Opencart: installation and configuration

OpenCart - a content management system aimed at creating an online store. It is convenient, easy to operate and study. At the same time, the system has a powerful toolkit. About how the installation of OpenCart on different types of servers is going on, and this article will be discussed.

Some useful information about the management system of the online store OpenCart

OpenCart allows you to deploy a full-fledged online store in a short time. After installing OpenCart, you just need to change the design template and adjust the receipt of orders a little. Among the special advantages of this system are the following:

• Open source code that guarantees transparency in security;
• Good documentation and a great online community;
• Multilanguage;
• The presence of built-in modules that can be supplemented;
• Organization of tax calculation.

The system is undemanding to resources. It is enough to have on the server only a web server, a database and installed PHP. If the remote hosting is all out of the box, then to use the site on the local machine you have to install everything manually. Or use the finished products, for example, "Denver".

Installing "Denver" on your computer

"Denver" (DNVR) - a gentleman's set of web-developer. This is a set of programs for deploying a web server on a local machine. It contains the Apache web server, PHP, MySQL and many other modules for working with sites locally.

The developers of "Denver" tried to simplify the installation process as much as possible. It's enough to download the installer and run it. After installation, several shortcuts appear on the desktop - starting, stopping and restarting the server.

A successful notification will tell you about the successful installation, on the page with which you can find out about the current server configuration.

Integration of OpenCart into "Denver" and its configuration

Now you need to download OpenCart from the official site. It is advisable to use the latest version.

Now you need to prepare a little "Denver" for the installation of OpenCart. To do this, you must first create a folder for future site files. It looks like this:

Drive_name / home / site_name / www

It is here that you need to copy the files from the downloaded archive from OpenCart. Now you need to reboot the server using the shortcut on the desktop. Then again go to the address localhost and find the item "Setting up new databases ..." from the "Utilities" section.

The database setup menu opens, in which you need to fill in the required fields. Here everything is simple: all data is entered and a new database and user is created.

At this stage, the OpenCart installation can already be directly transferred to the system. To do this, again, go to localhost and find "List of registered sites." Here you select the required one and go to the "OpenCart Installation Wizard".

At the first step the system will offer to read the license agreement. There is also a Continue button. Clicking on it will move to the next item. This is where the MySQL database is configured. Here you need to enter information that was entered at the initial stage of the configuration.

The last step is to congratulate you on the successful installation. Also here is a notification that for security purposes you need to delete the installation folder. You can do this manually, by navigating the path of placing the site files.

Now the installation of the system can be considered complete.

Installing OpenCart Modules in a Simple Way

This process should be highlighted separately, since the correct installation of the module in OpenCart can be difficult for an unprepared user. The most common type of installation is VQMod in OpenCart. Usually this type is indicated in the description for the module. If not, you should look at the files inside the downloaded archive, and if there is a vqmod folder, then this is the case.

The installation technology of VQMod should not touch already existing files, so the user can alert the alert that they are being replaced.

Now it is more detailed. After downloading the archive, you need to unpack it. It has a folder with the main files. It should contain directories such as admin, catalog, system and others.

The installation itself occurs by elementary copying the contents of the folder to the server. If you use "Denver", then there is physical access, and you can do it manually. If the site is already on the hosting, you will have to connect to it via FTP.

After copying is complete, go to the OpenCart administrative panel. Here you are interested in the main menu, in which you need to select "Modules" from the "Add-ons" section. The list should show a freshly copied module.

Opposite him there is a link install, that is installation. Clicking on it activates this module. Depending on its type, you can redirect to the settings page. Now it remains to see how the module works live by going to the finished site.

Installing with OCMod

OCMod technology appeared in version 2.0. It is designed to simplify the introduction of modules into the system. Now you can install the module directly from the admin area. Instructions for installation are contained in the install.xml file of the module being installed. It is necessary to specify it as a download.

In this simple way, you can install OCMod-type modules.

OpenCart and real hosting on a remote server

Placement of any site on the Internet is connected with the purchase of hosting. This is the allocated space on the physical hard drive of the remote server. Depending on the configuration and type, it can cost differently. The cheapest is in the range of 1500-2000 rubles. in year. Next is the description of the OpenCart installation for hosting.

As in the case of "Denver", you must first download the archive with the system. It is assumed that the user already has the purchased hosting and all its settings.

The archive is unpacked and uploaded via FTP to a remote server. Now you need to create and configure a future database. This can be done from the hosting control panel. Here, just like in Denver, you specify the database name, user name and password. If everything is in order, then after going to the registered address on the Internet, a window with the first step of the OpenCart installation should be displayed.

Step-by-step installation is carried out in exactly the same way as on "Denver". At each stage, data is filled in or statistics are displayed. As a result, a window with a notification of the successful installation should appear.

Modifying templates and configuring them

To perform the installation of the template in OpenCart, you need, as in the previous cases, to download the archive with the design files. It is unpacked and copied to a remote or local server. In fact, this is the whole setup.

The user can only activate it and adjust it a little. To do this, go to the admin panel of the site. Now you need to go to the "System" section, the "Settings" item. Here you need the "Store" tab and its contents, or rather the settings of the current template. In the drop-down menu, you must select the one you have installed and save the changes.

In this simple way, the template is installed on OpenCart.

Conclusion

OpenCart is a fairly easy to maintain and install system. For its first online store and mastering the skills of administering sites, it is perfect. At the same time, the system develops and overgrown with new functions and capabilities. Now with her help you can very quickly create your own online store in just one day.

The presence of a large number of ready-made modules and templates gives a considerable scope for imagination, allowing you to realize all your creativity.

A large Russian-speaking community will always come to the aid of the beginning OpenCart user. A huge number of instructions and manuals will be able to step-by-step to carry out all the items of installation, configuration and updates.