X-Cart forums

[gregl]

I know the value of XCart is it's flexibilty, etc so if some of you would share your ideas I would appreciate it.

I have followed a couple of threads on this forum, but nothing became of them they just ran out of gas.
Question:
Is the concensus that all XCart sites have the html catalogue run, to help speed up customer access whilst just browsing the site? That seems to be the only logical reason for running it. This in most cases just mirrors the cart side of the site.
Or is it best to run html pages designed separately and use links and buttons when "Cart time" is required?

As a relatively Newbie still with XCart, I've been able to change a few things with templates etc, this forum has been invaluable for that, but I can customise html so much quicker and easier and no matter what I try I cannot get my index.php to look the way I want.

Example: obviously after running the html catalogue my index.html is a clone of index.php. If I want to change the "features" look and feel of my "frontpage", I know I can just create a new index.html, run some redirectors and I'm in business. But every time I run html catalogue for the rest of the pages it will obviously overwrite the newly created page. I know I can just copy my saved page back over but this seems a little long winded, pretty much like this post.

Sorry folks.

What is the ideal situation if there is such a thing, or is it the freedom of choice that makes XCart so popular?

Hope I haven't bored anyone to death?

Thanks for anyone's opinions

[adpboss]

In order to fully take advantage of the features and power behind X-cart you need to make use of the dynamic PHP store. If you are just using links and buttons to add shopping functionality to your site, then X-cart is total overkill. There are much simpler programs that accomplish basic shopping cart functions, but lack the power and features of X-Cart.

To use X-Cart effectively you will have to get a basic understanding of Smarty code. It's not hard and for someone very familiar with HTML should be a breeze to pick-up.

The HTML catalog is used a myriad of different ways depending on your store requirements. Some stores use it as a catalog for the search engines to spider and thus provide a gateway to your site via search engine results. Other stores use it for a speed increase as the pages do render a little faster than in the PHP store.

I have recently begun funnelling all of my customers to the HTML catalog in an effort to reduce the load on my SQL server and speed up their browsing. I use a couple of CRON scripts to regenerate my store 3 times daily (some with time delays between each page, again to reduce load) so that my store, inventory and out of stock/in stock items are relatively up to date.

Personally I think that editing your index.html by hand manually is backwards unless you have a small catalog and it rarely changes. Then there is no need to regen the store in it's entirety.

E-commerce works best IMHO when the customer stays within a store structure and can easily view their cart total, contents, login areas etc.

[gregl]

Thanks adpboss for your reply.

I think I knew the answer but needed some expert confirmation.

Understanding the Smarty concept is the only way to fully benefit from XCart, like everything though, time to sit down with a clear head and gain that understanding is the trouble. Problem with running a company and being it's web designer, blah blah. is that "clear think" time is not always possible when it's most needed.

Well off to Smarty.com and clear the sinuses

Thanks again adpboss

[adpboss]

Dude, I hear you. I am not a developer. I am a store owner and I did all of my own website work until recently.

Smarty is not complicated and will come to you quickly. If you have questions, PM me. I'll try to help you out when I can free some time.

[gregl]

More than likely you will hear from me


Again thanks

[Jon]

Agreed with what was stated above. The load time/server load is one reason for catalog generation, the search engine rankings however I think is the major reason for it.

The thing to consider also, is that the site look really only needs to be done once. If you don't have time to learn and do it I'd suggest starting with a template or hiring a third-party to do it for you.

[adpboss]

Excellent point Jon.

You want your store to be setup the way you want it, but the only thing that makes money is moving goods, not a constantly updated web page.

Focus on security, useability and ease of layout at the beginning and then ride the site until you get lots of customer complaints like my pal John80y about your low quality pictures and descriptions.

Wait, John80y uses a bunch of my pictures and descriptions.

BURNED MYSELF!

[gregl]

You are both right, I think I'm to focussed on looks and not content.

Ciao