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Managing Website and Online Store

Store and website is presented as a set of *.php files that define both the website pages and store steps logic and some other related files and modules. The HTML templates (*.inc files) are provided for each store page. This makes website re-branding and customization much easier. Default files are always stay untouched since customized files are put into a special directory inside store folder. Customized files simply override the default ones. To get back to default configuration, you should move customized files from a special custom directory into some other location.

Important: Basic migration to a new PHP based store is performed during upgrade (such as keeping header/footer and pages the same), however site/store is to be carefully checked and corrected after upgrade is installed.

Remote Store Installation: Store can be installed at a separate server. Provider can have several stores installed at different servers. Store installation at a separate server requires redefining some constants in store configuration file and some configuration at the Management Node. Please refer to the Parallels Business Automation - Standard SDK for details.

Note: By default, the full access to store configuration is available for Parallels Business Automation - Standard installation owner, i.e., for provider only. Resellers can use simple tools for store customization provided in web interface under the Store Manager (open/close store, upload some files like logo, header/footer, etc.). Files uploaded in such a way are placed into a special directory for custom files (see directory structure description below) and override the existing default settings for reseller store. However, provider can allow a reseller to have an own store installation, on a separate server, for example. This issue is up to provider policy and provider/reseller relations.

The store simple settings are made via web interface in Commerce Director > Store Manager:

User Agreement can be entered under the Account Director > Customer Manager > Terms and Conditions.

Reseller Agreement can be entered in the Account Director > Reseller Manager > Terms and Conditions.

Advanced store setup is done by store files customization, which requires PHP and HTML knowledge.

The ability of accepting offline payments is set in store configuration file. Offline payments are allowed by default. You can disable this in the store configuration file settings.ini. On the server where Parallels Business Automation - Standard is installed, go to the /var/opt/hspc-frontend/includes directory. Open the settings.ini file and edit it: set OFFLINE_PAYMENT = Off.

The other advanced option is the ability of selling billable resources in store. Customers can adjust the billable resources configuration (in the frame of maximal allowed value) when buying a hosting plan. In this case, the additional resources ordered over the included value are billed in accordance with 'Price for additional' set in a hosting plan, and corresponding lines are added to a customer order. This option is enabled by default. If you want to disable it, please contact support.

The online marketing campaigns setup is made in store configuration file. The 'Affiliates' site page template is shipped with the store installation. You only need to paste the texts.

Site pages menu can be customized in the header.ini file.

By default, store is installed into the

/var/opt/hspc-frontend

directory.

Store files directory structure is the following:

Directory

Contains files

/var/opt/hspc-frontend

*.php files for store pages and the stylesheet (*.css) file.

images/

Images used in store and other site pages ( buttons, icons, purchase steps numbers, etc.)

includes/

Configuration files.

templates/

*.inc files that contain HTML templates for website and store pages.

vendor/Account_ID/

Directory where customized files must be placed. Account ID is replaced with actual ID of store owner account (provider - always 1 - and reseller accounts 2 and greater). This directory is created automatically for provider account and all reseller accounts.

Note 1: The vendor/1/ directory is created for provider by default. Directories for resellers are created during reseller account creation. Custom files uploaded using the Store Manager > File Manager are placed in these directories.

Note 2: The customization.xml file located in the vendor/ directory defines what store files and directories can be customized using the web interface - the File Manager integrated into the Store Manager.

In This Chapter

Configuring and Opening Store

Managing Resellers' Stores

Customizing Store Using File Manager

Known Problems Related to Store

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