toyicebear

If they have used STS then they have probably also used one of the older 2.2 oscommerce versions. STS is not compatible with 2.3+ You can try to look around in the support tread for STS there are some tips and tricks there. Your best bet though is to make a new site with a similar design using the newest stable version, currently 2.3.2

You can have a look at: http://addons.oscommerce.com/info/2890 OR http://addons.oscommerce.com/info/3957

Use KissIT Image Thumbnailer for image resizing. That is not something to worry about, google will index your product pages just fine. If you are "concerned" about optimizing your pages to the MAX , then you can rip-out bxgallery and replace it with another image gallery solution as-well as modifying your shop to let you add in image alt tags for all product images in admin.

Its not about reduced income for developers, its about all the "bloat" which such "full" featured carts also have "included". A clean cart with the basic features included is often the best base to build a shop from, you will then be able to customize it to your particular business needs while still keeping it as lean and mean as possible. The problem with the current 2 series of oscommerce is that its not "modular" enough so installing add-ons usually include modifying core codes. And actually there is soooo much more money to be had for developers in carts like Magento, Prestashop and Magento. Firstly you make an add-on you can sell it through their marketplaces, then you get additional income from customization request on the same add-on, then you get even more income from those who sign-up for support and update packages for that add-on ++++ Those carts are also way more complicated to modify, so most who DIY alot on their oscommerce cart would have to pay a developer to make close to any changes outside of standard functions, and due to the complexity of the code the number of qualified developers are smaller which in turn means that the prices are higher.

When u use Monster Templates you are actually subjecting yourself to a massive amount of extra pain when it comes to adding any oscommerce add-ons.... But you might have a look at Smart Checkout instead of Simple Checkout, you might actually find it "simpler" to implement..LOL

When it comes to protecting yourself/your business from liabilities do not take the word of internet keyboard warriors at face value. (especially when they are interpreted to favor their own practices) Contact your own merchant account provider and get clarification on any issues/questions. (If you are "afraid" to mention your current practices to your merchant account provider then that itself should be a HUGE flashing warning sign that you are probably doing something incorrectly) If you fail to do your "due diligence" and just plod on as before, one day you might get a very nasty surprise when you find out that lamenting "BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT" or "BUT I THOUGHT IT MEANT THAT" or "MY INTERPRETATION OF THAT WAS" does not hold much weight when i comes to payment data security.

Put on your reading glasses and read 3.2.2 and take note that outside of other card authorization information that CVV2 (card verification code) is specifically mentioned and that it should not be stored under any circumstances. For anyone who are still unsure they should contact their merchant account provider and inquire about manually processing of orders where the payment information has been collected online.

No, CVV2, CVC2, CID, CAV2 falls under 3.2.2 which you are not allowed to store under any circumstances. PCI DSS V2 Requirements: Testing Procedures:

1. Check that your merchant account agreement allows you to manually process payments where info has been collected online. HINT: In most cases it will be against your TOS. 2. If you wish to manually process payments with info collected online, do not use CVV2 you are not allowed to save it in any form. (even if you delete it after use) In regards to Manual processing CVV2 is only for real time use, when the customer are talking to you on the phone or standing in front of you and you key it directly into the MOTO terminal. Even if you follow 1 and 2 , if you are not PCi compliant you are even then liable for fines and sanctions from merchant account providers and credit card companies. And in some countries and states/areas it is even against the law to handle payment data in an insecure way. (And this is an area which is only getting more and more regulated) So the short version, if you are not PCI compliant use a 3 party payment provider instead. That a online payment gateway to process cc is 20 usd a month is not a valid argument , you can get a PayPal account for free and with no monthly fees. (there are several other alternatives too without monthly fees)

If you save the info and process it manually then you are taking a large risk for saving some pennies. Even if you are in a country (or state) where you currently are not required by law to follow the PCI regulations, you are still liable for sanctions and fines from your merchant account provider, Visa and Master Card. And if someone manages to sift payment information from you and it is shown that you have been lax in handling customer payment data, then this will impact your business reputation as-well as open your for civil suits from your customers.

Several states in the US have made it into LAW. inc. Washington, Nevada and Minnesota

PayPal Express will work as a fast checkout for customer that already have a PayPal account. If a customer have a PayPal account they will then be able to simply loginto their PayPal account and then checkout without filling in more personal info. An account is still created for them in the shop but this is done "automatically" in the background. "Guest" checkout for 2.2 - Purchase Without Account "Guest checkout" for 2.3 - Consolidated Login with Guest Checkout for 2.3.1 v1.0

Have a look at: PayPal Express

There are also several nice "replacement" icon packs in the add-ons section.

The newest authorize net modules have the input fields on the checkout_confirmation.php page.

Look at Multi Vendor Shipping in the add-ons section

No, make yourself familiar with all the functions in standard oscommerce and then sit down and make an assessment of what other functionality you want/need. When you have determined what functionality you want/need you go to the add-ons section and look/search for add-ons there which will give you the wanted functionality.

Have a look at QTPro in the add-ons section.

you can ofcourse just use you new template and install in all the wanted add-ons again...

You have to go into your show admin under configuration >> Ultimate seo urls set the rewrite method to: rewrite Also make sure you have added the required code to your htaccess file

Alternative add-on... If you are looking for commercial install help, then there is a new sub-forum for just that: Commercial Support Sub Forum

This one works ok...but dont use the TimThumb version.... You can for instance use this version: DJStealth 7 Sep 2008 And update the thumbfile with this one: mauriziomagnino 11 Feb 2011

If the customer click on the paypal express button on the shopping cart page they are sent to paypal where they can just login and proceed.... An account is created in your shop, but the customer do not have to make it...the paypal express module makes it in the background.

PayPal Express

If you use the "default" PayPal Standard Website Payments in 2.3.1 , the customer does not need to return back to your shop for the order to be updated. This is an "IPN" style module so the order status will be updated in the "background" anyway.