osCommerce modules/add-ons

[worlddom]

I've not utilised osCommerce before but am considering it for a new project.

A quick question for the ecommerce web devs here - can you recommend tried and tested modules/add ons?

I'm particularly interested in SEO mods (including SEF urls), thumbnail generators, page load optimisers..... but would like to hear of any other recommendations.

Do you guys/girls use the contributions made to the project or develop your own applications? I see some high priced modules out there (#1 G result for osCommerce modules) which seem to offer the same functionality as free community contributions.

edit: I don't know how I managed to add a grumpy face to this post, please ignore

[awebapart.com]

I've not utilised osCommerce before but am considering it for a new project.

A quick question for the ecommerce web devs here - can you recommend tried and tested modules/add ons?
The default osCommerce setup (and osCommerce templates too, since most osCommerce templates are the default osCommerce system with a visual makeover) have in my opinion 4 important issues that should be addressed as an initial priority (by contribution and/or custom-coding):

1. An important SEO improvement is required to get at least the title changing for all category and product pages. For SEO, the title is very important and should be page specific.

2. Add autothumbnailing. The default system does not automatically generate a new smaller thumbnail image when required, instead it relies on browser shrinking of the full-size image once it is downloaded, which results in slower page loads and lower quality thumbnail images (jagged stepped lines, pixel loss, etc). The main reason why this is missing from the default setup is because it requires PHP graphics extensions (e.g. GD), that aren't available in all hosting setups. Some of the contributions in this area only go a certain way (and they can end up slowing your site down more) so extra custom coding may be required too.

3. The search box does not search descriptions by default, only titles. This is a minor thing, but can be frustrating for users if it is not done.

4. If you are using PayPal, don't use the default PayPal payment module, this should not be used (as it can result in orders where you don't know what items are in the order), and should be replaced by the improved PayPal IPN payment module.

As for other improvements there are always more things you can do to improve SEO, and the need for other improvements depends on what types of products you are selling and your general preferences for the shop. Have a look at some of the things we have done to improve the default osCommerce system with our custom osCommerce version (http://www.awebapart.com/home/sitebuilder_features) we use as the online shop section for our sitebuilder websites, but we are by no means finished yet with the improvements we want to add.

Do you guys/girls use the contributions made to the project or develop your own applications?
It is usually both, since the main contributions involve code changes - most contributions are just a list of code changes required to certain parts of the code base, they are not click and go installation programs. This means you end up with a custom coded version of osCommerce. Multiple contributions requiring code changes to the same areas of code need even more custom coding to get working together. You will also find that most of the contributions aren't 100% of what you need, even though they may sound so on paper, so there's usually extra coding to do here too.

Once you have installed you customisations and got your system working the way you want it to, you might think that you can sit back and relax. Not so, since you should also be planning how your now unique custom-coded osCommerce system can be migrated to osCommerce v3 (which is a major re-write) when it is available (hopefully later this year), and this wont be so easy since, at best, default osCommerce v3 will only have an upgrade path for default osCommerce v2, which hardly anybody uses due to the need to customise and custom-code your osCommerce v2 installation!

It is for some of these reasons that I don't recommend that people should undertake their own DIY osCommerce projects, unless they technically know what they are doing (or can afford to pay someone who does), and they are aware of the implications and have a strategy in place.

[worlddom]

Thanks pal, nice post.

If I go with this then I'd be interested in the 4 change opinions that you mention - do you offer these mods as a one off coding job? If so could you pm me with costings please, I run a dedicated Linux server with GD2 installed.

[awebapart.com]

Unfortunately we do not offer a custom coding service, we provide a hosted managed ecommerce service whereby clients rent websites from us - hosted, supported and maintained by us (similar to ekmpowershop.co.uk, easywebstore.co.uk etc). Clients who choose our service get a website with the improvements I've mentioned, and many others, as standard, and one that is improved on an ongoing basis.

If you post your requirements in the Tenders section there are usually other companies and people on this forum who can supply custom-coding services for DIY osCommerce custom implementations.

[scifind]

Hi
I have done work on a number of sites based on CREloaded. see premiercookware.co.uk and cricketretail.com for examples.
CREloaded is based on oscommerce - but has alot of the bells and whistles that osc misses in the basic install

[worlddom]

That's interesting. Is CREloaded a commercial development of osCommerce?

[themistral]

creLoaded is available as free download or paid version.
Basically someone added a load of modules to an osCommerce shop to create creLoaded.

I have used both versions of creLoaded and now just start from osCommerce. I have found that there are many unfinished or commented out bits of code in the free version of creLoaded - I think it's done to make you pay for the full version.

There are 3 SEO modules I always add which change the URLs to something meaningful, meta tags for each product/category/manufacturer and a sitemap.
I would also suggest looking at templates to get away from the stock look rather than just changing colours and reordering menu boxes. You also then are able to take off the oscommerce copyright.

I was a creLoaded/osCommerce developer for about a year so I may be able to help you!

[worlddom]

Yes, I've seen a few nice templates. This is the first time I've looked into ecommerce solutions for a very long time (around 10 years) so it's a steep learning curve at the moment.

I'm presuming there are thumbnail generators for creLoaded, I haven't thoroughly checked the forum yet (or is thumbnail generation part of the package?)

[themistral]

I can't remember if there was a thumbnail generator as standard - my instincts tell me not, but it's not something we were ever really asked for.

One point I would make is to bare in mind that the majority of contributions are made for osCommerce shops. The structure of creLoaded is such that taking the instruction of most osCommerce contributions will result in shops not working - creLoaded uses a template system that in itself is a osCommerce contribution.

A quick check on the osCommerce contributions page revealed 3 thumbnail contributions - would be worth having a look at their respective forum threads to hear what problems there may be...