you've never installed a web script before, it will probably seem daunting.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,
Jason

 

[philreed]

. . .it will probably seem daunting.

Raises hand.

Luckily, a solution may have presented itself this evening. (At least, it's looking like an attractive situation.)

 

[Jason Anderson]

Luckily, a solution may have presented itself this evening. (At least, it's looking like an attractive situation.)

Great! Look forward to reading the announcement, whatever it is

 

[Rasyr]

Definitely. I am mocking up a site right now. I have been working with it for a few days but still on a learnign curve. Let me stress to everyone, Zen Cart is worth it for the NOT having to deal with IPN.

Do you need to use their Web Pro service? The one that cost $20? I have always had issues with the way they describe their payment services...and I think it is mostly me.

Bill

Actually, no, just a normal business account. Paypal takes credit cards through their own gateway.

Now, if you wanted to use Paypal and be able to manually enter CC info to process them (like after attending a show), then you might want to think about the Web Pro service.

Now if you've installed any web scripts before (I've done content management systems and membership site scripts, so I had a fair amount of experience), all the above is really easy. If you've never installed a web script before, it will probably seem daunting.

The operative word there is "seem". It really isn't daunting. The hardest part is creating the database, but even that isn't too hard as most hosts usually have built in scripts to help with this.

 

[HinterWelt]

Actually, no, just a normal business account. Paypal takes credit cards through their own gateway.

Now, if you wanted to use Paypal and be able to manually enter CC info to process them (like after attending a show), then you might want to think about the Web Pro service.

I asked since this was what we used for Gen Con. It worked like a charm. Virtual Termainal is nice and affordable.

IPN will work with any account but I was not sure if Zen Cart had any special requirements. Apparently not. Many thanks.

Bill

 

[Rasyr]

Oh, no, Zen Cart does not have any special requirement. You just fill in the information accordingly, and off you go....

 

[Ghostwind]

Indeed. My host has Fantastico, which made installation of Zen Cart a breeze. I'm now in the process of setting it up for DragonWing Games where you will be able to purchase pdfs for both DragonWing and Bastion Press titles.

 

[philreed]

Indeed. My host has Fantastico, which made installation of Zen Cart a breeze. I'm now in the process of setting it up for DragonWing Games where you will be able to purchase pdfs for both DragonWing and Bastion Press titles.

I must look like the village idiot. It seems as if everyone here can use these programs except me.

 

[HalWhitewyrm]

Check if your host has Fantastico or some other easy-install setup and it shouldn't be too hard after that. I can't really do much with these types of programs since I know nothing of PHP, MySQL, etc. I CAN modify CSS and some PHP codes, but not create them wholesale. It's only thanks to my new host and its features, like Fantastico, that I can have Wordpress powering my site and have options for growth like forums and online stores like OSCommerce and Zen Cart. If your host doesn't offer them, consider switching. I use www.Bluehost.com.