Web Programming for on-line store

[NotSoSure]

I'm planning to write the software for my on-line store. My web programming experience is limited to Dreamweaver, Frontpage and simple HTML. I'm a very expereince software engineer capable of C/C++, Java, database etc. Can some one give me ideas in a nutshell as to how to hook the back office software to an internet explorer, what kinf of programming tools to use or books to read. Thanks,

[jwm5411]

NotSoSure, you are asking a big question...you can setup a simple store with a phone number for orders all the way to a be all, do all storefront.
From your post it looks like you work in the Microsoft environment. If that is so then to write and setup an online store from scratch in a website you will need to learn html(not frontpage), css, ASP(or use ASP.Net), javascript(client side coding), understand the Document Object Model(browser) for several versions of IE, Netscape, Opera, etc. Once that is done, then setup the banking interface to accept credit cards(and PayPal) and shipping interface to calculate shipping cost and tracking. I've been doing this awhile and there is not a "book" that will give you all the steps.
My suggestion instead is to either hook up with an online service (i.e. a Yahoo! Merchant account...though I don't know anything about the servie) or buy the differnet components that you may not be familar with... storefront, banking, shipping, etc.
Did I mention that once you get everything in place that no one will come to your site unless you learn SEO...having great products is not enough.

Sorry for the rant...an online store is hard work.

[Corey Bryant]

I would either check out www.spidersales.com or www.vpasp.com for some ideas. Writing your own cart can be very time consuming.

Also, I have a pretty simple ASP shopping cart script that I can send over to you. If interested, let me know.

[wmabear54]

Hello not so sure

I would have a look at http://www.oscommerce.com hope I spelled correctly. It is open source and it seems to be pretty complete instruction.

Good luck
Mike

[mikmik]

NotSoSure
Are you trying to create an interface for the bookkeeper/inventory staff to obtain data, and to configure files, update Dbs etc., and do it through a web browser as well, Internet Explorer, to be more specific?
What server and OS is your site on?

You can use Dreamweaver directly (real time) to edit website Db's, and update content, but there are several variables to know first.
Also, the MSDN has mondo resources and instruction for using Internet explorer, and all Microsoft technologies and products, to do anything web related - prog language, planning, all of it.
But it sounds like you would be into VBS territory and ActiveX scripting - as a longshot guess.
Here is the Web Services home page :http://msdn.microsoft.com/webservices/building/,
Web Development, and the main Library page, which is my favourite resource anywhere - covers just about everything.

So, is any of this we offer helping?
:o)
(Keep eyes on java!)