shopping cart help

Hey, I'm about to begin a web project, and want to do a shopping cart and checkout for it, but don't really have an idea how I go about it! I've searched online and found shopping cart software...is this necessary? Or can I get a script from somewhere? Thanks for your help
Lisa

For a large shopping cart, you've got loads of things you'll need. A database to hold all your items, a server side language such as PHP to speak to the database and return results to the browser. You'll need to set up how you take your payments and all the security features that go with this. It's not an easy job if you're a beginner - hence why people build ready made software to do this.

Take a look at http://www.oscommerce.com/

Researching and building it yourself will be a really good project and you'll learn a ridiculous amount along the way.

If you're more cottage industry and you have one or two items you want to sell, you can set up links using PayPal. Alternatively set up an ebay shop.

Good luck.

Hi thanks, I know a fair bit about php, are there any php based codes for shopping carts, it's for a company and I might discuss the idea of paypal but I think they'd prefer a real one lol
Lisa

The osCommerce uses PHP and MySQL!

i'm having trouble installing it, does using windows/mac matter? thanks

Check the OScommerce forums...they may have info there about using it on Macs.

hmm you could just store item ids in an a session array