OScommerce questions

[mangoprint]

Hi there,

Early in the new year I shall be setting up an online shop for my printing company, where they select a print run (5000 A5 flyers etc), and then upload the PDF of the artwork half way through checkout.

From reading up, I think OScommerce may be the way to go as it can be customised to what I need.

A couple of questions:

Who would be the best host to use for an OScommerce shopping cart (I will need a fair amount of storage space for the customer artwork uploads)? In the past I have used 123reg for basic hosting but they don't offer SMTP mail, only pop accounts. Also I don't know if they have everything necessary for a shopping cart.

And also, is there any developers out there that would be interested in integrating the PDF upload part for me? (I don't have a big budget for this, but i'm willing to pay something for your help)

Many many thanks,

Chris

[nickpp]

HI

Not sure if oscommerce has the upload facility, most shopping carts have a facility to download 'electronic goods', should be simple to integrate an upload form at the checkout stage, be aware that most hosting companies do have a fixed upload limit, not normally higher than 8mb for a php based form, tha alternative would be asking hem to upload via ftp or email you the hi res PDF.

We quoted an exact system for a printing compnay last year, we spealise in x-cart and from memorry we went for a bespoke system as they wanted to offer lots of templates as well as the custom option.

Hope this helps, if you need any help PM me.

[mangoprint]

Hi there,

Is there a way of setting it up so that it is ftp, but just a web based input? Or is that still php based?

The company that my business may be built on top of has there own web based ftp at files.triooffset.co.uk.

I could probably use the same server they are using (I know it costs them a fair amount per year).

It couldn't interfere with their existing setup though.

thanks again

[ecartsolutions]

Hi Chris

I have dealt with similar projects in the past. I can help you with this for a small amount. However, I need more info as to on which stage you want the upload to occur. One of the easiest ways would be to upload in the product info page. But again depends on your requirement. Please let me know the requirement in detail and we can work it out.

Cheers,
Hari

[UKSEOAgency]

i specialise in oscommerce and its derivative, as well as operate my own servers. I would recommend they email you the PDF you require due to the security implications of allowing unknown and untrusted user upload to your server.

If you are looking for a quote for hosting as well as development, I am happy to host it for you.

Kind Regards

Nathan

[consultant]

Chris,

if you want a stable ecom platform, then OSC, or better still, Zencart or CREloaded, would be suitable.

Another option might be Joomla + Virtuemart.

As for the uploading of files, you could do this via a bespoke system or use a third party file transfer site, like www.mailbigfile.com, which could also bolt on. uing the thrid party system is suitable as you do not have to store the file on your own, remote, server - you keep them locally.

[mangoprint]

Hi,

The only problem with the mail option is that if you had 10 emails, you would have to wait for the first 9 to download before you get to number 10?

I guess a web mail interface could get round this.

Also, which email companies support receiving 100mb attachments?

In an ideal world I guess they would add the print run to their basket and then fill in their name and address, followed by the uploading of PDF. Once complete, the checking out via Google checkout or something similar.

Also, could the file be renamed to the order number as part of the process?

Thanks

[ecartsolutions]

Hi Chris

In such a case you would be left with 2 options:
1. The client uploads the file ( password protected or otherwise ) to some external server ( file hosting website)
The client/customer could provide you with a link to the site.

OR

2. upload the file to your server and then have the file as part of the product ( since there can be more than one product in the same order ).
the actual file would be residing on your server.

you could perform a clean up based on dates later on for the files on your server which are no longer used ( say twice a day for all files that are 6 hours older since such a long session is highly improbable for any client ).

Hope this helps. If you need help with the coding let me know.

Regards,
Hari

[UKSEOAgency]

one of the things you will find, is its not just the receiving of a 100mb attachment which will cause you issues, its the sending.

I know my Broadband provider limits me at sending a 16mb or above email, and its the same in the office.

Also have you considered just how much time it is going to take to upload a 100mb file from the clients perspective via a http protocol (ie a file upload form as part of your cart).

What I would potentially do, is create a ftp account and request they include the order number as the file name, and even with FTP upload speeds, on most services it will still take in excess of 5 minutes, and if this was built into the order system, would increase the chance of dropouts on the conversions.

[ecartsolutions]

Hi Nathan

I agree with your case. However, If we could provide multiple choices for the customer like:
1. upload ( max 15 mb)
2. mail me ( max 5 Mb ) ( i suppose Gmail is one that supports the max. I am not used to any attachments more than that.. so please correct me if I am wrong ).
3. upload to a file sharing site.. password protect it.. mail me ( or update order ) with link and password on request.

Wont that work out ?

Regards,
Hari

[UKSEOAgency]

Hi Hari,

Whilst all of those points are true - the only thing which would concern me would be giving a user too much choice, a sales website should be about the conversion, and after payment has been taken the options should be given, the last thing you want is a user navigating away from your site to upload the file because they believe that they need to do this first, and then something else preventing them returning to make the sale, thinking they will come back to this later on and never returning.

At least if you have made the sale, and they are uploading after the sale has occurred
, they do not wish to waste there money and so will return with the file upload or provide the information you require.

[mangoprint]

good thinking!

Uploading after the sale sounds much better.

Receiving the money first is always a good idea!

[ecartsolutions]

Sure sounds very reasonable.. So I think we could narrow down to upload now ( max 16 mb) or recieve upload details later .. sounds ok ?

I am not sure how far the upload affects the sale.. like is there preview stage or something ? if so the upload is going to matter else not much of concern

Cheers Nathan ;)

[mangoprint]

I wouldn't need a preview. In a perfect world, I world walk into work in the morning, log into my cart and see half a dozen orders with the artwork attached to them or a link to download the artwork.

Is 16MB the max upload? how about 25? ta!

[UKSEOAgency]

you can set the max upload to what you want, however the problem becomes the practicality- personally i would get the upload done after the payment has been done - and if done properly then 25+ mb is possible but the user must be kept up to speed or they may think its crashed out as it takes a while.

[mangoprint]

I think I would have max as 25mb and have a progress indicator so the customer doesn't cancel half way through

[UKSEOAgency]

that would be the way i go about it

[mangoprint]

Anyone know of an alternative to 123reg to host shopping cart and that also has smtp?

[UKSEOAgency]

pm me - i have a server which i use to host shopping carts, can also arrange SSL certificates for you.