Making 'MyStore' ... 'YourStore' |
Now you can begin to build your actual product database by making detail entries for each item. Each one of your items is represented by a line, line[1], line[2], ..., line[n], etc. And, each line will have information for your customer to view and for you to use in fulfilling the order. This information includes the following elements:
- TYPE: This field is for the name of the product type within the previously defined category. This is generally but not necessarily the same name as you entered for each item in the list of items in the category database. This information will be visible to your customer.
- DESCRIPTION: This field is for a brief description and list price of the item. This information will be visible to your customers.
- PRICE: This field is for the billed price of the item. This price can differ from the list price. For instance: a sale item. This and the following elements are not visible information.
- MAKER: This is a coded entry for the supplier of the product. Since the freeware version of this software does not support multiple vendors, this field can be left blank.
- PID: This field is for the Product Identification code. This is whatever alpha-numeric product codes you want to use to identify your products.
- STATE: This is a coded field representing the location from which a supplier ships goods. It can be used in determining shipping cost. Since the freeware version of this software does not support multiple vendors, this field will always have your state abbreviation.
- SPECIAL: This is a three letter, coded field used to adjust shipping cost by weight categories and to activate pop up windows for the entry of specific ordering information such as size, color, style, etc. This field also lets you switch to using the next two fields for specifying individual product shipping weights and tax. Use "w" as the first letter to use the ITEMWT field and "t" as the second letter to use the ITEMTAX field.
- ITEMWT: Specify the shipping weight of an item here in 1/100 pound decimal format. That is as x.xx. Use this field to get much more accurate shipping costs.
- ITEMTAX: Specify a tax rate for a particular item in decimal format. Such as .xx. This field is useful where most items are taxable, but this item is not. For instance, a food item.
Before you begin creating lines for each of your products, we suggest you open one of the sample database files in your text editor. Here you will get to see how items are grouped by using the same 'Type' name for items. When your customer views a selection of items in one of the drop down menus, they should see only a list of variations on that particular item. This grouping is established by the software according to the name you give the item in the 'TYPE' field. Even the smallest difference between names will create a new drop down menu. This can be useful, but you must be aware of it.
Do not change line[0]. Start your product entries with line[1] and number the lines consecutively, grouping the item types. Be careful to retain the single quotes and commas. To use special characters like (&) or the comma or single quote or (;) or (:) , precede the character with the escape (\) character. To use the back slash itself, precede it with another backlash (\\). The Database Wizard will automatically take care of these characters for you.
Start your entries, but not line[0] The codes for the SPECIAL field are detailed in the next page. We suggest for now just enter '0nn'. You can make changes later.
OK ... start filling in!
Actually this is the best way to get going. Make a few entries and give it a test.
When you're finished with your changes, if you haven't already done so, create a new folder in the MyStore/Database folder. Name it 'Yourproductcategoryname'; save this document to that folder (ie: MyStore/Database/Yourproductcategoryname folder) as:
yourproductcategoryname_db.htm
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