X-Cart: shopping cart software
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X-Cart forums (https://forum.x-cart.com/index.php)
-   News and Announcements (https://forum.x-cart.com/forumdisplay.php?f=28)
-   -   X-Cart 4.2 released (https://forum.x-cart.com/showthread.php?t=44276)

jholley 12-23-2008 01:29 PM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Jones
I've just installed 4.2 on a test site... I like it but the CSS is a bit messy.
It took me 10 mins to gain a 25% reduction in the CSS size and the site loads a lot faster so if you're planning on installing v4.2, I'd advise optimizing the CSS .

Do you have any suggestions on the best way to do this? I am very familiar with CSS, but new to the site being so dependant on it.

Shooter 12-23-2008 04:05 PM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
I opened a ticket about a program I registered locking up my site. Then, did a followup asking if the problem could be looked into sometime soon. Well, I got charged for uninstalling and not being able to use the mod.. then I got another charge of points for checking to see if the mod I purchased was uninstalled. I was tempted to ask if the mod I registered could be used or refunded, but better judgment told me not to ask... because the cost of asking for a refund would cost me more than the mod did!

Light Speed 12-23-2008 04:57 PM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
products_t.tpl doesn't need to use tables.
Could have been done with more control using ul.
The code now separates connected content = bad for SEO


This would be better
ul class=something
li
title br
thumbnail br
price
li
li
title br
thumbnail br
price
li
li
title br
thumbnail br
price
li
ul

Tavarz 12-23-2008 05:08 PM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
We'll see if I have something to share later :P

Bill Jones 12-24-2008 03:11 AM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by balinor
Yes, of COURSE that is true, but that still doesn't mean it is time to jump on 4.2. There are countless add-ons that a store can't be without, and until those mods are converted to the 4.2 branch, we are simply saying to wait before going with 4.2.

While we have been using a CSS layout for our X-Cart clients for quite some time, we've also seen some sites do extremely well in Google with the stock X-Cart templates and CDSEO. The core of SEO is still content, content, content.

I agree, 100%. I wasn't suggesting that everyone should jump straight in and start using 4.2. That's obviously not an option for people with heavily modded stores unless they can adapt the mods to work with 4.2 themselves but installing the script to a temp dir, getting it looking the way you want and ironing out some bugs (or reporting them to the people who should) will take some time and means that as soon as your mods are released for 4.2, you're good to go.

toddpatterson 12-24-2008 06:42 PM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Has anybody heard anything about some skins? The one released looks so generic. We had purchased 3 sets of skins and now it looks like we are just kind of stuck with them, but cannot use them.

Thanks!

xplorer 12-24-2008 09:27 PM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by toddpatterson
Has anybody heard anything about some skins? The one released looks so generic. We had purchased 3 sets of skins and now it looks like we are just kind of stuck with them, but cannot use them.

Thanks!

We will release Fashion Mosaic and Artistic Tunes skins for 4.2. However, since making them css-based is not an easy task, the skins most likely won't be available till February, 2009. Also, perhaps we will bundle them with a completely new skin.

The skins will be available free of charge.

Zaja 12-25-2008 02:50 AM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by toddpatterson
Has anybody heard anything about some skins?


Take a look at the following URL:
http://www.7dana.com/4.2_templates/

PhilJ 12-25-2008 06:49 AM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
We're going to be launching a range of v4.2 fully CSS templates in the new year. Also, our current CSS template will be updated to v4.2 very shortly.

bigredseo 12-25-2008 06:55 AM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Nice work on those templates 7dana!

Stizerg 12-26-2008 04:01 PM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Those templates from 7dana aren`t tableless/CSS. They all are old templates, modified for 4.2. What the point to use them.

Zaja 12-26-2008 04:25 PM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stizerg
Those templates from 7dana aren`t tableless/CSS. They all are old templates, modified for 4.2. What the point to use them.

Hmm, you saw the 4.2 templates from 7dana.com where? 8O

Light Speed 12-26-2008 05:14 PM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zaja
Hmm, you saw the 4.2 templates from 7dana.com where? 8O

Ha

Zaja 12-27-2008 12:04 AM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Light Speed


There is no 4.2 demo on this page(or any other 7dana.com page).

btw.Old templates are rebuild from scratch, not modified for 4.2.

Light Speed 12-27-2008 02:25 AM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zaja
There is no 4.2 demo on this page(or any other 7dana.com page).

btw.Old templates are rebuild from scratch, not modified for 4.2.

Quote:

4.2 templates
template upgrade to 4.2
Dear Customers and Partners,

as we receiving many request for more information about new 4.2 version of x-cart templates, we are glad to announce that we already started with upgrades(rebuild from scratch).
We plan to finish upgrade for all templates by the end of January 2009. Also, we will upgrade our demo site at 7danademo.com to x-cart 4.2 soon.


Roadmap

The roadmap shows which tasks are currently being worked on and task that has already completed.
TEMPLATE
X-Cart-Colors
X-Cart-Dynamic-Preview
X-Cart-Velvet
X-Cart-Elegant
X-Cart-Rounded-White
X-Cart-Skater
X-Cart-7dana
X-Cart-Tabs-Menu
X-Cart-Adult-Red
X-Cart-Amazon-Green
X-Cart-Amazon-Blue
X-Cart-Amazon-Red
X-Cart-BlueDream
X-Cart-BlackPhone
X-Cart-Soft-Blue
X-Cart-Soft-Gray
X-Cart-MP3-Shop
X-Cart-Tech-Blue
X-Cart-Techno
X-Cart-7Red
X-Cart-7Blue
X-Cart-7Orange
X-Cart-BrownSugar
X-Cart-Natural
X-Cart-Clean-Look
X-Cart-Kids-Store
X-Cart-Ferrari
X-Cart-Soft-Red
STATUS
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Complete
Complete
Complete
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Complete
Complete
Complete
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress
Work in progress

That page make it look like all those templates are for 4.2 and some are complete and some are in progress.

Zaja 12-27-2008 11:36 AM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Light Speed
That page make it look like all those templates are for 4.2 and some are complete and some are in progress.

That page make it look like almost all those templates are not ready for 4.2. as well as demo site, but will be updated soon.
All existing templates will be rebuild from scratch, not modified for 4.2.

But, english is not my first language, so maybe I'm wrong. :wink:

SystemSkins 01-02-2009 11:40 AM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by balinor
You guys have heard the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" right? I'm always curious as to why people are so eager to jump on the latest release of something, particularly when it is as painful an upgrade as this one will be. If your 4.1.x cart is working well for you and you are happy with it, why upgrade? Honestly unless there is a feature you can't live without (dimensional shipping, pre-auth), upgrading really isn't going to gain you anything you can't achieve with a third-party add-on.
What about the increased SEO for being "mostly" CSS? Doesn't an ALL CSS site rank better in search engines than a mirror site that is like a 4.1.9?

It's obvious that the higher your search engine rankings the more sales you have. How much better is 4.2 over 4.1.9 (along with my current mods in my sig) when it comes to SEO?

SystemSkins 01-02-2009 12:03 PM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Jones
I don't know how many people are aware of how google ranks the websites it spiders, but I build websites for a living and for those who aren't aware, clean CSS and SEO friendly URL's is the ONLY way to go.
I've just finished converting a friend's website to CSS from tables and used mod_rewrite to make search engine friendly URL's. Within 3 weeks, the site has moved from page 15 on google to page 1 - position 1 for the same search phrases.
This means that anyone who sticks with an older version of x-cart may see their shop slipping down the pages of google and being replaced in the rankings by shops using v4.2 selling the same/similar items.
So in summary, X-Cart 4.1.11 and older versions are now obsolete and the old addage "if it aint broke, don't fix it" doesn't apply because when it comes to google rank, anything that gives the competition an advantage, means your site IS broke so sticking with a pre-4.2 version is a bad idea.
As much as I hate the thought of starting my shop from scratch AGAIN!, It is unfortunately a necessary evil... I just wish I'd been informed that that X-Cart were planning the shift to a CSS based layout before I spent what amounts to thousands of $$$ upgrading to 4.1.11.
Thanks Guys!
Exactly my thinking !!! and obviously I didn't read this before my previous post.

I guess now I just have to look at each one of my mods individually and do the research and see if they are 4.2 compatible, do some necessary modifications, and go from there.

Jon 01-02-2009 12:34 PM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Despite the fact that CSS is a recent SEO buzz word, it seems most SEO gurus tend to feel that the main SEO advantage CSS has is smaller file sizes so that search engines spider quicker, which isn't always needed and with some css implementations that isn't even the case. Search engines are concerned primarily with the keywords and content within a site, not the html code used to create it.

That said, in my opinion the biggest advantage is loading relevant content to the end user quicker. CSS is the way of the future and as CSS adopts better standards and has increased better cross-browser compatibility, it will allow much more flexibility and cleaner code, but in my opinion and experience isn't a large factor in SEO position at this time.

Here's an expert from Jill Whalens, a highly respected SEO consultant from highrankings.com
Quote:
http://www.highrankings.com/not-important-to-seo
Another myth. CSS doesn’t have any special properties that search engines
like better than tables or any other HTML code. Again, it may make it
easier for you to update your pages, or to use your content for other
things, but it’s not an SEO technique that will increase rankings or relevance.

taponitrof 01-15-2009 08:41 AM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Hi,

I just finished my first site in 4.2 and I have to say that I am very happy with the css based templates. I modified the templates extensively, as I always do, and it was WAY easier to do with the css-based template in 4.2. That said, it's still a big pain to create your own template as x-cart has SO MANY FILES.

Also, the built-in SEO friendly urls and meta info is a great improvement.

RichieRich 01-15-2009 09:33 AM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
If 4.3 is due in "a couple of months", is this due to changes to something major from 4.2? Usually each release is several months from within the same branch, like 4.1.10, 4.1.11, etc, some take 6 months. So to go to a new version in just 2 months, to consider developement, upgrading and other factors to think about

http://forum.x-cart.com/showpost.php?p=238866&postcount=36

forefront 02-22-2009 03:39 AM
Re: X-Cart 4.2 released
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon
Despite the fact that CSS is a recent SEO buzz word, it seems most SEO gurus tend to feel that the main SEO advantage CSS has is smaller file sizes so that search engines spider quicker, which isn't always needed and with some css implementations that isn't even the case. Search engines are concerned primarily with the keywords and content within a site, not the html code used to create it.

That said, in my opinion the biggest advantage is loading relevant content to the end user quicker. CSS is the way of the future and as CSS adopts better standards and has increased better cross-browser compatibility, it will allow much more flexibility and cleaner code, but in my opinion and experience isn't a large factor in SEO position at this time.

Here's an expert from Jill Whalens, a highly respected SEO consultant from highrankings.com

There is a another big advantage to CSS in that you can place your content at the top of a page then use CSS to format that content visually. With tables, if you have a header that comes before the content, it's nigh-impossible to "place" the content in an SEO-friendly way.

Yes, content is king - using CSS gives the advantage that you can make that content appear first on a page to a search engine.


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