CMSMS Shop Skin Helper
The CMSMS Shop Skin Helper tool will create cached skin files based upon a CMS Made Simple template that can be used to skin your eCommerce (Zen Cart or osCommerce for example) shop. This tool will allow you to rapidly update your eCommerce skin when changes are made to your CMS Made Simple template. The skin files are cached on the server so they load quickly.
File Size: 184 kb
Version: 1.2 - November 13, 2009
MD5 Sum: b12ca11f0aeffbd0e2213e4e9c4e61c5
License & Copyright:
Copyright © 2009 Stephen R. Owens
This software is licensed under the GNU GPL version 3.0.
About CMSMS Shop Skin Helper
The skin files created with CMSMS Shop Skin Helper will surround the eCommerce (Zen Cart / osCommerce) content. Think of it like two pieces of bread on a sandwich, with eCommerce (Zen Cart / osCommerce) being the filling between the slices of bread. In CMS Made Simple you would create a template and put the {content} tag into the template where you wanted your page content to be displayed.
By default this tool will creating three skin files, based upon your CMS Made Simple template, that will “sandwich” the eCommerce (Zen Cart / osCommerce) content.
Once you see how this tool works you can use it create skins beyond the three files, and not necessarily skins just for on top of eCommerce, but for other types of pages and applications.
Requirements
Depending on your PHP configuration one of the following:
- allow_url_include turned on (off by default in PHP v5.2.x)
- cURL
If you are going to follow the directions in the About.pdf (included in the download), then you will need:
- CMS Made Simple
- an eCommerce platform like osCommerce (with STS or BTS contrib installed) or Zen Cart
How to Use
Read the About.pdf file included in the download. It provides a brief walk-through tutorial on setting up the code for CMS Made Simple skinning of osCommerce / Zen Cart . Beyond that it is up to you to use your imagination and figure out ways to utilize the code.
Support
Visit the CMS Made Simple Forums, and this thread in particular: http://forum.cmsmadesimple.org/index.php/topic,36302.0.html
History
2009-NOV-13: v1.2
+ Added the debug variable back into the functions to output success or fail messages
2009-AUG-13 : v1.1
* in a measure to improve security some servers have disabled the PHP option allow_url_fopen and allow_url_include
+ Added alternative file create function using CURL
2009-JUL-31 : v1.0
* First public release
+ Added timeToLive, which can be used to automate the creation of the skin files after a certain amount of time
2009-APR-09 : v0.1 Beta
* Using GPL 3.0 License for this project
* Creates cached files from a CMS Made Simple template that contains the designated comments
* Files are stored for use as a skin with another template system
* Strips http and replaces with dynamic code to allow the new created skin header file to work if SSL is being used
* Tried to comment every line of code to make it easier for others to modify
Copyright © 2001 - 2010, Stephen R. Owens, All rights reserved.
Comments for "CMS Made Simple eCommerce Skin Helper for osCommerce and Zen Cart"
This sounds so great and is exactly what I need.
Unfortunately I must get my server-admin to install cURL now, as he forgot to integrate it...
But I have already one suggestion:
The information
"this file can be called manually to update the skin files; or it can update the skin files based upon how long the skins files have existed see the timeToLive variable under settings for more information"
was not in your about.pdf, so I would suggest to add the info
- where to upload it
- how to use manually
to your about.pdf!
I will keep you informed about my progress!
Connie
Instructions are already include in the about.pdf file for the following:
(1) " - where to upload it"
STEP 5: Upload the cmsms_shop_skin_helper.php file and shopskin folder
(2) " - how to use manually"
* STEP 6: Run cmsms_shop_skin_helper.php
timeToLive
This is an advanced feature. The timeToLive variable, and directions on how to use it, are found directly in the source code cmsms_shop_skin_helper.php (look around line 48). The source code is very well commented throughout.
I posted more details on using timeToLive on the CMSMS Forum.
First of all my complements for your excellent work! I've been looking for ages for a good way to implement a shop in to CMS made simple. I've tested several CMSMS modules but not to my satisfaction. I've been working with Zen Cart a lot too, so the integration of Zen Cart to CMSMS is GREAT!!
Today I tried the shop skin helper and it works great, the about.pdf is good to follow and the site looks good.
I can now use all the features from CMSMS and Zen Cart together... THANX again for your great effort!!!!!
Glad you found it useful. I personally find skinning easier to maintain that a full blow CMS eCommerce module or CMS to eCommerce bridge. This skinning tool allows you to choose any eCommerce package you want.
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