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HomeHomeOur CommunityOur CommunityGeneral Discuss...General Discuss...Worth upgrading Catalook?Worth upgrading Catalook?
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7/12/2011 4:36 PM
 
David O'Leary


www.efficionconsulting.com
Joined: 7/6/2003
Posts: 335
We built a site using Catalook 5.5.6 a few years back (and then swore I'd never use it again). We had to make quite a few customizations to overcome some of Catalook's inherent weaknesses and add some custom features. The client is wanting to us to make some updates to the site (mostly a new skin and SEO improvements). So, I'm wondering if I should include upgrading Catalook to the latest version as part of the project. I've reviewed the Release Notes but, like everything about Catalook, they are a huge mess and it's hard to tell whether it's worth upgrading or whether it will just add more bloat and increase the mess that is the administrative interface. I also looked at the demo site to see if things are better and they don't seem to be

So, for people who have been using Catalook for awhile, has it gotten any better in the last few years? Or have they just continued to mangle it with haphazardly integrated features? Are there SEO benefits to the newer versions? Is the underlying generated HTML any cleaner? Are there improvements to URL handling?
David O'Leary
Efficion Consulting
 
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7/13/2011 1:24 AM
 
Wes Tatters


Wes Tatters's Avatar

Joined: 4/30/2004
Posts: 2155
Honestly - its still a huge mess.  The latest 6.3.6 build seems to have a bunch of new half implemented features. The shipping area for example has added a way to send an email to shipping/dispatch to advise them of a new order - BUT its only half implemented as it ONLY seems to work if you are using the custom shipping tables - and u need to add a separate email for EACH custom formula - as opposed to a template.

There is also a tracking number system that seems to be a work in progress with a way to add tracking number lists but no way to consume them in the order manager area.

Oh and all the usual stoopid stuff like - Shipping Labels that still cant include a phone number or a separator for unit numbers.
And not to mention the Order Manager nightmares
 - we still cant give the stock room access that is functional without making them an admin
 - and thus having access to way more than we really want them too.

There is still no viable way to add additional shipping providers - and no way to have shipping prices per product for different regions.
Also no carton / packing system for shipping.

They have made some SEO improvements - that may be of use.  And have made the SKIN a little more friendly to work with,

But frustratingly - we ourselves are still persevering with it since most of the others on the market have just as many flaws - or are lacking even some of the badly implemented features that catalook does offer.

Honestly though, if someone can show me a BETTER cart than catalook that has the features I need - I would jump tomorrow.

Just My Two Cents
Westa


PS- just an aside - its a pity that NOPCommerce was not fully DNN Integrated - it would be a very good solution.
 
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7/13/2011 2:46 AM
 
Nina M


www.berrydigital.com.au
Joined: 1/23/2004
Posts: 1961
I downloaded a build of 6.3.7 last night - I was unable to find out what the updates are.

I think you need to assess what the site for ecommerce requirements really needs to be before even choosing DotNetNuke as the platform to build it on if you ask me.

There are much better shopping cart applications, although Magento can be another set of frustrations so if you have any hair left after trying Catalook, it is pretty sure you'll have none left after migrating to Magento.

It is my thought that you need to handle the ecommerce with more insight rather than thinking that the DNN hammer is the solution because the only thing that tends to get nailed is you.

Have you tried downloading the 6.3.7 version Wes?

It's interesting - I have some stores I've run since 2005 on the same dnn build and upgraded catalook and dnn and they work without issue and are surprisingly fast, and well found on google, but in reflection, if someone comes to me today just for a store, I am not necessarily talking DNN or even .NET for a solution unless they want some social networking elements that we feel can be better handled with the articles module by ventrian.

I think it has gotten better with more features, but we have experienced from time to time, just like dnn, the builds we wish we didn't have to suffer through.

Just my thoughts on the matter, and Wes, I feel your pain. I'm working on a large project with megamenus to be implemented, with accessiblity and government requirements, and it's just about done my head in making it all work as expected for the department... as well as weeks of fiddling around.

Nina Meiers
Nina Meiers My Little Website
If it's on DNN, I fix, build, deploy, support,skin, host, design, consult, implement, integrate and done since 2003.
Who am I? Just a city chic, having a crack at organic berry farming.. and creating awesome websites.
 
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7/13/2011 4:42 AM
 
Wes Tatters


Wes Tatters's Avatar

Joined: 4/30/2004
Posts: 2155
Only just noticed 6.3.7 - been working with 6.3.6 so will have a look in the coming couple of days and see what they have changed.  Its always a bit of a lucky dip -open things up and find the easter eggs.  There is a whole new shipping system with tracking number registration partly implemented in 6.3.6 - will be interested to see if they have taken it any further.

Dont disagree with you on the selection processes - but our problem with most sites these days is that the shopping cart is only part of the system - everyone seems to want forums and blogs and a lot of the other cool functionality in DNN - which seems to keep us stuck with average shopping carts that need modernizing on dnn.

oh and im sure you have come across the Australia Post nightmare . . .  fwiw I'm about the bite the bullet and get in working properly in catalook for a client.

Westa
 
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7/13/2011 12:18 PM
 
David O'Leary


www.efficionconsulting.com
Joined: 7/6/2003
Posts: 335
Yeah, I would never recommend Catalook to anyone. If you need all the features of Catalook or your site will primarily be an online store, then you should really look at a real E-Commerce framework like AbleCommerce, NOPCommerce, or Magento. If you just need to add a small shop or basic E-Commerce functionality to you DNN site, then something like Smith Cart or NBStore should probably be fine.
David O'Leary
Efficion Consulting
 
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