CS-Cart is really easy to install! The following instructions will guide you through the installation process. Usually, it takes just several minutes to complete. Download and print out a PDF copy of the instructions so you have them handy during the installation.
If you want to install CS-Cart onto a local computer, please use our special guide that will tell you how to deploy a full-fledged web server on your Windows machine and install CS-Cart.
It is quite simple!
Before the installation
There are a few things that you need to have and do before you begin installing CS-Cart. These are:
| 1. | Check that your web server meets the minimum system requirements. |
| 2. | Ensure that you can access your web server via shell or FTP. |
| 3. | Connect to your MySQL server and create a database for CS-Cart. |
| 4. | Check that you know a License number for CS-Cart unless you are going to install the trial version. |
| 5. | Download the latest version of CS-Cart from the File Area of your Help Desk account or from the CS-Cart website , if you are installing the trial version. |
Note: MySQLi or pdo_mysql must be supported for the correct work of CS-Cart.Downloading and extracting CS-Cart
First download the compressed distribution package with the CS-Cart files to your local computer.
Now you need to place the files in a web accessible directory on your server or hosting account. This can be either the web root or any of its subdirectories like <web_root>/store/. If you nest the files directly in the web root, the store home page will have the URL like http://www.example.com/index.php . Otherwise, the URL will contain the name of the subdirectory right after the domain name, for example, http://www.example.com/store/index.php.
| ▪ | If you have shell access to your web server and are comfortable with using a console terminal, upload the compressed distribution package to the required directory on your web server and extract the archive using one of the following shell commands. |
unzip < cscart_vX.X.X.tgz | tar -xvf -or
tar -xzvf cscart_vX.X.X.tgz
| ▪ | If there is only FTP access available, extract the archive on your local computer and then use your favorite FTP client to put the files from the package to the required directory on your web server. Make sure you retain the original file and directory structure. |
Adjusting file permissionsNow, you need to set the proper file permissions.
On a UNIX-based server with terminal access, run the following commands one by one:
chmod 666 config.local.php
chmod -R 777 design images var
find design -type f -print0 | xargs -0 chmod 666
find images -type f -print0 | xargs -0 chmod 666
find var -type f -print0 | xargs -0 chmod 666
If you do not have terminal access to your server, you can change file access permissions using an FTP client. Most of them have the "Change permissions" or "Change mode" functions. With the help of these functions you can set the permissions for the 'config.local.php' file and the directories listed above.
The 'chmod 666 config.local.php' command means that the 666 permissions (read and write permissions for the file user, group, and others) will be set for the 'config.local.php' file.
The 'chmod -R 777 design' command means that the 777 (read, write, and execute) permissions are set for the directory, its subdirectories, and all the files within these directories.
Please refer to your FTP client documentation for more detailed instructions on setting file permissions.
In order to set the same file access permissions on a Windows-based server, you may need to give full permissions for the files and directories to the user with the IUSR account.
Create a MySQL database
Create a MySQL database (you may need to create a MySQL user before that) via your website control panel. Remember the MySQL name, host, user name, and password; they will be required at the next installation step.
Running the Installation Wizard
Point your favorite web browser to run the installation script.
| ▪ | If you placed the CS-Cart files directly in the web root, open http://www.example.com/install/ |
| ▪ | If you placed the CS-Cart files to a subdirectory like <web_root>/store/, open http://www.example.com/store/install/ |
Make sure to replace the www.example.com part from the examples with your true domain name.This will open the Installation Wizard that will guide you through the installation. It consists of the only two steps, after completing which you will see a screen saying that the installation is done.
Installation procedure
Step 1: License agreement
Please thoughtfully read the CS-Cart License Agreement, and select the check box below the text of the Agreement to confirm that you agree with the conditions of the Agreement. If you do not agree with any part of the Agreement, stop the installation by closing the current page of the web browser.
If it is not the first time that you have been installing CS-Cart to this directory, the Wizard will ask you to enter the Auth Code for the CS-Cart installation. This is a protection from unauthorized access to the installation script.
Click Next step to continue.
Step 2: Installation
At this step, you should set server configuration and make some administration settings. The Wizard checks that your web server meets the minimum system requirements to run CS-Cart at this step too.
If some of the tested parameters are indicated as failed, you need to fix them before you can continue the installation.
Server configuration
Here you need to provide the details of your web server host and MySQL server as well as specify your database parameters.
The fields in this form mean as follows:
| • | Store URL - The URL to access your store. |
| ▪ | Secure server host name - DNS name of the secure server to ensure HTTPS access to your store. |
| ▪ | Secure server host directory - Web directory on the secure server where CS-Cart files are located. |
| ▪ | MySQL server host - DNS name or the IP-address of your MySQL server. |
| ▪ | MySQL database name - Name of your MySQL database. |
| ▪ | MySQL user - Username for your MySQL user account. |
| ▪ | MySQL password - Password for your MySQL user account. |
| ▪ | Table prefix - Prefix of the database tables, related to your store. |
| ▪ | Database backend - Select, which driver will control files sharing among databases. |
| ▪ | Administrator's e-mail - Email address of the store administrator at which you will receive email notifications. |
| ▪ | Administrator's password - Password to access the administration panel. Make sure, that it is secure enough. |
| ▪ | Main language - The language, used in the store by default. |
| ▪ | Additional languages - Select the languages that must be available in the store. |
| ▪ | Install demo data - If selected, the Wizard will import a sample product catalog and some other demo data so you can test the store. |
| ▪ | Help us improve CS-Cart - If selected, CS-Cart will monthly send a snapshots of your store configuration sent to the development team. Such snapshots include no personal or other sensitive data, but they only reflect the current condition of the store: its settings and configuration, the modules that you use, etc. This information allows the development team to learn what CS-Cart features and options are used most intensively, and adjust the development processes accordingly. |
Click Install to continue.Choosing the licensing mode
After the system is set up, you are suggested to choose the licensing mode:
| • | Full - Full version of CS-Cart with unrestricted access to all features. |
| • | Trial - Full version of CS-Cart with access to all features during the 30-day trial period, starting from the time of activation. |
| • | Free - Free version of CS-Cart. Some features are unavailable. No time restrictions implied, license number is not required. |
If you want to install the full version, enter your license number in the special field. To try the 30-day trial or use Free mode, choose the corresponding checkbox. You will be able to enter your license number later in the administration panel.Click Select to continue.
Summary
After the installation is done, you will see the Installation successfully finished window.
This is the final part of the Wizard where the script reports of the successful installation and provides link to the storefront as well as your credentials to access the Administration panel.
CS-Cart is provided with the convenient post-installation Settings wizard that makes basic store setup easy and clear. Click Run Settings wizard to make store setup. Close the window to go straight to the dashboard. You will be able to make settings later in the administration panel. To learn more information about CS-Cart, follow the Knowledge base link.
After the Installation
Once the installation is complete, it is strongly recommended that you take the following steps to protect the current installation and the CS-Cart source code.
| 1. | Remove the directory install/. |
| 2. | Change the default administrator password. |
| 3. | Remove the distribution package from the web accessible directory on your server. |
| 4. | Change the access permissions for the files as advised below. |
chmod 644 config.local.php
chmod 644 design/.htaccess images/.htaccess
chmod 664 var/.htaccess var/themes_repository/.htaccess
chmod 644 design/index.php images/index.php
chmod 664 var/index.php var/themes_repository/index.php
The chmod 644 command leaves the file readable and writeable for the file owner and makes it readable for all other system users. The file contents cannot be viewed in a browser though.
Multi-Vendor is really easy to install! The following instructions will guide you through the installation process. Usually, it takes just several minutes to complete. Download and print out a PDF copy of the instructions so you have them handy during the installation.
If you want to install Multi-Vendor onto a local computer, please use our special guide that will tell you how to deploy a full-fledged web server on your Windows machine and install Multi-Vendor.
It is quite simple!
Before the installation
There are a few things that you need to have and do before you begin installing Multi-Vendor. These are:
| 1. | Check that your web server meets the minimum system requirements. |
| 2. | Ensure that you can access your web server via shell or FTP. |
| 3. | Connect to your MySQL server and create a database for Multi-Vendor. |
| 4. | Check that you know a License number for Multi-Vendor unless you are going to install the trial version. |
| 5. | Download the latest version of Multi-Vendor from the File Area of your Help Desk account or from the CS-Cart website , if you are installing the trial version. |
First download the compressed distribution package with the Multi-Vendor files to your local computer.
Now you need to place the files in a web accessible directory on your server or hosting account. This can be either the web root or any of its subdirectories like <web_root>/store/. If you nest the files directly in the web root, the store home page will have the URL like http://www.example.com/index.php . Otherwise, the URL will contain the name of the subdirectory right after the domain name, for example, http://www.example.com/store/index.php.
| ▪ | If you have shell access to your web server and are comfortable with using a console terminal, upload the compressed distribution package to the required directory on your web server and extract the archive using one of the following shell commands. |
tar -xzvf cscart_vX.X.X.tgz
| ▪ | If there is only FTP access available, extract the archive on your local computer and then use your favorite FTP client to put the files from the package to the required directory on your web server. Make sure you retain the original file and directory structure. |
On a UNIX-based server with terminal access, run the following commands one by one:
chmod 666 config.local.php
chmod -R 777 design images var
find design -type f -print0 | xargs -0 chmod 666
find images -type f -print0 | xargs -0 chmod 666
find var -type f -print0 | xargs -0 chmod 666
If you do not have terminal access to your server, you can change file access permissions using an FTP client. Most of them have the "Change permissions" or "Change mode" functions. With the help of these functions you can set the permissions for the 'config.local.php' file and the directories listed above.
The 'chmod 666 config.local.php' command means that the 666 permissions (read and write permissions for the file user, group, and others) will be set for the 'config.local.php' file.
The 'chmod -R 777 design' command means that the 777 (read, write, and execute) permissions are set for the directory, its subdirectories, and all the files within these directories.
Please refer to your FTP client documentation for more detailed instructions on setting file permissions.
In order to set the same file access permissions on a Windows-based server, you may need to give full permissions for the files and directories to the user with the IUSR account.
Create a MySQL database
Create a MySQL database (you may need to create a MySQL user before that) via your website control panel. Remember the MySQL name, host, user name, and password; they will be required at the next installation step.
Running the Installation Wizard
Point your favorite web browser to run the installation script.
| ▪ | If you placed the Multi-Vendor files directly in the web root, open http://www.example.com/install/ |
| ▪ | If you placed the Multi-Vendor files to a subdirectory like <web_root>/store/, open http://www.example.com/store/install/ |
Installation procedure
Step 1: License agreement
Please thoughtfully read the Multi-Vendor License Agreement, and select the check box below the text of the Agreement to confirm that you agree with the conditions of the Agreement. If you do not agree with any part of the Agreement, stop the installation by closing the current page of the web browser.
If it is not the first time that you have been installing Multi-Vendor to this directory, the Wizard will ask you to enter the Auth Code for the Multi-Vendor installation. This is a protection from unauthorized access to the installation script.
Click Next step to continue.
Step 2: Installation
At this step, you should set server configuration and make some administration settings. The Wizard checks that your web server meets the minimum system requirements to run Multi-Vendor at this step too.
If some of the tested parameters are indicated as failed, you need to fix them before you can continue the installation.
Server configuration
Here you need to provide the details of your web server host and MySQL server as well as specify your database parameters.
The fields in this form mean as follows:
| • | Store URL - The URL to access your store. |
| ▪ | Secure server host name - DNS name of the secure server to ensure HTTPS access to your store. |
| ▪ | Secure server host directory - Web directory on the secure server where Multi-Vendor files are located. |
| ▪ | MySQL server host - DNS name or the IP-address of your MySQL server. |
| ▪ | MySQL database name - Name of your MySQL database. |
| ▪ | MySQL user - Username for your MySQL user account. |
| ▪ | MySQL password - Password for your MySQL user account. |
| ▪ | Table prefix - Prefix of the database tables, related to your store. |
| ▪ | Database backend - Select, which driver will control files sharing among databases. |
| ▪ | Administrator's e-mail - Email address of the store administrator at which you will receive email notifications. |
| ▪ | Administrator's password - Password to access the administration panel. Make sure, that it is secure enough. |
| ▪ | Main language - The language, used in the store by default. |
| ▪ | Additional languages - Select the languages that must be available in the store. |
| ▪ | Install demo data - If selected, the Wizard will import a sample product catalog and some other demo data so you can test the store. |
| ▪ | Help us improve Multi-Vendor - If selected, Multi-Vendor will monthly send a snapshots of your store configuration sent to the development team. Such snapshots include no personal or other sensitive data, but they only reflect the current condition of the store: its settings and configuration, the modules that you use, etc. This information allows the development team to learn what Multi-Vendor features and options are used most intensively, and adjust the development processes accordingly. |
After the system is set up, you are suggested to choose the licensing mode:
| • | Full - Full version of Multi-Vendor with unrestricted access to all features. |
| • | Trial - Full version of Multi-Vendor with access to all features during the 30-day trial period, starting from the time of activation. |
Summary
After the installation is done, you will see the Installation successfully finished window.
This is the final part of the Wizard where the script reports of the successful installation and provides link to the storefront as well as your credentials to access the Administration panel.
Multi-Vendor is provided with the convenient post-installation Settings wizard that makes basic store setup easy and clear. Click Run Settings wizard to make store setup. Close the window to go straight to the dashboard. You will be able to make settings later in the administration panel.To learn more information about Multi-Vendor, follow the Knowledge base link.
After the Installation
Once the installation is complete, it is strongly recommended that you take the following steps to protect the current installation and the CS-Cart source code.
| 1. | Remove the directory install/. |
| 2. | Change the default administrator password. |
| 3. | Remove the distribution package from the web accessible directory on your server. |
| 4. | Change the access permissions for the files as advised below. |
chmod 644 config.local.php
chmod 644 design/.htaccess images/.htaccess
chmod 664 var/.htaccess var/themes_repository/.htaccess
chmod 644 design/index.php images/index.php
chmod 664 var/index.php var/themes_repository/index.php
The chmod 644 command leaves the file readable and writeable for the file owner and makes it readable for all other system users. The file contents cannot be viewed in a browser though.