Getting Started with Magento

We need a store online to sell things. Magento is a powerful and widely used solution.

• Learn about Magento's features 

Before we can install Magento, we need to create a database and install the sample data.

• Log onto phpMyAdmin
• Create a database
• Upload the sample data into your created database 

File and folder permission restrictions can prevent Magento from working correctly. By setting correct permissions, we can ensure that the system can properly use all files.

• Open terminal
• Run ownership and permission commands
• Have correct folder and file permissions 

Before we can use Magento, we need to install the software.

• Browse to the file install.php
• Fill out the database information
• Run installer 

Install the finishes and Magento is now ready to go. Understand what happens after installation.

• Wrap up installation
• Navigate to the site
• See Magento installed 

The admin panel is large. We give an overview of what to do there.

• Log in to admin
• Show the admin basics
• Understand the admin section 

The admin panel is large. We give an overview of the Dashboard, Sales, and Customers sections of the admin panel.

• Explain the Dashboard area
• Explain the Sales area
• Explain the Customer area 

The admin panel is large. We give an overview of the Promotions, Newsletter, CMS, and System sections of the admin panel.

• Explain the Promotions area
• Explain the Newsletter area
• Explain the CMS and System area 

The configuration menu is long and daunting. Here we go over everything there is to see.

• Navigate to the site's configuration page
• Go over the areas and functions of the configuration
• Go over saving and modifying configurations 

Magento allows the creation of many users with many different roles. This allows you to set permissions for all new users.

• Add a new role
• Adjust permissions
• Create users with permissions 

Magento offers custom themes. This allows us to change the themes from the available options.

• Navigate to the site's configuration section
• Type the name of the new theme into skin and theme fields
• Save the theme and observe the new theme on the front end 

Categories for our products don't exist in a blank store. We need to create categories to add products to.

• Go to the categories page
• Click on add new category
• Add correct information and save the category 

Our categories are out of order and missing information. We edit and rearrange them.

• Go to the categories page
• Click on edit category and save
• Drag and drop to position the category 

Attributes and sets can be a confusing concept. Create sets and add attributes to them to describe products.

• Show a product
• Explain attributes
• Explain attribute sets 

Magento only comes with a limited number of premade attributes. Here we create our own.

• Go to the attributes page
• Create a new attribute
• Save the attribute 

Magento only comes with a limited number of premade attributes sets. Here we create our own and add attributes to the set.

• Go to the attribute set page
• Create a new attribute set
• Add the attributes and save them 

You need products in your store to sell. Here we create a basic product.

• Go to the products page
• Add a new product
• Save the product after adding all information 

Some products need special options.

• Create a product
• Go to the custom product options tab
• Add custom options 

When many products need to have options, creating a configurable product allows building products with options.

• Create a configurable product
• Create simple products within the configurable product
• Save the configurable product 

Need to have multiple products within one? Grouped products allow for grouping products together on one product page.

• Create a grouped product
• Add simple products to a grouped product
• Save the grouped product 

Some products don't exist physically. Here we create virtual products.

• Create a virtual product
• Add the product’s info
• Save the product 

Products such as computers are made up of many components. Bundled products allow your products to have smaller component products.

• Create a bundled product
• Add simple products to the bundle product
• Save the product 

Some products can be downloaded. Here we create products that can be downloaded.

• Create a downloadable product
• Upload files to download
• Save the product 

Sometimes you think you did everything correctly and products still don't show up. Here is what you need to check to make sure you didn't miss something.

• Check the enabled status
• Check the product’s location
• Check the product’s stock 

Magento offers CMS pages for non-product informational pages. Learn how to create and edit CMS pages.

• Go to the pages section of CMS
• Create a new static page
• Save the page 

Magento allows for adding content in small reusable blocks. Here we create static blocks.

• Go to the static blocks page in CMS
• Create a new static block
• Save the block 

Static pages and blocks are both static. Widgets are used in order to have dynamic content added to the site.

• Go to the widgets section of CMS.
• Add a new widget
• Add the widget to the proper page and set up display 

User input can make your store better. Add a poll for the user input.

• Go to the poll page in the CMS section
• Add a new poll
• Fill out options and save the poll 

All pages needn't have the same layout. Change the page layout based on what layouts are available in the theme.

• Go to a static page
• Edit the static page and modify the page layout
• Save the page 

Magento stores various e-mails for dynamic use. We can modify and add our own e-mails.

• Go to configuration
• Store the e-mails section.
• Modify and save the e-mails. 

Depending on what state your products are sold in, you need to have proper tax rules. Here we show you how to set up your tax rules.

• Go to the tax section of administration section
• Add the tax rate
• Apply the tax rate with the tax rule 

There are many options in the shipping methods. Here we detail the sections.

• Go to configuration
• Go to shipping methods
• Look at and discuss the various methods 

Need to set up table rate shipping. Configure values and enable table rates.

• Go to configuration
• Download a shipping rates Excel sheet and modify it
• Upload a table rate Excel sheet and configure the settings 

Need to set up UPS. Shows how to connect to UPS for shipping rates.

• Go to configuration
• Go to shipping methods
• Enable and configure settings 

Need to set up USPS. Shows how to connect to USPS for shipping rates.

• Go to configuration
• Go to shipping methods
• Connect with the USPS web tools account. Enable and configure settings 

Need to accept payment. Here we show payment options and settings.

• Go to configuration
• Go to payment methods
• Look at and discuss various methods 

Need to accept payment. Here we set up the PayPal Express to accept payment.

• Go to configuration
• Go to the PayPal section
• Sign in to the PayPal account and configure settings 

We need to understand the ordering process. We place an order.

• Go to the front end of the store
• Add products to the cart
• Place the order 

An order has been placed. We explain what to do next.

• Go to the admin of the site
• Go to the orders section
• See the order of your orders 

Orders need to be managed. We navigate and understand order management.

• Go to the orders section of the admin
• Manage orders in batches
• Sort and filter the orders 

An order needs to be modified. We edit and save an order.

• Go to the individual order
• Click on "edit order" and create a new order
• Modify and save the order 

An order is ready to be invoiced. We create the invoice.

• Go to the individual order
• Click on the invoice order
• Confirm the order's invoice 

An order is ready to be shipped. We ship the order.

• Go to the individual order
• Click on ship order
• Confirm the order's shipment 

Many people will create customer accounts on your site. Here we manage them and show how to create lists of customers.

• Go to customers
• Modify the customer data and save
• Create the customers’ lists 

Each time people search, it's logged. Manage and see the most-used search terms.

• Go to Catalog|Search Terms
• View Search Terms
• Add possible search terms 

Customers can rate products. We approve and manage them.

• Go to Catalog > Ratings
• Modify the possible rating categories
• Save the ratings 

Customers can review products. We approve and manage them.

• Go to Catalog > Reviews
• View reviews
• Approve or deny reviews 

Customers can tag products. We approve and manage them.

• Go to Catalog > Tags
• View the tags
• Approve or deny tags