Where to start??

Hello,

I am creating a new site for myself, an all-in-one site where my main domain is linked to various sub-domains. Each sub-domain is a different service I am going to offer such as graphic design, photography etc. So I want a log-in area that goes to the same area no matter what site you are on and displays various information such as profile (name, email, address, etc), previous orders, store, CMS?(it will just be me accessing and changing the website) and other things that I haven't thought of just yet. Other ideas?

So I don't know where to start as the documentation says to have a few things which I have but I am unsure about the database. I have a hosting server with integrated mySQL...is this alright to use? If so, how should I go about getting tables/fields that will correspond and integrate correctly with security assist and any other extension i should be using?

I am also using a template that i would like to have a "my account, profile, logout, etc" area constantly showing. Do I make an editable region in my template for this?

I can follow the documentations in the support area, i just need the before stuff figured out:

Set up correct database
Have correct CSS pages/templates set up
Get all the features I would like to have coexist with each other correctly

Then work on implementing them once I make sure all the pieces are there.

Will the php-solutions be advantageous to purchase? I figured my extension library membership would allow me to do it all anyways with more customization to my needs.

Thanks

Edit: Also, I would like to do order tracking through my site...

I just tried to mess around with the settings for security assist and found that I need to apply it to a php page. How will I be able to get that one part that always shows the status (log-in, logout) along with the quick links for "my profile" "Orders" etc.


What about adding log-in functionality to a preset SiteSculptor Site? I am going to want a secure area where they have to log-in, in order to see it and access it. I found other forum topics on this, but again I need to know how to get the initial setup as the documents don't offer much help. I would like the steps for creating a proper database for the security assist extension to be defined to. Now if it is as easy as just going into mySQL, creating a new database, then going into myphpadmin and adding the fields... I can do that. I just want to get some guidance so I get the correct sort of database setup.

For the SiteSculptor preset I created a website with, I just want a simple log-in with the standard fields that are included in security assist presets. Then a "helpdesk" area where the specified user will have a dedicated area where they can ask questions/support about my product and only that ONE user sees it.

Just another thing I am thinking about - I want to integrate the store credentials with the rest of the site.

Ok, so after a couple days of reading through all the documents, i followed the setting up a testing server instructions. I forget the exact page I got to it from, but it involved a bunch of clicking. so my biggest problem was that I was trying to login to my local host testing server but use my remote information...somehow it didn't click until an hour ago. But I am successfully on my local testing server and believe I just upload everything to my remote server and things will transfer/work ok? (log-in, registration etc)

I still need to read over the documents for creating order history, store using ecart, downloadable products, integrating usernames with external solutions (helpdesks, live chat, forum), have a dedicated section for a quick user overview (my profile, orders, etc link) and somehow make an order tracking page.