oscommerce newb question

[mobile]

I have used the control panel to install osCommerce into my directory. I am running a pc (windows XP) and using dreamweaver to modify/create my site. When I tried downloading the server's osCommerce folder into dreamweaver and modifying it locally everthing has a .php extension. Dreamweaver (assuming other programs too) needs a testing server to allow me to modify anything locally with a .php extention. I searched the forums and found no information that seemed pertinent to this issue. At the present time if I want to change something in osCommerce I must make changes directly to the server.

I was wondering if there is a way to modify the look and feel of osCommerce on my local machine and then put my files on the server. Any constructive suggestions will be appreciated.



PS: I figure I could do the following... it just seems tedious

1.
Download the servers osCommerce folder into Dreamweaver.
2.
Make changes directly on the server
3.
Test the site and determine if my changes have the intended affect.
4.
a. If changes went badly, upload the local folder and overwrite the files
on the server.
b. If changes go correctly, download the server's folder to my local
machine and overwrite the local data.

[jason]

Since PHP is a server-side technology, if you are changing code then yes, you'll need a testing server to see/test your changes. You can, however, install a web server on your local machine (for example, if you are running Windows 2000 or XP Pro you can install Internet Information Server right from the Windows disc) and install PHP to work with it.

Personally, what I do is similar to the approach you mention: I keep both a backup and a working copy on my local machine. I make changes to the local copy and then move them to (depending on the project) to a test machine, to a test install on the production server (such as a subdomain), or (if the change is minor and not critical) directly to the production site. I don't bother with the advanced features of Dreamweaver since I mainly just use it for prototyping.

If all you are doing is changing the look of PHP pages, you might be able to edit them in Dreamweaver, save them, and then open the local file in the browser (you may have t o do this with File > Open since your browser probably isn't configured to automatically open .php files). Depending on how the PHP code is written this may or may not work. Since I don't use OSC, I can't speak for that program.

--Jason

[the_ancient]

I used to Develop OSC sites, OSC in it's defualt form is a pain to customize anyway.

I recommend the Following

1> Go to oscommerce.com and get the Lastest Mile Stone release. and install that. the Cpanel dist. is outdated

2> Go to the Contributions section and find and install a Template System, I prefer BTS (better template system) but there are a few to choose from..

If you dont want to Install any Mods our Self there are a Few Premodded versions as well,

one i have used in the past is http://phesis.co.uk/