First Steps

Getting started setting up your store

Basics - Components of Zen Cart

How the pieces fit together

Basics - Default files, template default and overrides

What is a default file vs a template file?

Basics - Deployment Configurations

Ways to install Zen Cart

Basics - Hosting and Domain concepts

Domains, Name Servers, Hosting and more

Basics - Security

Operating Zen Cart in a secure manner

Basics - Store Setup Checklist

Things to do when setting up a store

Basics - Terms and Definitions

Terms used throughout this site

Basics - URLs

URL structure used by Zen Cart

Basics - Useful Tools

Useful Tools for working with Zen Cart

Categories and Products - Adding them to your store

Populating your store

Databases

Where is the data stored in Zen Cart?

Demo Data

Example product and configuration data for new users

Documentation

How to use this site

Downloading Zen Cart

Where can I download the Zen Cart code?

Glossary

Terms you will see in Zen Cart documentation

How do I Install Zen Cart?

Should I use Softaculous or Installatron?

Learning Trails for Zen Cart

How do I get started learning Zen Cart?

Relative URLs

The importance of relative versus absolute links

Server Requirements for running Zen Cart

What kind of server do I need?

SSL certificate - yes you need one

Why your online store should be using SSL / HTTPS

Technologies used in Zen Cart

What are the building blocks of Zen Cart

Version Information for Zen Cart, PHP and MySQL

Version Information for Zen Cart, PHP and MySQL

Where is the Admin / Back-end / Control Panel interface?

I don’t have an “/admin” folder!

What's Next?

What do I do to start customizing my cart?


Do you have a suggestion for a FAQ? Please post it to General Questions on the support forum.
Last modified March 26, 2020 by Scott C Wilson (517a453).