Can MIVA do it like this?

[JustinBR]

Hey guys, I'm a long time lurker current X-Cart owner. I'm looking into a host with MIVA 5 support as we speak. I'm not exactly sure if MIVA can do what I need and that's why I started this thread. I've been looking at modules but they're all over the place and leave much information to be desired. Simply put, can I do this with MIVA?

http://www.axelmusic.com

If so, what modules do you suggest? I am pretty good with PHP, HTML, etc, etc.. but I need some direction. I think I'm going to join one of the MIVA hosts and give things a try soon. tia

[PCINET - Andreas]

Yes, you can. I'm working on somthing like this => iprebook (http://www.iprebook.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc). All the section (Top 10, Just Added) populate automatically. Although this is a Miva v4 store.

[JustinBR]

Yes, you can. I'm working on somthing like this => iprebook (http://www.iprebook.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc). All the section (Top 10, Just Added) populate automatically. Although this is a Miva v4 store.

That's very similar, nice work! So what does it take? How does one make sense of all these MIVA modules? I have not purchased MIVA or signed on with a host but I'm trying to make sure MIVA is what I need. I want to be able to do this store my way and not be held back by the software like X-Cart. At the same time, I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel here.. Modules can only do so much if the software is lacking.

Can MIVA really do a DVD store justice? Does anyone have links to live stores? I'd love to see what others have done with the software. I've been looking over many sites in the industry but most have custom solutions. tia

[Kent Multer]

The real-time currency selection can be done with this module:

http://www.vikingcoders.com/store/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&affiliate=magicm&Product_Code=MMP_CURRENCYMAGIC

It's available for both Miva 4 and 5.

[JustinBR]

thanks so far Andreas and Kent. I think I've decided on a host, dotcomhost seems like the one I'm going to go with. Lots of members on these forums are pleased with their services.

As for MIVA I tried to call them but I was given a number to an answering machine. I've also spent some more time looking over the v5 modules.. It seems like I need quite a few to get my cart similar to the X-Cart one I have. It seems a big one for my site will be Template Page Display ( http://www.mivacentral.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?store_code=m&screen=PROD&product_code=GILL-GOLPD ). What's the best place to get modules for MIVA, mivacentral? tia

Nobody knows a MIVA dvd store? does one exist..? :p

[Dan - Kemper Strategic]

MIVA Central is a great source for shopping for modules. There are however a couple of good module developers that do not sell their products there, such as Viking Coders (http://www.vikingcoders.com/) and Latu (http://store.latu.net/).

As for template modules, I recommend Latu's Wow Wow Widget Module (http://store.latu.net/featured/LATU-WIDGETS.html) and Sebenza's Category and Product Template Managers (http://www.sebenza.com/?a_aid=KSEC). If you plan on doing any heavy customization to the category tree, you will need a module to gain access to that code, such as Sebenza's Category Tree Template (http://www.sebenza.com/products/SS-CATTREE5.html?a_aid=KSEC) module.

I am glad to see you went with a good MIVA Merchant host ;)

[nordicwolf]

Hey guys, I'm a long time lurker current X-Cart owner. I'm looking into a host with MIVA 5 support as we speak. I'm not exactly sure if MIVA can do what I need and that's why I started this thread. I've been looking at modules but they're all over the place and leave much information to be desired. Simply put, can I do this with MIVA?

http://www.axelmusic.com

If so, what modules do you suggest? I am pretty good with PHP, HTML, etc, etc.. but I need some direction. I think I'm going to join one of the MIVA hosts and give things a try soon. tia

not sure what features of this site you are really asking about - all perhaps? the dynamic mouse over effects? or the featured item layout>? most of what i see on that site is possible - but i am familiar with x-cart - and at this time - miva m5 is far more limited with its native templates and limited mods currently. But you can always do some scripting in miva or php - using somethig like ADS external file pro and you might want to take alook at latu wow widget - and also product flags by ADS - this is good mod that allows you to do featured products with more versatiliy..

[JustinBR]

not sure what features of this site you are really asking about - all perhaps? the dynamic mouse over effects? or the featured item layout>? most of what i see on that site is possible - but i am familiar with x-cart - and at this time - miva m5 is far more limited with its native templates and limited mods currently. But you can always do some scripting in miva or php - using somethig like ADS external file pro and you might want to take alook at latu wow widget - and also product flags by ADS - this is good mod that allows you to do featured products with more versatiliy..

I need to be able to do a simple layout with lots of information.. one box for preorders in the middle.. two smaller side by side below it for text lists of movies.. maybe on one side in another box I put movie company logos.. etc etc.. lots of things. Now my concern is that I need SOO many modules with MIVA. I mean it could take a lifetime to implement and customize all these things. I was happy when I found out I didn't need to spend 900$+ to get the license.. but now it seems I'll be investing just as much in modules :(

Like X-Cart I'm starting to get worried how everything or IF everything will even work together.

Plus I'm still not finding much information on layouts and or the store morph feature. I very familiar with photoshop, php, and html but not MIVA.

[nordicwolf]

One of the reasons I selected MM as my cart was the vast avaiblity of developer modules and support. You can find modules for almost any feature in any other cart( mm4). mm 5 is not quite up to pace on ease to customize as it lacks the token language and module support. the built in template functions are extremely limited and are far more geared to integrating design than function.

Have you purchased any modules yet? perhaps if you require alot of features - miva 4 might be better for you - as there is greater feature set by modules available. However, I dont think all the mods will cost what you think - sure a few are 80-150 each but most are less than 50 and they all do work together. you are doing the right thing asking here - you are clearly in the research stage and you need to do this - i jumped to mm5 because of my designer and its a nightmare for me now. But if i can get my feature set i want in mm5 - i would rather do it than mm4.

After looking at the site you posted - I really think this is not too much of problem for mm5. Did you take alook at product flags by ADS? also take a look at gilligan's template pages (page in page) mod./ i think these can help you with your layouts.. it looks to me as you really want to list several category specific items or featured items on your home page ..if that is the case - i think you shoudnt have too much difficulty.

[lbdesign]

Justin,
Can I ask what it is you don't like about X-Cart that is causing you to shop around for new cart software? X-Cart looks pretty good "on paper" so I'm curious to hear from an actual user what issues there are.
thanks in advance,
--Lee