3 replies to this topic

[DanielA]

Hi-- I've got a really exciting gig going on at work and I could use some help finding out what direction to take.

I'm building my company's website. I was planning on using a PHP/mySQL backend to make the site dynamic and show off our catalog. I hoped to also make an area where the wholesale buyers could place orders. I was just going to do a simple email form, but then I realized there's all sorts of issues like credit card info, etc.

I found out we use MOM to manage orders and my wheels started spinning. What if I coudl just hook into MOM and draw info out of her and dump info into her?

So-- 1) Can I use PHP to communicate with MOM? Where can I find out how to do that?
2) Can I build other tables somewhere and be able to query that stored info in conjunction with MOM?
3) Should I just try to talk my boss into getting SiteLink? Will that do everything for me?

THANKS for your help.

Dan

[MerchantSmurf]

Hi Dan,

I am going to say that this is too large of a project to take on from scratch.

If you just needed to pull some basic info from MOM and post it on the web... no big deal.
If you need online ordering, and want it integrated, do yourself a favor and use a pre-made cart.
I have looked at doing this sort of thing myself and quickly abandoned the idea.
Building a shopping cart is a major undertaking.

So-- 1) Can I use PHP to communicate with MOM? Where can I find out how to do that?
yes... should you? probably not.

MOM uses a FoxPro database. You can access it through ODBC drivers.

2) Can I build other tables somewhere and be able to query that stored info in conjunction with MOM?
Yes.

3) Should I just try to talk my boss into getting SiteLink? Will that do everything for me?
YES, and yes

There are also a few other choices of carts dedicated to MOM.
If you like PHP, and want access to the scripts, checkout http://www.freeportway.com

[Videoflicks2004]

Hi Daniel,

Welcome to the forum.

You remind me of an eager young version of myself 6 years ago when I first discovered MOM and E-commerce.


I've hacked the backend of MOM to shreds and as soon you make a discovery the folks at Dydacomp seem to encrypt the data or move it around. The MOM database information is well guarded so I don't recommend taking this project on yourself.

To paraphrase Merchantsmurf, explore your options and don't waste time trying to do it yourself. Unless you are in the business of selling web technology that integrates with MOM I advise you to embrace third party solutions.

You've already heard about Freeport and Sitelink. If you are using PHP and MYSQL than you will probably like Freeport. I have talked to the folks at Freeportway and they are extremely eager to assist you with your business endeavours.

Personally, we use Coldfusion and MS SQL. We chose AbleCommerce over Sitelink based on personal experience. Sitelink has come a long way since the version I tried back in the early MOM 4.0 days however, Ablecommerce is well documented and supported. (Including a developers kit with database schematic).

WWW.ABLECOMMERCE.COM check it out.

If you go with AbleCommerce I highly recommend www.web2market.com for customization and add-ons.

If you really want to impress your boss you need to research these various solutions thorougly and direct him to the one that will save you tons of time and money.

Best,

Videoflicks2004

[notehead]

I have to agree...Spend your time on something constructive. You can be up and running in days with an out-of-the-box solution. You are otherwise looking at months. It will cost more money at the outset but time is money.

n