OsCommerce Tuturial - Downloading & Installing OsCommerce v2.2
Step 1:
Download OsCommerce free, directly from the official OsCommerce site! *If you are hosting with one of our recommended hosts below, downloading OsCommerce is not required – skip to step 3.
Download OsCommerce Version 2.2 (Latest)
Step 2:
If you haven’t already done so, shop around for a web hosting provider. FTP Web Hosting is essential for your OsCommerce store so be sure to select a web hosting provider that offers FTP support. Check out these OsCommerce hosts as recommended by the users of WebHostingVerdict.com.
Step 3:
Install OsCommerce! *If your web hosting provider does not support OsCommerce you will need to install OsCommerce manually, if this is the case then skip to step 4.
If you have chosen one of our recommended hosts then there are just a couple more steps left for you to take. Each host allows you to install OsCommerce within just a couple of clicks and there is no need to follow the manual steps below.
Installing OsCommerce using one of our recommended hosts.
Compatible hosts: Just Host, Super Green Hosting or Host Clear
1) Log into your control panel and locate the Fantastico icon, once you have found the logo click on it and wait for the next page to load.
2) To the left of the page, within the navigation menu locate the OsCommerce link found under the “E-Commerce” category and click on it. Once this has loaded, select “New Installation”.
3) This next page can look a bit daunting at first but it only takes a couple of minutes to complete. Fill in the missing fields taking note of the explanations included, these will give you a good insight into what is being asked for. For a more detailed look at this page, click here. Once you have completed the missing fields click Install Os Commerce.
4) Finally, you should now see a confirmation page concluding the installation of your OsCommerce store, assuming you are happy to continue click on Finish Installation and you’re done!
It may be a good idea to print a copy of your confirmation page, this includes valuable information such as your login username and password, the full url of your ecommerce store and most importantly, the admin url to access the admin control panel.
If you haven’t used OsCommerce before, take a look around, start adding products into your store and get to grips with the industry’s leading ecommerce control panel. For help or advice with using the Os Commerce platform why not get involved on the official OsCommerce forum.
Manually Installing OsCommerce.
*Required for web hosting providers that are not compatible with the Fantastico suite.
If your web hosting provider does not support Fantastico then it may be necessary to download OsCommerce and install it manually. This method is a little more complex but can be performed by anyone with a fair knowledge about web hosting.
Step 4:
Assuming OsCommerce has already been downloaded and extracted, upload the “catalog” folder to the root of your web space.
Step 5:
Once all the files have been uploaded we need to run the installation, to do this visit the url below replacing yourdomain.com with the url of your site.
http://www.yourdomain.com/catalog/install
Follow the steps for installation entering details of your OsCommerce store as you go. You will also be asked for details of your MySQL database - If you haven’t already created one you will need to do so before continuing. For help with your MySQL database please contact your service provider’s support deparment.
Step 6:
If everything in step 5 went ok, you are almost ready to get started with your new OsCommerce store. Before you get stuck in it is necessary to remove the “install” folder and change the file permissions of “configure.php” within the “includes” folder to read only. If step 6 is not performed correctly your store along with your customers data could be vulnrable to outside attacks.
Finished!
If you followed all the steps correctly your OsCommerce should be ready for you to start adding products into your store. Point your your browser towards http://www.yourdomain.com/catalog/admin and start making your way through each category tweaking the settings as per your requirements. Being open source, you will never be far from someone willing to offer a helping hand. The OsCommerce forums are a great place to start when you have queries or when something is wrong with your OsCommerce store.