cart as gallery- oscommerce

can you use a stripped down cart to present an artists gallery?

[gorillacyclist]

Hi I have a few potential clients I have to meet soon and they all want to showcase their products, jewellry,photos, art but say they don't need an e-commerce solution. I guess in they percieve the cost to be too great, are scared by it.

I was wondering if I could use os commerce cart to form the basis of a gallery, strip out (comment) The e-commerce stuff, buy now buttons etc and leave the relevant bits - category nav, thumbnails, newsletter, email a friend,

They would then have access to backoffice content management system

PS I have never used PHP but am familiar with comersus using asp

Later if they change their mind/ have the cash and promotion is sucessful, I can activate the cart.

what do you all think?

[sadcox66]

Yes you can easily customize osCommerce to be a catalog without a shopping cart.

There are two approaches.
1.) Easiest, remove items from
/catalog/column_left.php
/catalog/column_right.php
/catalog/header.php

2.) Apply a template. If your using the STS system
then simply do not place the $tags (e.g., $login, $cart) in your template. This appoach is a bit more
difficult if you do not have the skill and patience to match html tags but it gives you a cleaner and non-shopping cart look.

You may also look at VVgallery at source forge.
It is based on osCommerce but includes many image manipulation tools useful when you have propietary
images you want watermarked and thumbnailed nicely.

[Essex_boy]

Seems like you know your stuff! Can I use OSC in the background i.e I want to write the catalog (HTML fixed) and just have OS run the buy now, stock functions and the backend thingys?

I hope that makes sense.

[sadcox66]

Yes, osCommerce works alongside other software.

You can have a link saying go to [u]shopping cart[/u]
You can also do something similar to amazon, i.e.
have websites A, B and C show different products and
when someone clicks a [buy now button] or [u]link[/u] on A,B,C you can take them to your central shopping cart for payment processing or shipping. This may be what your referring to as

" ...want to write the catalog (HTML fixed) ..."

If you want osCommerce to blend into your website I would use the STS or BTS template package. The STS is simpler.

[Essex_boy]

Thanks ive just mailed you.

[gorillacyclist]

So if i get this right, I could get on with the static site of say - the range. Then get to work on understanding the oscart. Later if customer needs it, cart it up afterwards - seems good way forward for all concerned.

Paul

[jimg]

I have a solution already canned for these clients based on what has been discussed. If interested. I've sent you sticky mail.

[pzee]

OSC is a wonderful engine. However, modifying OSC is a lot of work. Besides, you will need to find a hosting service and pay monthly fees. I'd find a solution if there is one already, and save myself a lot of headache.