Install the Zen Cart on Linux and Windows with Screenshots.

Zen Cart is an open source online store management system. It is PHP-based, using a MySQL database and HTML components. Support is provided for several languages and currencies, and it is freely available under the GNU General Public License. Zen Cart branched from osCommerce as a separate project. Beyond some aesthetic changes, the major differences between the two systems come from Zen Cart's architectural changes(e.g. a template system) and additional included features in the core. Among the modules already included are a Gift Certificate/Voucher module which allows to create, send and manage the digital coupons. A module to sell downloads(pdf or other media files) is included as well. Zen Cart's default installation provides everything needed to maintain a shopping cart web site, however no warranty is given that the software fulfills its purpose. Products, pricing, shipping, newsletters, sales etc. are managed by the store owner through the administration area. The shopping cart is set up to receive payments from major credit cards and several payment gateway services are also provided.

The following is a list of some of the key features of Zen Cart as stated on their website:

    * multiple language support
    * multiple customer modes
    * unlimited category depth
    * multiple sales and discounts
    * multiple display modes
    * XHTML 1.0 compliant template system
    * extra pages
    * multiple ad banner controller
    * multiple shipping options
    * multiple payment options
    * newsletter manager
    * discount coupons
    * gift certificates
    * featured products
    * quantity discounts
    * phpBB integration through external module

How to install Zen Cart on your site?

1. Download the Zen Cart packages module from Zen Cart site . Link to download the module. Extract the Zen Cart-2.2rc2a.zip. After extracting you will get a folder Zen Cart-2.2rc2a.

2. Transfer the Zen Cart-2-2rc2a folder to your hosting or server.

3. Create database name according or related  to the Zen Cart. Set the user to access the Zen Cart database.

4. Open browser and the url type http://yourdomain.com/zc_install . This url is the first installation step to do. Please make sure you openssl extension on your php.ini is available. Click on the continue button to proceed installation. 

5. This is zen cart setup license confirmation. Choose I have read and agree and continue installation.

6. Zen Cart Setup system inspection. Take a moment to check your webserver suppors the features required for zen cart to operate. Please resolve any errors or warnings before continue. Then click on Install to continue.

7. Zen Cart setup database. Choose the database type to be used. Fill up the information on the database host, database username and password and database name. Please make sure you've already done this before install zencart. Click save database settings.

8. Zen Cart system setup for environment. Please carefully review each setting and change if nessary to suit your directory layout. Then click on save system settings to continue.

9. Zen cart setup phpbb. If you like to install phpBB forum, zen cart offer you to install this automatically for you. You may choose whether you want to use the phpBB forum or not. It's your decision.

10. This section of the Zen cart setup tool will help you begin setting up your basic store settings. You will be able to chage any of these settings later using the administration tool. Enter each value carefully and press save store settings to continue.

11. To adminster settings in your Zen cart shop, you need an administrative account. Please select an administrator's name and password and enter an email address for reset passwords to be sent to. Enter and check the information carefully and press save admin settings when you are done.

12. Zen Cart setup finished. Congratulations! You have successfully installed zen cart on your system.

13. This is your zen cart looks like.Cool!!!! Enjoy you zen cart. Heppy online trading.

BOB KEVIN