Programming An Online Shop For vBulletin

[Wordplay]

i would like to put together an online shop, that works together with the vbulletin software. as i have described here:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=234190

considering i have practically no php knowledge except for how it works, and how we used to implement hacks/mods into older vb versions.

how long would it take me to learn how to write this mod myself? and could somebody supply me with a link that would help me learn to program this mod for my vbulletin 4 forum. i think i'll find somebody else to write it for me, but i'd love to be able to edit, change, and enhance it myself later on, so i really need to step up my php knowledge. and if i can't find anybody to write it for me, i'll have no choice but to do it myself anyways.

[Carnage]

I'd personally go for doing it as a set of content types. Have a read at the blog posts on vb.com on how to write widgets and content types. You will need:

A content type to represent items in your shop; to add an item to the store you just post a new item of this type. It'll need similar things to the article type for adding a description and images, plus some custom fields such as price, quantity etc.

A widget to display the users shopping basket.

Some custom code to handle adding items to a basket, removing them editing their quantities and checking out. You should take a look at how paid subscriptions are handled; you may be able to reuse some or all of that code.

A method of notifying you of orders. This could be as simple as emailing you the order once its paid for. Or a complex admin cp to deal with it all.

I would be very tempted to try and handle the above two items by creating a second custom content type to represent an order. It would be posted automatically by checking out and only visible to admins+ The custom code for adding items to a basket could simply be actions on an order content type controller.

You may also need to override the default list controller so that you can sort things by price/ other custom fields.

This is a product I'd be interested in developing; however I've no time to do custom coding for at least 3 months.

[Wordplay]

3 months? that's too bad, sadly i don't have that much time available for this.

but you seem to have a complete concept of this, do you honestly believe i could create something like this myself without real php knowledge simply by reading the blogs on vb.com?

thank you very much for the quick response.

[Carnage]

3 months is pretty much the minimum; I have two projects for uni that need to be done over the next month or two; coupled with upgrading my own site to vb4, maintaining my mods and having time to eat and sleep. So unless your budget for this runs to 5-6 figures (at this range, I could afford to hire extra programmers to assist :p), any sooner than that is probably unobtainable.

The blogs on vb.com give imo a fairly idiot proof tutorial on creating content types; the item one would be fairly easy to create. Its the order content type you'll struggle with as there is a lot less code you can use for an example and a lot more you will have to write on your own. If your PHP isn't very strong; you may struggle getting your head around how everything works, It took me a whole afternoon and i'm 3/4 of my way through a masters in computer science. So you are looking at a week or two minimum. Also, theres the issue that people who are new to programming often make serious mistakes when it comes to efficiency and security, security being quite important when it comes to a shop.

My concept for this is quite well thought through, my only real concern is quite how well the content types system would handle the order content type. If i've time over the next few days I'll have a look into this a bit more for you - I'm pretty sure I could get the shopitem content type working in no time; its the checkout/order content type that'll take the time- If that turns out to be easier than I think, I may be able to supply you with some or all of the code you'll need to do this.

[Wordplay]

6 figures? as in 100,000? i didn't even know programmers earned that much for 1 project. that is definitely far beyond my budget's limit.

i wish there was an already existing shop software that does everything i need and could be integrated into vbulletin the way i need it to be.

anyways if you could look into it, and it turns it's easier to do than you believed, i'd appreciate the extra help. i still haven't received a single offer from any coders to take this on, or even assist me with this, except for your replies here, so i'm pretty much stranded, with no other option but to learn to code this myself. i have 2 months i guess i'll get started on it this weekend.

can you link me to a good starting point (what blogs i must read first etc)? i would truly appreciate that carnage.

[Carnage]

If I had the time for doing this, my bid would be in the range of 2-5000 depending on the number of features and estimated time. The 5-6 figure sum I was talking about would be how much it'd take for me to get it done now as i'd have to hire a developer or two to work with me.

If your php isn't very strong I'd recomend starting here: http://uk3.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.php read that section at least twice through. Make sure you understand it, it'll help a lot when you come to dive into code.

Second, install a development board. I'd suggest a clean copy of vb for the moment installed to a separate location. Password protect this install using .htaccess (as required by liscense agreements) Put this into debug mode ($config['misc']['debug'] =true; in config.php)

Read the following articles:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=228078 (and the two blogs linked at the bottom) https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=217570 https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=231525 https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=228112 Read them again. Once you are fairly sure you understand them, add your own template to the MASTER STYLE to experiment with the concepts.

If that dosn't take you most of the weekend, you probably didn't cover them in enough detail. As a bit of light reading for sunday bedtime; try these two blogs http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/entry.php?2396-Programming-your-own-CMS-Content-Type
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/entry.php?2370-Widget-Programming

There are a lot more things to read up on like the $vbulletin object the $db object but i've not found good referances for them yet

[Wordplay]

just noticed i never replied to this. thanks a lot for the helpful links. i really wish i didn't have to program it myself all by myself, as it just seems to be so much work. but i guess if i can't find anybody to do it for me by monday i'll have to get started on it myself.

[microlight]

What's wrong with www.oscommerce.com ?

[Carnage]

No integration with vbulletin 4 for starters.

[Satviewers]

Oscommerce has been integrated here: www.itvault.com

If anyone wants to check it out.

[donottumbledry]

I hand-coded, from scratch a complete online shop for vBulletin 3.6.x series. It took me about 2 months from start to finish. It has full customer shopping cart, back-end order and product management and email alerts, discounts plus (of course) integration with vBulletin user tables to pull user information.

I will say though it was a pig to do.

So - if you have the time and plenty of coding experience then go for your own custom-written job, it'll be well worth it and very satisfying when complete. However, if you have very limited PHP knowledge then I would strongly recommend paying someone else to do it or look for an off-the-shelf option because it'll save you an awful lot of headaches.

[merk_aus]

vBDigishop is probably the best one available out there.

[mandingo]

vBDigishop is probably the best one available out there.

vb4 I haven't seen VbDigishop for 4 yet.

[vertfreak101]

I own an online poker site, and I am looking for a programming inwhich staking (moneyshare agreements) is available in my forum atmosphere.. This has been done before and well at partimepoker.com, I would love a set up similiar to them! I am curious to find someone capable of setting this up for me with much more detailed information obviously.. This is a hobby site so Im not rolling in dough but I am sure we can work something out!

Thank you!

Adam

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Please create your own thread with your request instead of posting in an unrelated thread.I own an online poker site, and I am looking for a programming inwhich staking (moneyshare agreements) is available in my forum atmosphere.. This has been done before and well at partimepoker.com, I would love a set up similiar to them! I am curious to find someone capable of setting this up for me with much more detailed information obviously.. This is a hobby site so Im not rolling in dough but I am sure we can work something out!

Thank you!

Adam

[betty02]

Thought instead of creating a new thread and getting linked to this one i would just bump this one up. Any news on a shop integration? I refuse to pay for itvault as i have already paid for my vBulletin license and OSCommerce what they use is free!

[Carnage]

I've put this on my list of projects to look at doing once i've got my university project out of the way.

[betty02]

Carnage- that's awesome, I found a guy who has done it but it charging 85 for it! Which I refuse to pay as OSCommerce is free! Does look good though, keeps the vB header and navbar and footer etc just like embedded in but all reads from the vB database for usernames and passwords so when the register to the forums they don't need to re-register for the shop!

[betty02]

Any updates on this? Or any free vB 4 Carts?

[Carnage]

I've begun a little initial design work; but I was waiting for 4.0.4 before really starting on this.

[Santori]

Hello:
There existes an new eshop system called "magento". Better than osscomerce and with mods and templates sistem as vbulletin.

It´s free. There is too and vbulletin product for magento. This product connects the magento datbase to vbulletin and put a link to the vb. If you are logged at vb, you are logged at the shop.

That mod is free too.

[betty02]

Can't find no vBulletin 4 integration on there website?

[janaf]

I'd say Carnages outline in the second post is showing the right way to go. That would give the basis for a tight integration into the vB site. I'd like a shop that feels well inside the vB based site, both for users and from shop administration point of view. Things like support areas and downloads / documentation acces to be based on vB groups (if members buys this, add him / her to this vB group) without doing it manually would definitly be wanted.

As far as I can see the osCommerce / itvault integration (and others?) syncs the accounts with vB but the shopping site will be an entirely a separate structure. I guess the upside is that osCommerce is a well developed system, but web site integration between vB and osCommerce may be kid of weak and it may be hard to set them up to have similar apearance as my vB site. And administration would be entirely separated. I have no problem paying ?85 for it, or for a vB integrated shop mod, if it is what I need and if I feel it is a long term solution.

The I have coded a couple of shops in asp and integrated into my previous sites. My experience is that a good back-end (shop administration, order and customer management) is where the bulk of the work needs to be done, while the actual shop / cart system, at least for a simple system, does not need to be that complicated. Creation of shop items based on some db import (create CSM pages in carnages outline) would also be high on my list. I also have the experience that even a small shop needs lots of work so I would look for a LONG term solution, meaning either based on a big community effort or interesting enough for a developer to maintain long term. Like many, my business is not big enough to carry the full work / cost of a custom shop / code development.

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By the way, there is vBulletin Integration mentioned on the Magento site. Last updated November 2, 2009 so it can not be vB4...

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Sorry, the Magento vb3? integration is at http://www.aitoc.com/

[janaf]

As far as I can see the osCommerce / itvault integration (and others?) syncs the accounts with vB but the shopping site will be an entirely a separate structure. I guess the upside is that osCommerce is a well developed system, but web site integration between vB and osCommerce may be kid of weak and it may be hard to set them up to have similar apearance as my vB site. And administration would be entirely separated. I have no problem paying ?85 for it, or for a vB integrated shop mod, if it is what I need and if I feel it is a long term solution.

I have been looking a bit at itvault and it seems I was wrong. It installs osCommerce something like a vb product and the admin pages apear in th ACP. You get the shop as another tab in the vb menues and new shop pages from there. Not shure how / if vb templates are used. itvault / oscommerce is not running as a widget as far as I see. I may try it...

[Santori]

Hello:

I think the best way is to make a prestashop as vbulletin shop.

I design my prestashop exactly like my forum.

Forum
http://www.aquaterraria.com/forum.php


Shop

http://www.aquaterraria.com/tienda/