Joomla! E-Commerce with VirtueMart | Date: 26 April 2011, 00:50
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Joomla! is an award-winning content management system, which can be used to build multiple types of websites including, but not limited to, e-commerce sites. Joomla!'s power comes from its extensibility through different types of extensions, namely components, modules, plug-ins, and templates. There is a vast repository of over 4,500 Joomla! extensions, most of which are available free of cost and comes with open source licensing. VirtueMart is one such extension which helps to build an online shop in conjunction with Joomla!. Being an extension of Joomla!, VirtueMart provides seamless integration with a Joomla! site, using the same security, look and feel, and convenient framework for extending the e-commerce application. Web developers can easily build a Joomla! and VirtueMart-based e-commerce website without the need for custom coding. Even ordinary people, with little knowledge in HTML, CSS, and PHP, can build a functional online store using Joomla! and VirtueMart. This book teaches how to build a Joomla! and VirtueMart online shop without delving into extensive coding.
What this book covers
Chapter 1, Introduction to Joomla! and E-Commerce, introduces Joomla! and VirtueMart along with some other components similar to VirtueMart. This chapter describes Joomla!, its main features, and the e-commerce options in Joomla!. It also elaborates on VirtueMart and its features, and lists alternatives to VirtueMart and the other shopping carts that can be used with Joomla!
Chapter 2, Installation and Basic Configuration of Joomla! and VirtueMart, explains the installation of Joomla! and Virtuemart. First, it shows the basic requirements for installing Joomla! and VirtueMart. It then proceeds to show the installation procedures for Joomla! and VirtueMart. This chapter also describes installing and uninstalling Joomla! components, plug-ins, modules, and templates. It also explains setting up the basic configurations for a Joomla! site, installing the VirtueMart component and modules, and configuring the basic options for a VirtueMart shop. At the end of this chapter, you will get a Joomla! site with the VirtueMart shopping cart installed.
Chapter 3, Configuring the VirtueMart Store, explains how to configure a VirtueMart shop. First, this chapter explains configuring the shop, creating and using appropriate zones, currencies, and locales, installing and uninstalling appropriate modules, and configuring those followed by configuring the payment methods, shipping methods, and taxes for the shop. The configuration options discussed in this chapter are specific to VirtueMart which gives basis for further configuring and customizing the shop.
Chapter 4, Managing the Product Catalogue, explains details about building a product catalogue and managing the catalogue for a VirtueMart store. This chapter teaches managing manufacturers and vendors, managing the product categories and products, creating and using product attributes, and creating and using product types. In this chapter, you are going to add and edit a lot of information about manufacturers, vendors, product categories, and products. In this chapter, the VirtueMart shop will take shape with the products you want to sell.
Chapter 5, Managing Customers and Orders, discusses managing customers and orders. Specifically, it teaches configuring the user registration settings for VirtueMart, managing users for the VirtueMart shop, creating and managing fields for the customer registration form, creating and managing user groups, and creating and using order status types. This is followed by viewing order statistics, viewing details of an order, updating an order, and managing inventory. The skills taught in this chapter are invaluable for any shop administrator.
Chapter 6, Customizing the Look and Feel, discusses customizing the look and feel of the shop. This chapter teaches installing and applying a new Joomla! template to the site. It then shows how to customize the look and feel of the VirtueMart store. It also explains VirtueMart theming and layouts. Later, this chapter shows how to customize the look and feel of the VirtueMart store as a whole, and how to use search engine friendly (SEF) URLs for your shop.
Chapter 7, Promotion and Public Relations, describes the promotion and public relations tools available in VirtueMart. This chapter teaches you to use Joomla!'s and VirtueMart's promotional tools like banner ads, specials, and featured products, and also how to use coupons to attract more customers. Later, this chapter explains how to use newsletters and product notifications to keep continuous communication with your customers. You will also learn how to use VirtueMart's product review feature to express customer experiences.
Chapter 8, Localization of VirtueMart, deals with the localization of VirtueMart. This chapter enables you to understand the need for, and importance of localization. It then shows you how to use different regions and region-specific taxes for the shop. This chapter also shows how to use multiple currencies for the shop. In addition to taxes and multiple currencies, this chapter also shows how to install new languages for the Joomla! site and VirtueMart shop. Later, it teaches how to translate the interface as well as website's contents into your desired language.
Chapter 9, Extending VirtueMart's Functionalities, deals with third-party extensions to extend VirtueMart's functionalities and tweaking some extensions to suit your needs. This chapter teaches you to use the appropriate extension for bulk import and export of products to your VirtueMart shop catalogue and to use product tag clouds. In addition to bulk import and export of product information, you will also learn to update multiple product information at the same time using AJAX. This is followed by using testimonials and commenting to improve product reviews and using wholesaling. In this chapter, you will also learn to use social networks and bookmarking sites to spread news about your site. This chapter also shows how to spice up your shop by using the new visual cart module, display slideshows with product images, and include modules in the content items.
Chapter 10, Maintenance and Troubleshooting, teaches you the necessary maintenance tasks and common problems that can occur. You will learn to move the shop to your server after building it on your local computer, back up and restore files and databases, and handle the security of your site. This is followed by identifying common problems, troubleshooting them, and finding solutions from online forums.
Appendix A, Configuration Options, lists detailed configuration options for some of
the shipping and payment modules for VirtueMart. This works as a reference point for using all shipping and payment modules with your Joomla! and VirtueMart online shop.
Appendix B, Resources for Joomla! and VirtueMart, mainly shows how to set up a development environment on your local computer and where to get the resources
for Joomla! and VirtueMart. First, it shows you how to setup a WAMP Server on your local computer for getting started with building the Joomla! and VirtueMart shop. Later, you get a list of sites from where you can get software, tutorials and support, for both Joomla! and VirtueMart.
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