Should I make an osCommerce Integration?
 

Hi;
Just wondering if there is or should I be coding an osCommerce Integration hack? I need one done so that both osCommerce and vB use the same user database, and perhaps offer discounts based on user group; and thus far, I've yet to see anything like it. So, here's a quick poll, should I do it or not?

you got my vote.. however, you may want to speak to Wayne Luke.. I think he may be able to offer you a bit of insight as to OSC and vB integration.. I personally would love to see this and with the discount per usergroup option you mentioned..

nice idea and gl if you decide to do this..

Right now, I can foresee two or three set backs; one of them is fairly small, and the other two I still need to poke around...

First, the small one is the user integration. OSC have their 2.2 Milestone 2's database structure listed in a PDF file bundled with the download. From what I can see, there will need to be a few custom fields added to vB's db, and a new registration form made to get all the info into the right tables.

Second, the slightly bigger one is the looks and feel of vB. Right now, I am not sure if the vB looks and feel can be carried over as I've had my vB license for lesser than a month and I have no idea how to clone the looks and feel yet; this could be a set back that I'll have to look at / address later.

I have yet to look at OSC's purchase system, I wonder if it would be very difficult to add a few SQL calls around them to check for user group and apply discounts or if there is similar modules. I think an easy way to tackle this is to set two price tags to each merchandies; one for standard price, another for discounted group's price. But by doing so, it will limit the discount to only one usergroup alone. Ideally, I would like to have multiple user levels with different discount values for each product. That definetly will need some work, and thus is the biggest set back I can foresee right now.

I think, given time and assume that I can work out those above three things, integration shouldn't be possible. If all else fails, another way to do it is to use snipplets of OSC's code, and build it from vB. However, that way it wouldn't be an integration, but quite a large hack...

I would definetly like to hear some opinions on this one though. Seems to be quite a bit of work ahead of me and I'm not even quite sure where to start yet :)

If something like this is possible. I am ready to pay $$ too :)

Thnx. for putting this up

ofcuz you should! i m waiting for this...:ninja:

Good news, I was pointed to a link which covers how to make none vB pages look like vB. That means one of the three problems is kind of resolved. I will start poking around with it shortly.

Well an integration would be dandy, but what exactly needs integrating?

The most essential part of both softwares -- the users. And perhaps the interface, so that the two looks the same through out.

As mentioned above, what I have in mind right now is to share the "user" table from vBulletin with osCommerce to replace its "customers" table. Then, preferably, I would like to try to make it so that both software share the same skin so the site looks the same through out. Finally, I would like to try to make it so certain selected user group can have discounted price on selected items.

If there are any other suggestions, I would definetly like to hear it and see if I can include it in this one...

Cheers

I like to think of the two as seperate sites, but it would be extremely handy to intergrate the users table. I currently run a store on osCommerce and forums on vb.

Any new leads on this, Huang? I would REALLY, REALLY need this if you could make it happen!!! Thanks. :)