Free osCommerce Templates

Posted on June 8, 2007
Filed Under Products |

osCommerce, CRELoaded, osCMax Templates

Okay so I get asked with greater frequency in the forums about free templates for osCommerce and quite frankly there isn’t any per se. I’m like most template designers and we tend to hack the code quite a bit to get osCommerce to behave the way we want and although I do have a solid foundation of all CSS layouts I’m reluctant to dispose of them at NO cost. So I propose to my php coder, Mark, that we draft a small how to build templates for oscommerce type of ebook and include a few free templates that way. I figure $10 is nearly no money but enough motive to take the time to produce a high enough quality video tutorial to justify doing so.

How to build beautiful oscommerce templates

I’m not sure I like the title yet but for now that is the name of the small guide. As stated above, I’m going to post it up as a $10 download item and include a few video tutorials on the overview and a few code snippets that are essential to understand and then a few templates.

Now keep in mind. I’ve been sending people to www.oscmax.com and www.creloaded.com at a regular and steady rate because the template systems in those applications (one BTS the other STS) are much easier to change on the fly than hard coded oscommerce. That and the fact that both of these loaded versions of oscommerce are already pre-modded with the things nearly ALL people ask for and the admin panel on each is so much more cleaner to work with.

Its my suggestion that if you are a NEW STORE OWNER then you strongly consider CRELoaded or osCMax because these are actively and professionally maintained almost daily. The only real drawback of each is that they are HEAVILY BRANDED. osCMax alone had its web hosting options so present throughout the application that I considered it a plague and removed all of it in the build I install for clients. If you consider a similar option then leave Mikes copyright details on his loaded version but removal of all the free ads is something you may want to do if you plan on installing for a customer that is already hosted.

This is my second weekend attempt at getting my redesign done so I’ll keep you posted on the changes.

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3 Comments so far
  1. Kym June 9, 2007 8:05 am

    There are free templates for osCommerce and they are awful.

    In terms of your book, I don’t think it is a go-er. The term template implies that you can change the design very easiliy - by the click of a button. And that term does not apply to native osCommerce at present. When MS3 comes out it will have a template system but until then designs are integrated into osCommerce by hand-coding unless you install a template system such as STS or BTS.

    Template Monster templates are hand-coded. And they are incorrectly hand-coded which breaks the code. Many HTML oriented designers also break the code putting HTML code in the wrong places. The safest template system for someone without good php skills s STS.

    Programmers can integrate the hardest designs and do it by hand - not bothering with a template system. This is still the best way from a code performance perspective. However BTS is the system that appeals to them. Both CRE and osMax use BTS.

    Professional osCommerce developers today use the method most appropriate for a customer. Many use alternative template systmes such as SMARTY. Others have developed their own.

    Design is the #1 factor when new visitors come to a site. Followed closely (in fact about 5 seconds behind) is the whole User Interface issue (navigation, proper placement of images and text).

    A template is designed for no particular business in mind. Teh idea you can buy something, change the logo file and off you go trivializes opening an online business.

    Why would you use a template for your online business when differientating yourself is the main issue etailers need to deal with on the Internet?

  2. Rafael Slonik August 5, 2007 2:32 pm

    Oscmax link is broken man. Fix it! =D

  3. Jared Ritchey November 10, 2008 1:30 pm

    Only supporting ZenCart now, osCommerce and such are not effective in SEF marketing of products.

    http://www.jaredritchey.com/oscommerce-templates/


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