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Typical "How to" questions


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Would like to ask everyone to post here their typical "how to" questions, based on their real-life experience working with osCommerce and other Ecommerce solutions. 

Example: How to set up PayPal Express Checkout? How to create virtual products? How to change logo?

Thanks for your help, it will help make osCommerce v4 a better platform.

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Alright I have a few How to's I supposed:

 

  1. How to have the same item in multiple categories and sorted differently in each (duplicate item)
  2. How to setup Canadian Taxes
  3. How to setup Canadian shipping (canada Post namely)
  4. How to setup an export to accounting software (this is something I had created as an export to csv and use Zed Axis currently to import in QB desktop)
  5. How to add a color swatch or color image for an attribute 
  6. how to setup currency conversions with rounding so prices look proper
  7. how to add filters to products 
  8. How to add size charts to products (repeated use between products)
  9. How to manage users subscribed to newsletter/sync with newsletter service (mailchimp or other)

 

 

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8 hours ago, sackling said:

Alright I have a few How to's I supposed:

 

  1. How to have the same item in multiple categories and sorted differently in each (duplicate item)
  2. How to setup Canadian Taxes
  3. How to setup Canadian shipping (canada Post namely)
  4. How to setup an export to accounting software (this is something I had created as an export to csv and use Zed Axis currently to import in QB desktop)
  5. How to add a color swatch or color image for an attribute 
  6. how to setup currency conversions with rounding so prices look proper
  7. how to add filters to products 
  8. How to add size charts to products (repeated use between products)
  9. How to manage users subscribed to newsletter/sync with newsletter service (mailchimp or other)

 

 

Nice set, thanks! Will add it to our How To manuals!

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How about

How to print multiple invoices, packing slips and picking lists for the days orders, plus print the address labels.
How to easy update product stocks, including buy in costs, recommended reatial prices and selling prices.
How to add comments to a customers account, including order comments on invoices.
How to change the invoice templates.
How to add customers VAT number  on B"B international sales.

There's more, but you already have loads I would imagine.

REMEMBER BACKUP, BACKUP AND BACKUP

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35 minutes ago, 14steve14 said:

How about

How to print multiple invoices, packing slips and picking lists for the days orders, plus print the address labels.
How to easy update product stocks, including buy in costs, recommended reatial prices and selling prices.
How to add comments to a customers account, including order comments on invoices.
How to change the invoice templates.
How to add customers VAT number  on B"B international sales.

There's more, but you already have loads I would imagine.

Thank you very much, Steve, truly appreciate your input. Keep it coming - the more real-life questions we can answer in the manuals and other support materials - the better!

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10 hours ago, sackling said:

Alright I have a few How to's I supposed:

Rob, we have put some of the comments in the post below, but please do not hesitate to post more of the real-life "how to"s - the more we can cover the better it will be for users of new osCommerce v4!

10 hours ago, sackling said:

 

  1. How to have the same item in multiple categories and sorted differently in each (duplicate item)

Similar to how it was done in some previous versions of osCommerce, it is possible to "link" or "copy" a product to multiple categories. 

10 hours ago, sackling said:
  1. How to setup Canadian Taxes
  2. How to setup Canadian shipping (canada Post namely)

Neither has been built in yet, but this has now been passed to the development team for consideration. 

Also talking to prospect partners, who are a specialist in tax calculations.

10 hours ago, sackling said:
  1. How to setup an export to accounting software (this is something I had created as an export to csv and use Zed Axis currently to import in QB desktop)

That's a very good question indeed.

Please consider the following options:

1. We have developed a number of software products that sync osCommerce v4 with accounting solutions like QuickBooks (US, CA, UK), Sage, XERO, MYOB, and a number of others. They are paid apps as such, and we will be listing them in the marketplace in the future 

2. You can set up automated exports from the system to export order data and import product data - in CSV.

3. You can use the API to communicate with osCommerce and export or import data 

10 hours ago, sackling said:
  1. How to add a color swatch or color image for an attribute 

When you add or edit attribute value, it is possible to upload an icon and set its colour. This icon (swatch) can be later used in the filters, and also on the product page to make the attribute selection process easier and clearer for the end user.

1492577024_oscattr.thumb.png.bc1836aa3c2b862c3893c4aba8ee0f12.png 

10 hours ago, sackling said:
  1. how to setup currency conversions with rounding so prices look proper

good one! 

Naturally, it is possible to set up multiple currencies in the system.

It is possible to set up conversion rate or get it from OANDA.

But, there also exists a feature (debating if it will be a part of the "box" install or an app) that allows setting prices in each currency independently:

1523523257_osccurrency.thumb.png.5ab17698930ef6a264bbff0e3689d130.png

 

10 hours ago, sackling said:
  1. how to add filters to products 

This is done via Properties. 

Basically, products need to be described with properties, and then filters are built by the system dynamically.

10 hours ago, sackling said:
  1. How to add size charts to products (repeated use between products)

It is possible to use a feature called "Documents" which allows adding certain documents to products.

10 hours ago, sackling said:
  1. How to manage users subscribed to newsletter/sync with newsletter service (mailchimp or other)

MailChimp is pre-integrated with osCommerce v4. 

 

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Will also add some comments here:

 

1 hour ago, 14steve14 said:

 

How about

How to print multiple invoices, packing slips and picking lists for the days orders, plus print the address labels.

 

The user shall simply go to the back end, Order list, select multiple orders (tick boxes) and then press Invoices, Packing Slips, or Shipping Labels button.

Invoices and Packing Slips will simply produce a multi-page PDF document each.

Shipping Labels is a bit more interesting, as it can be integrated with the likes of RoyalMail, DHL, FedEx, etc to automatically register new parcels in their systems, and download PDF shipping label with consignment number and email it to the customer.

 

1 hour ago, 14steve14 said:

 


How to easy update product stocks, including buy in costs, recommended reatial prices and selling prices.

Naturally this can be done in the back end of the website, on a product by product basis. 

But you will find it easier to use CSV import/export to do this. Or do the same via the API.

 

1 hour ago, 14steve14 said:


How to add comments to a customers account, including order comments on invoices.

It can be done in the back end when processing an order.

661476475_osccomments.thumb.png.5979e7734fb7f7a66ed33214ecef7091.png

1 hour ago, 14steve14 said:

 


How to change the invoice templates.

Same as changing the look and feel of any design page, it is possible to do the same with any document, including the Invoices.

1 hour ago, 14steve14 said:


How to add customers VAT number  on B"B international sales.

There's a VAT field on the checkout pages. It even tries to check its validity using a 3rd party service (which doesn't always work to be honest).

 

1 hour ago, 14steve14 said:

There's more, but you already have loads I would imagine.

Please do send more :)

 

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I think a big how to that hasn't been broached much is how to move from 2.x to v4

out of curiosity are you able to say how similar if at all any of the code will be?

Will it be completely different on the front end or is the original code being updated?

How similar if at all with the database structure be?

 

 

 

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7 hours ago, sackling said:

I think a big how to that hasn't been broached much is how to move from 2.x to v4

out of curiosity are you able to say how similar if at all any of the code will be?

Will it be completely different on the front end or is the original code being updated?

How similar if at all with the database structure be?

Robert, it is a brilliant question indeed! 

A system is being worked on, that will import most of the data from 2x to 4x. It is possible however that some data from some heavily customised sites will need to be migrated "manually". 

The code of v4 is based on YII (YII2 and will be YII3 when it is ready), when 2.x was not. 

There is a clear separation between the framework, the DB layer, the actual code, and the templates. Again, this was not clearly present before. 

There is more data in the DB and it is organised in a way to allow for solutions like multiple sales channels, user roles, etc. 

There's a well developed API, which was not present before.

So indeed, there will be a good learning curve for the developers, and we will be supporting them all with great Ecommerce tools, documentation, actual advise, and new releases.

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Thanks I am not familiar with YII at all so definitely keep an eye on that framework. 

Another how to for shop owners:

Returns and exchange management. how to keep track/be notified/notify the customer throughout the exchange procedure. 

Personally we do not provide return labels but that could be part of it.

If an order is being partially returns/partially exchanged how to update the order in those cases etc.

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46 minutes ago, sackling said:

Thanks I am not familiar with YII at all so definitely keep an eye on that framework. 

Another how to for shop owners:

Returns and exchange management. how to keep track/be notified/notify the customer throughout the exchange procedure. 

Personally we do not provide return labels but that could be part of it.

If an order is being partially returns/partially exchanged how to update the order in those cases etc.

Sure, please check it out, it is quite a good framework and has a strong community of developers behind it too. 

Returns and Exchange - this deserves a post of its own :) Will do, as, in fact, this is already a part of the system. As with many other features, considering how to present it to the users - in an app or not, etc.

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I've installed the YII2  framework on a local server and have taken some tutorials. It's pretty cool! I can imagine saving a lot of time using this framework. Are there any issues/concerns when installing on shared servers?

The water in a vessel is sparkling; the water in the sea is dark. The small truth has words which are clear; the great truth has great silence.

- Rabindranath Tagore

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1 hour ago, Smoky Barnable said:

I've installed the YII2  framework on a local server and have taken some tutorials. It's pretty cool! I can imagine saving a lot of time using this framework. Are there any issues/concerns when installing on shared servers?

Great to hear about this! 

@asandros could you please comment reg. hosting here?

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9 hours ago, osCommerce-Official said:

Great to hear about this! 

@asandros could you please comment reg. hosting here?

Hi,

There are no specific requirements for server settings for future osCommerce 4 version. At the moment Alpha version supports PHP 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4.

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  • 3 weeks later...

How about specific country based specifications, i.e. a UK based store, a French base store, a German based store?
I'd be happy to help code the UK specific ones with Royal Mail shipping, Nochex and Paypal payments.

The screen shots are looking great, I'm looking forward to looking under the cover :)

Best Wishes

Mark

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  • 3 weeks later...

How to set up Canadian Taxes
How to set up Europe Taxes (ex France to Europe)

 


Regards
-----------------------------------------
Loïc

Contact me by skype for business
Contact me @gyakutsuki for an answer on the forum

 

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  • 3 months later...

Hello Do you know how to integrate paypal payments with your store, I ve installed 2 modules , but them do you know how to configure them?, do yoou need a SSL certified? , what Api credentials should I put Sandbox or Live? Thanks

PayPal Express Checkout 0 icon_arrow_right.gif 
PayPal Payments Standard
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  • 11 months later...

Hi,

A product has the field called SEO Page Name, you can fill it in with anything you need while creating or editing a product, for example: category/subcategory/product-name. In this case this product will have the link https://shop.com/category/subcategory/product-name

But the system will not do it automatically. If the SEO Page Name field is not filled in when a product is created, this field will be filled in based on this product name, or its model number (SKU), or its product ID depending on what of these values this product has.
 
Best regards,
 
Ivan
 
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  • 2 weeks later...
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