Oscommerce for google base store connector?

#1

I've been trying out a bunch of shopping carts throughout the year, and I'd like to get my web store up and running for Xmas season.

With the Google base store connector, I noticed that it has an option to connect to your own store, but only if its an oscommerce cart. Strange decision, I think, considering that osc is generally regarded as outdated and badly in need of a code overhaul. .

So I have been wondering if the store connector is great enough a tool to justify letting that influence my choice in shopping cart?

I tried to evaluate it, but it would not connect to my ebay store, I think because it is Australian. SO I am totally in the dark reagrding what the store connector can do and if it will help a lot with managing product inventory etc.

If anyone can offer any suggestions, I'd be very grateful for your time!

#2

This is really funny because my website is osCommerce, and I didn't even know I could use the Store Connector for it. I've been stuck trying to get datafeeds to Google Base in my difficult ways. Rolling Eyes

But, I think MOST other shopping carts would also have a way to set up datafeeds for Google Base, so no, you probably don't need to choose your shopping cart based on that.

*runs over to Google Base to get that Store Connector set up*

P.S. ~ I forgot to mention that it does NOT have anything to do with managing your inventory. All it does is help get your listings included in Google Base / Shopping.

#3

Hi Angelsong,

I'm not really sure about the specifics, but I think Google store connector is a desktop application, for managing oscommerce, yahoo , and ebay store inventory offline (and also online via synchronisation).

Its only for those three store types. Its not really just a feed, in the way turbo lister is not just a feed, but it is part of its function.

Most carts have the google base feed, but this would be more like an interface for managing inventory, and perhaps more (but how much more I have no idea).

I used one of those for creloaded a year or so back, and I really liked the potential for. But I lost interest in creloaded when I discovered XML/tableless carts and saw the speed improvements.

#4

Hmmm. I do have my eBay store set up on the Google Base Store Connector, but was unaware of it being able to do anything other than generate feeds for Google Base.

#5

Hey thanks, Angelsong.

Maybe that is all it can do then?

#6

There are several Google feed systems for OsC at the OsC site - many work on a schedule and you don't have to do anything.

I've been running an OsC store for about 5 years - lots of mods - works flawlessly. Been on Froogle from the start - now Google Base.

But I'm in the process of moving over to ZenCart - which is essentially a rewrite of OsC, with most of the important mods already integrated, Having spent about a month working with it, I am VERY pleased. The biggest improvement is on the backend - lots of great management tools fo products, attributes, sales, coupons, images - it's very nicely done.

One of the very few mods I've added to Zen is a google base feeder. It was a 5 minute install. Just click on the feed option in admin, and it's done. Just one click. That's it.

I can't say enough good things about ZenCart - it's got all the features I spent years adding to OsC, and about a dozen more I would of liked to have added.

Oh...and it's also free like OsC. Smile

#7

Forgot....the "store connector".

I've never been able to get that working with my OsC site, but all it really does is create a datafeed file on your PC, which you would then need to up0load to Google.

The systems I'm talking about are integrated into the webstore, and produce a datafeed file on your web host server. You can then direct Google to actually GET the file from where you put it on a set schedule. No uploading or downloading of anything.

So with my current OsC, I click on a button that creates the feed file and puts in a directory on the webstore's server. Once a week google comes to my site and fetches the feed. This way if I forget to update the feed file, all my Google base items never "expire" - they just might be missing the newest items.

My new Zencart can work the same way - one click to creat the file. Then you can either setup a CRON job to upload it on a schedule, or setup a google fetch. I must prefer the fetch - let them do the work...heh.

You can find your fetch schedule options if you go to the "datafeeds" section of your google base items screen. All it needs to know is the exact path to the datafeed file, and a weekly schedule to fetch it.

#8

Stockmiser wrote (View Post): › Forgot....the "store connector".

I've never been able to get that working with my OsC site, but all it really does is create a datafeed file on your PC, which you would then need to up0load to Google.

The systems I'm talking about are integrated into the webstore, and produce a datafeed file on your web host server. You can then direct Google to actually GET the file from where you put it on a set schedule. No uploading or downloading of anything.

So with my current OsC, I click on a button that creates the feed file and puts in a directory on the webstore's server. Once a week google comes to my site and fetches the feed. This way if I forget to update the feed file, all my Google base items never "expire" - they just might be missing the newest items.

My new Zencart can work the same way - one click to creat the file. Then you can either setup a CRON job to upload it on a schedule, or setup a google fetch. I must prefer the fetch - let them do the work...heh.

You can find your fetch schedule options if you go to the "datafeeds" section of your google base items screen. All it needs to know is the exact path to the datafeed file, and a weekly schedule to fetch it.

Stockmiser, I wonder if you might be able to help me. I can't get the Store Connector to download, so can't try to see if it will work for me. I've also been tangled up for months trying to get one of the osCommerce Google Base Data Feeders set up. For some strange reason, I can't edit the googlefeeder.php file like I can edit every other php file. I went ahead and got another file to Google 'by hand' this morning, but it's a real pain to keep up with that without an automated system in place to generate files for me. Do you know what I should try next or do you know of another way that I can edit the googlefeeder.php file since the host's File Manager won't do it? Thanks!

#9

Hi Angel -

Well, when you first installed the mod, you had the PHP file on your PC, right? Edit it on your PC and re-upload it to your server.

Hope that helps!

**#10**

Stockmiser wrote (View Post): › Hi Angel -

Well, when you first installed the mod, you had the PHP file on your PC, right? Edit it on your PC and re-upload it to your server.

Hope that helps!

Thank you, I do have the PHP file on my PC.....but, I've never figured out what program can be used to open a PHP file on my PC. Embarassed

**#11**

Any basic editor will work.

I use Windows "Write" because it retains the basic formating (the indentation). It will also save it in correct format.

**#12**

Angelsong,

I use cuteftp for uploading my files. You can edit your php files within the program, which is handy (as well do CHMOD etc). You can also use windows notepad, but just make sure you name the file correctly and give it the correct extension (*.ini, not *. txt) when you're done editing it.

Stockmiser,

I agree with you regarding zen-cart. Its one of my favourites, but I think the way it looks `out of the box' is unprofessional and clunky, although the newer free templates are getting much better. To get it up to scratch in terms of looks and function takes a bit of code tweaking IMO, which used to be fun, but now I really need to spend my time on business development and marketing, rather than tinkering with code.

I don't mind paying for a good solution, even hosted solutions if the are hosted on fast servers.