Build a Full Featured Ecommerce Website With Opencart
TLDRIn this informative video, the presenter guides viewers through the process of building a fully functional e-commerce website using OpenCart, an open-source platform. They advise against paid hosted e-commerce programs due to limited customization options and lack of access to source code. The video covers downloading and uploading OpenCart to a live web host, setting up a database, and customizing the storefront. It also includes creating a logo in Photoshop, adding products and categories, and configuring payment options like PayPal. The presenter emphasizes the importance of deleting sample data and tailoring the site to the user's needs. By the end of the tutorial, viewers have a live online store ready for business, showcasing the capabilities of OpenCart for e-commerce.
Takeaways
- ποΈ OpenCart is an open-source e-commerce platform that allows for full customization and access to source code, unlike many paid hosted solutions.
- π‘ It is advisable to use open-source platforms like OpenCart, Magento, or PrestaShop due to their community support and lack of reliance on a single company for support.
- π InMotion Hosting is recommended for shared hosting, offering affordable plans and full cPanel access, which is beneficial for managing databases and files.
- π OpenCart comes with a variety of features such as product slideshows, wish lists, authentication systems, order tracking, and customer support functionalities.
- π The platform includes a cart system with options to change quantities, remove items, apply coupon codes, estimate shipping, and add gift certificates.
- π³ OpenCart supports multiple payment methods including PayPal, and has a checkout process that can be customized for guest or registered users.
- π§ Customization can be done through CSS editing for color changes and through the back-end dashboard for managing categories, products, manufacturers, and other store settings.
- πΌοΈ To add a custom logo, you can use image editing software like Photoshop and upload the new logo through the back-end settings.
- π The back-end dashboard provides analytics, sales data, customer information, and other essential store management tools.
- π οΈ Extensions can be added or modified through the back-end to enhance the functionality of the store, such as adding a slideshow or enabling different payment methods.
- βοΈ Before going live, it's crucial to delete the sample data and install necessary extensions for a fully functional and customized e-commerce site.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video?
-The video is about creating a full-featured e-commerce website using OpenCart, an open-source platform.
Why does the speaker recommend against using paid hosted e-commerce programs?
-The speaker advises against paid hosted e-commerce programs because they often do not provide access to the source code, which makes customization and originality difficult.
What are some of the open-source platforms mentioned in the video?
-The video mentions OpenCart, Magento, and PrestaShop as examples of good open-source platforms for e-commerce.
What hosting service does the speaker recommend for shared hosting?
-The speaker recommends InMotion Hosting for shared hosting.
What does the speaker suggest for creating a logo for the e-commerce site?
-The speaker suggests using Adobe Photoshop to create a custom logo and provides a walkthrough of the process.
How does the speaker demonstrate adding products to the online store?
-The speaker shows how to add products by entering product information, uploading images, and setting up product details pages.
What is the process for setting up the database for the OpenCart e-commerce site?
-The process involves creating a MySQL database and a user with all privileges through cPanel, and then using phpMyAdmin to manage the database.
How does the video guide viewers through the installation of OpenCart?
-The video guides viewers through downloading OpenCart, uploading it to a web host via FTP, renaming config files, and going through the installation wizard by providing database details and creating an admin account.
What is the importance of deleting the installation directory after setting up OpenCart?
-Deleting the installation directory is crucial for security reasons to prevent unauthorized access to the site's setup.
How can users customize the appearance of their OpenCart store?
-Users can customize their store by editing the CSS file for colors, changing the logo, setting up manufacturers and categories, and adjusting the layout through the backend.
What payment options are discussed in the video for the e-commerce site?
-The video discusses enabling PayPal as a payment option and mentions the availability of other payment extensions such as authorize.net and cash-on-delivery.
Outlines
π Introduction to OpenCart Ecommerce Platform
The video begins with an introduction to OpenCart as an open-source e-commerce platform. The speaker advises against paid hosted e-commerce programs due to limited customization options and suggests open-source alternatives like Magento and PrestaShop. The plan is to download OpenCart, upload it to a live web host with a domain, and set it up. Inmotion hosting is recommended for shared hosting, and an affiliate link is provided for discounted packages. The project example is an online shop called 'DJ Outlet' selling DJ equipment, with a customized logo and color scheme. The video will cover the full setup process, including front-end features like product wish lists, authentication, and product details pages with reviews and related products.
π» Setting Up Hosting and Database for OpenCart
The second paragraph explains the process of setting up hosting and a database for OpenCart. The speaker details the use of cPanel for creating a MySQL database and a user with full privileges. It also covers the installation of OpenCart, which involves downloading the platform from its official website, extracting the files, and uploading them to the web host via FTP using a client like FileZilla. Special attention is given to renaming configuration files and ensuring that the upload folder contains only the necessary files for the website.
π§ Installing and Configuring OpenCart
The speaker walks through the installation process of OpenCart by accessing the installation directory through a web browser and proceeding step by step. The installation includes checking PHP versions and configurations, entering database parameters, and creating an admin account. After setup, the speaker emphasizes the importance of deleting the installation directory for security reasons and demonstrates how to access the front-end shop and the back-end admin dashboard.
π οΈ Customizing the Store: Attributes, Manufacturers, and Sliders
This section covers customizing the store by managing attributes, manufacturers, and sliders. The speaker explains how to delete sample data, such as attribute groups and manufacturers, and how to create new ones. It also shows how to set up sliders on the front end using extensions and modules, and how to manage customers and the affiliate system. The interface is praised for its intuitiveness and customizability.
πͺ Deleting Sample Data and Starting Afresh
The video script details the process of removing all sample data from the OpenCart installation to start from scratch. This includes deleting categories, products, attributes, banners, and manufacturers. The speaker also explains how to disable sample banners instead of deleting them and emphasizes the importance of a clean start for a new e-commerce site.
π¨ Customizing the Store's Look and Logo
The focus of this paragraph is on customizing the store's appearance, including changing the store's name, meta tags, and creating a custom logo using Photoshop. The speaker guides viewers on how to upload and set a custom logo for the store, change the store owner's information, and modify the store's settings such as the country, region, and currency. It also touches on how to change the admin view logo and customize the back end.
π Adding Manufacturers and Categories
The speaker demonstrates how to add new manufacturers and categories to the store. This involves uploading manufacturer logos, filling out SEO URLs, and using Lorem Ipsum for category descriptions. The process of uploading product images and associating them with categories is also covered, with an emphasis on organizing the store's product offerings effectively.
π Adding Products and Customizing the Front End
This part of the script explains how to add products to the store, including entering product details, descriptions, prices, and uploading product images. The speaker also shows how to add products to the home page using modules, and how to edit the store's CSS to change colors and other visual elements. The process of adding a slideshow to the home page using banners and modules is also detailed.
π³ Setting Up Payments and Testing the Checkout Process
The final paragraph covers setting up payment options, specifically using PayPal. The speaker guides viewers on how to install and configure the PayPal payment standard extension, enter PayPal email address, and enable the payment method. It also includes a brief demonstration of the login system and the process of adding items to the cart, applying a coupon, and checking out using the PayPal option. The video concludes with a summary of the steps taken to create a fully functional e-commerce site using OpenCart.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Ecommerce Website
π‘OpenCart
π‘Web Hosting
π‘cPanel
π‘MySQL Database
π‘FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
π‘Configuration Files
π‘Product Management
π‘Customer Authentication System
π‘Payment Gateway
π‘Customization
Highlights
The video demonstrates how to create a full-featured online store using OpenCart, an open-source e-commerce platform.
Advises against using paid hosted e-commerce programs due to limited customization options.
Recommends open-source platforms like OpenCart, Magento, and PrestaShop for their community support and customization possibilities.
Suggests InMotion Hosting for shared hosting and provides an affiliate link for it.
Demonstrates the process of setting up a live web host with a domain name and uploading OpenCart.
Shows how to customize the default OpenCart theme using CSS and create a custom logo in Photoshop.
Explains the features of the OpenCart front-end, including product display, authentication system, and review options.
Details the process of adding products to a cart, applying coupon codes, and estimating shipping.
Discusses the back-end features of OpenCart, including analytics, customer tracking, and support options.
Guides on setting up a MySQL database for storing user and product information.
Provides instructions on uploading OpenCart files to a web host using FTP and FileZilla.
Explains how to install OpenCart and the importance of deleting the installation directory for security.
Demonstrates how to delete sample data and start customizing the store from scratch.
Shows how to create new categories and products, and add them to the home page.
Provides steps to edit the CSS file to change the color scheme of the website.
Details the process of setting up a slideshow on the homepage using OpenCart's extension features.
Explains how to enable and configure payment options, specifically PayPal, for the e-commerce site.
Demonstrates testing the login system, applying a coupon, and simulating a checkout process with PayPal.
Mentions the ability to edit informational pages like 'About Us' and 'Privacy Policy' through the back-end.