I have just purchased the pigeon pair SCCPro and SCDPro . I am asking for advise on the most efficient way to get started. I have all other tools required to add embellishments. I am reading the help files currently but those that have been there and done it know the ropes.

I wish to create a unique design to suit two or three versions. One to sell my stuff I have accumulated and the second to advertise my utilities I create. I may even consider one for selling my paintings which are starting to command much room.

I appreciate any advice offered.

Hi Prism,
Do you have a Home website that you want to mimic or will the shop be the main website?

Main thing I would say is that Copy and Paste is your best friend if you have a lot of similar products. You can create a "what I call default" product that has all the main setups in it for all the products that are similar to it and then use that one as the base for them all. In other words, if they share Optional Fields, similar descriptions, etc. make a first product then copy and paste that product to the same or a different category and you won't have to retype all that stuff. Edit what you need for the new product and alter the images and you're done, pretty quick work if you have lots of similar products at all.

Another thing that saves a lot of time when editing specific things is the Grid which is a table structure of all the fields of the products. Basically excel spreadsheet like and editable in multiple fields at a time so that is a time saver many times too.

Realize that the shipping and tax system is pretty much a manual job and then you won't be disappointed when you find that out after the fact. It's a daunting, in fact the 'most' daunting part of the entire program. Get your mind around that part and have your data ready to go for it and you'll be set other than a bit of time to enter it all.

Code for the HTML Tool isn't exactly the same as you would do on a current website. Some is kind of old school so it can be a bit confusing. One of the most asked questions is how do I center something. In short it's:
[[[<center>]]] put your text here or image or whatever [[[</center>]]]

The program's HTML Tool will always add the square brackets above to any and all HTML that it inputs. You can do this manually yourself too so you don't always have to use the tool, but it's a good idea anyways in case it will display the results instead of the code which sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't, depending on what you're adding.

When adding code to something like an image, you can put the image URL in the code if it's external or you can put the image on the page then add the center or whatever codes around it. That's probably the most confusing part about adding functions of any sort to an item on the details pages etc. Add the item, then format it how you want it using the HTML Tool or just type it in there as above. Coloring text is done using the tools above the text box area, but to center it you need to enter the center codes as above "around" the text you typed, so don't add the text to the HTML Code or there will be no color formatting.

Hope those little tips help some.

Thanks, Jo and Eric. I am thinking of creating the shop then use the designer to fine tune. Is this the go?.
will the html areas accept Iframes also is it possible to make the shop responsive.
I am playing with using content of a VSD file and re writing it as a responsive page. One way deal but some success. I have fun pushing the envelop on these beautiful applications.

My shops will be Software sales, My stuff probably like an online Garage sale and like I said some of my paintings. A couple of the artists in our society have asked if I can help them get a shop going so this is another reason to learn the programs. I need to be able to show them how to edit their shop also.

All fun

Well you can't really fine tune it unless you mean cleaning up the content code in the editor and then putting it back in the program. If you do anything outside the program it's like VSD and will overwrite it as it can't import your changes. You can create things in the HTML Editor or VSD though and definitely can use the content from those pages. Just don't use the page tags (head, body, etc.).

I don't believe that at this time the shops are responsive or can be at this time.

Yes you can use iframes.

The shops can't handle digital sales yet so it may not work for your software sales yet, but I'm sure it will work nicely for your art society.

Happy Learning

I am starting to get it to work for me. It seems to go back and forward between SCC and the Designer works a treat. VSD is great for producing Logos etc and I was impressed reading a post by Viv which could be quite attractive method using the one he proposed.

I must admit delving into taxes, shipping etc could be a task. I think I will have to annoy My new mate Viv. G'Day Viv me ole mate , remember I am a pommie too. I must admit I seem to get the best help on this forum. If I come up with any other weird programs I will give you the drum.

That will be the create it in VSD, preview, save for web, split into three (top centre bottom) & add to SCCP as logo, body centre, footer trick i guess

Anyone else reading this will think "what sort of pommie gobledeegoop is that"

Take a look at my example shop. I have a few examples on there for overriding the OEM shop settings by adding code to the shop header area thus allowing tweaking from within the app so nothing to get overwritten.

I will take on board all your advice. I am adding all your comments and suggestions to a file for later reference. I am overwhelmed by this response. Thanks, I hope I can repay you all some way.

By the way Jo I forgot to congratulate you. Ain't grand kids great, you get to hand them back after you have finished playing with them, spoiling them and ruining them for their parents. That is what my parents did to ours bless their cotton socks.

lol Thanks Prism. Wish it was that easy, but we're over 1100 miles away from the baby so it makes it hard. Hopefully photos will keep coming and eventually we'll do Skype to keep in touch so she gets to know us Thanks for the thought though for sure!