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Zen Cart

Zen Cart is a free, self-hosted shopping cart platform, fully customizable and ideal for both new businesses or large corporations.

Requirements

Connection Requirements:

  • An active Zen Cart store running version 1.3 or greater.

Order Import Requirements:

  • Include a Ship To address.

Connect a Zen Cart store to ShipStation

Follow the steps below to connect your Zen Cart store to ShipStation:

  1. Download this file and upload the shipstation_zc.php file to your Zen Cart's root folder.

  2. Login to your Zen Cart admin site.

  3. Recommended. Go to Tools or Admin Access Management (depending on Zen Cart version) and create a new admin user specifically for the ShipStation integration.

  4. In a new tab or browser window, log into your ShipStation account.

  5. Go to Account Settings (the wrench icon in the upper right).

    V3_TB_Settings_MRK.png

  6. Select Selling Channels from the left-hand sidebar, then choose Store Setup.

    V3a_SET_SB_SC_StoreSetup_MRK.png

  7. Click + Connect a Store or Marketplace.

    SET_SC_SSU_ConnectMarketplaceBTN_MRK.png

  8. Select the Zen Cart tile.

    zencart_tile.png

  9. Enter your Zen Cart Admin Username, Admin Password, and URL to ShipStation PHP File in the corresponding fields, and map any custom statuses if needed.

    Note

    The Shipped Status used must match the status used for shipped orders on Zen Cart.

  10. Click Test Connection, then Connect if the test is successful.

After you've completed the above steps, your store will be connected to ShipStation. You'll be taken to the store's Settings page to adjust the store-specific settings like branding, notification preferences, and product handling.

Available Features

ShipStation's integration to Zen Cart supports for the following standard features:

Common ShipStation Features

Feature

Supported?

Custom Statuses
Green checkmark

Customer Emails
Green checkmark

Customer Phone Numbers
Green checkmark

Requested Service
Green checkmark

Payment Method
Green checkmark

Discounts
Red X mark

Identifies Gift Orders
Green checkmark

Internal Notes
Green checkmark

Notes from Buyer
Green checkmark

Order Weight
Green checkmark

Item Weight
Green checkmark

Item Images
Green checkmark

Item Options
Green checkmark

Item Warehouse Location
Red X mark

Status Mappings

Status

MARKETPLACE Status

Awaiting Payment

Pending

Awaiting Shipment

Processing

Shipped

Shipped

Cancelled

Not Mapped

On Hold

Not Mapped

Sent with Shipment Update

Field

Supported?

Status Update
Green checkmark

Tracking Number
Green checkmark

Carrier
Green checkmark

Service
Red X mark

Carrier Fee
Red X mark

Note to Buyer
Red X mark

Item Information
Red X mark

Additional Features

ShipStation's integration to Zen Cart allows for the following additional features:

Feature

Description

Configurable Time Zone

By default, ShipStation assumes that the Zen Cart store's server uses UTC as the timezone. If your Zen Cart account uses a different server timezone, you can define it in the store's settings.

This integration allows you to define the Status Mappings for the store connection.

ShipStation will import the customer email address and can send customer shipment notification and delivery emails.

ShipStation will import the customer phone number.

ShipStation will import the shipping method chosen by the customer at time of checkout.

ShipStation will import the payment method used to pay for the order.

ShipStation will import discount and coupon information for the order.

ShipStation is able to determine if an order was placed as a gift.

ShipStation will import internal notes or order activity from the selling channel.

ShipStation will import notes left by the customer at time of checkout. Displayed as Customer notes in ShipStation Classic.

ShipStation will import the total order weight from the selling channel.

ShipStation will import the weight for each line item in the order.

ShipStation will import an image URL for each line item in the order.

ShipStation will import item options (such as color or size) for each line item in the order.

ShipStation will import a product stock location for each line item in the order.

ShipStation will update the order on the selling channel to the Shipped, Fulfilled, or Completed status after a shipment or fulfillment is created.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the shipment tracking number.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the carrier used for the shipment.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the shipping service used for the shipment.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the carrier's cost for the shipping label.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include any Notes to Buyer set on the order in ShipStation.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include details about the specific line items in the shipment, which allows for partial shipment updates.

Integration Notes

Here are some things you should keep in mind about ShipStation's integration with Zen Cart:

  • ShipStation will use the Model field for product SKU on Zen Cart orders.

Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some common issues experienced by users, potential causes, and available troubleshooting tips.

Issue

How to troubleshoot or resolve

Why am I getting the error "No order status in database" when sending shipment updates to Zen Cart?

This error will occur if the Shipped Status mapped in ShipStation does not match the status that Zen Cart uses for shipped orders. Reconfigure your store's connection to ShipStation, and set the Shipped Status to match the status used for shipped orders in Zen Cart.

Why is the Order Date in ShipStation different than the Order Date in ZenCart?

This usually occurs because the ZenCart server is using a different timezone than the timezone set in the store's settings in ShipStation, which causes the Order Date to be thrown off when converting the timestamp based on time zone. Update the store's settings so that the store is using the same timezone as the server your ZenCart store is hosted on.

Why are certain orders placed late in the day not importing into ShipStation?

Similar to the issue above, this typically occurs because the ZenCart server is using a different timezone than the timezone set in the store's settings in ShipStation, which causes our import process to inadvertently skip ahead. Update the store's settings so that the store is using the same timezone as the server your ZenCart store is hosted on.

This integration allows you to define the Status Mappings for the store connection.

ShipStation will import the customer email address and can send customer shipment notification and delivery emails.

ShipStation will import the customer phone number.

ShipStation will import the shipping method chosen by the customer at time of checkout.

ShipStation will import the payment method used to pay for the order.

ShipStation will import discount and coupon information for the order.

ShipStation is able to determine if an order was placed as a gift.

ShipStation will import internal notes or order activity from the selling channel.

ShipStation will import notes left by the customer at time of checkout. Displayed as Customer notes in ShipStation Classic.

ShipStation will import the total order weight from the selling channel.

ShipStation will import the weight for each line item in the order.

ShipStation will import an image URL for each line item in the order.

ShipStation will import item options (such as color or size) for each line item in the order.

ShipStation will import a product stock location for each line item in the order.

ShipStation will update the order on the selling channel to the Shipped, Fulfilled, or Completed status after a shipment or fulfillment is created.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the shipment tracking number.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the carrier used for the shipment.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the shipping service used for the shipment.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the carrier's cost for the shipping label.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include any Notes to Buyer set on the order in ShipStation.

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include details about the specific line items in the shipment, which allows for partial shipment updates.

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