beginner php questions (is this even php?)

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rubbed
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beginner php questions (is this even php?)

Post by rubbed »

I'll keep it simple. This is just an example but similar to my problem. I believe its mainly to do with PHP.

Can I set up a site so people can make user accounts, login, and buy stuff, and when they do buy stuff I'll know it was from them.

My problem is that im afraid if I make a login system, nothing will happen when they login, the pages will look the same and when they buy something from the website, i wont have a clue who bought it. How do you make the same pages change once they logged in?

If they goto a page called www.[site].com/necklace.html and want to buy the product, it will ask them to login or register.

When they login or register, when they go back to that same page, will the site know they have logged on and welcome them with something like "welcome back xxx". How do you do that? I see it all the time, is it a different page that redirects when you login?

And if someone buys this product, will i know which user did so?

I'm not sure if this is all php but I have a feeling it is.

Hope someone can answer.
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mikemike
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Re: beginner php questions (is this even php?)

Post by mikemike »

PHP is a language you use to create dynamic behaviour on websites (not exclusively). What you're describing is possible in PHP, as are most things. PHP is not a pre-built system though that you can play about with and change, it is a language that you use to build systems.

It sounds to me like you want an e-commerce system and would like to edit it. osCommerce is built in PHP and is free, as are many other shopping carts, try having a play about with those. However, if you're a beginner I don't think you should begin with a project involving money transfers, you may end up landing yourself in trouble if you don't know what you're doing.
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omniuni
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Re: beginner php questions (is this even php?)

Post by omniuni »

I agree with MikeMike.

Also, check out zencart.

If you want to build your own website, or you have just a few products, you can use paypal to handle the transactions, and I have a pretty easy to use CMS that handles e-commerce through PayPal if you're interested.
steve9876
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Re: beginner php questions (is this even php?)

Post by steve9876 »

You may want to rethink requiring customers to register and create accounts. While it might be nice to know who your buyers are, is it worth driving away those who don't want to register and be spammed (which could very well be their suspicion)? Are your offerings really that desirable?

I think "Welcome back, ----" is usually done with cookies. I, for one, normally have cookies turned off.
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superdezign
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Re: beginner php questions (is this even php?)

Post by superdezign »

You could also take the approach that many e-commerce sites are taking where, instead of creating an account, they create pseudo-accounts attached to individual e-mail addresses. Users will give you their e-mail, but nothing more. You can send them their confirmation information, and they never need to hear from you again. This allows skeptics to get temporary e-mail accounts and for the return customers to use their real accounts multiple times.

This would at least give you a loose representation of when a customer is a repeat buyer, but most e-commerce websites don't really care *who* purchases, just that they complete the purchase. You need to make it as easy as possible with the least amount of intrusion.
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