Restrict frontend products access

[spikespiegel]

Is there any way to allow only the administrators to see the products listings in the frontend? This way the users will only be able to see their products in their control panel, but only the administrator will be able to buy.

[Jörgen]

but only the administrator will be able to buy.

Why is the admin going to be the only customer ?

What Do You mean with this ?

Jörgen @ Kreativ Fotografi

[spikespiegel]

Because we need to buy pictures from people, but we will be the only customer.
We are making the website to purchase people's pictures. They come, they publish them, we buy, they receive a contract by email after we have made the purchase, they sign, we confirm it, they receive their payment.

[Studio 42]

Why you need products in this case?
A form or perhaps 1 product only, with upload or a specific plugin to set your own price with shoppergroups control, to prevent upload and price changes for other peoples ?

[spikespiegel]

Why a store? Because a products store was the closest thing I could thought about to what we need. But I'm opened to suggestions too of course , here is what I need:

Must-have:
- User must be able to have his own control panel
- User should be able to upload a zip file
- User should never have access to other user's files
- Admin should have access to user's files

* Perhaps a mix of a gallery and a support's ticket system would work *

Things that would be great to have:
- A payment gateway
- Pictures preview for the zip file

Well I'm opened to new ideas.
Currently we're buying pictures from people when they send us the files by email, then we only require proof of their identity and that they sign up a contract allowing the pictures to be reused, for example, as advertisements in other websites.

[Studio 42]

- User should be able to upload a zip file

1 product with upload and a specific plugin should work for your case.

- User must be able to have his own control panel

If the user check he's order, he see the uploaded image, if the plugin permit this.

- User should never have access to other user's files

Each user have only acces to own orders

- Admin should have access to user's files

if the plugin permit this, you can download the uploaded file and it's bind with the product.

If you need more advanced control panel to manage the files, this is possible with some plugin coding(no core hack needed in most case)

[spikespiegel]

What about not using virtue mart? Is there any other components and plugins?

Must-have:
- User must be able to have his own control panel
- User should be able to upload a zip file
- User should never have access to other user's files
- Admin should have access to user's files

* Perhaps a mix of a gallery and a support's ticket system would work *

Things that would be great to have:
- A payment gateway
- Pictures preview for the zip file

[Studio 42]

I prefer Vm + plugin, but you can check in the JED if you find another system that suit your needs.
See https://extensions.joomla.org/index.php
Note that in most case, when you have a very specific request, you need to change the code or pay something to do it for you, or add plugins, addons ...

[spikespiegel]

Well thx, I had an idea yesterday: Tickets Support system + Events Gallery + Chat + (Maybe) Affiliate program....

[Milbo]

I would also use vm for that. You can extend it to Multivendor, also another way to have users their own products.

[spikespiegel]

Thanks guys, you've been of great help, but I'm still opened to new ideas.

[Studio 42]

If you need new ideas and want use other extensions, i think you should ask the question in the Joomla forum, but your request is to specific to find a ready to go solution.
Try to not mix different components because conflict on updates, need most times hacks, each have different design ...
If you use VM or not, find a solution that you can do it from A to Z or A to Y but dont try to mix 5 existing systems, else you are sure you get some problems a day.