Re: Site / Database Structure
This WebDNA talk-list message is from 2002
It keeps the original formatting.
numero = 42300
interpreted = N
texte = Kimberly,Rather than have your product categories as fields in the database, I've done sites like these where product categories are stored in one field as words that will get seperated out in the site with a [listwords] context. I've found that once I create a database with only specific categories, the client comes back and adds a new category every few weeks, making it a royal pain in the butt to change the database each time. If you have one category field and store information in it like ~YE~YECat~BA~SP~, whenever your client adds a new category, it's as simple as a 2 minute modification to your product admin templates. I usually use checkboxes to list available categories in the add a product or edit a product pages. All the check boxes would have the same name (_category) and the value would be the category, like YE, then using your replace or append context, you simply do a ...&category=~[formvariables name=_category][value]~[/formvariables]In your edit a product page you use a listwords with a ~ delimiter to add the 'checked parameter to each categories checkbox that is associated with that product. You can also use the listwords to define categories of products in a search results page in the site and create radio options or select menus for other features. It's much more expandable than using multiple fields in the database. I use this same method for offering multiple colors or sizes for one products. If you want to get even fancier, you can add an administrative feature that adds these available checkbox categories to a seperate categories.db and then create your list of checkboxes from that.HTH -RobertKimberly D Ingram wrote:> Ok, here goes: I need direction for a gourmet chocolate factory. > > They need 2 areas for their website visitors, (retail and wholesale) of > course with separate pricing. > On top of that, some of the products will appear in multiple “Series” under > various “Categories” and “Subcategories” > > UGH!!! > > For example… a chocolate covered Oreo needs to appear in the following > “Series ? Category ? Subcategory“ > > 1) Year Round Items ? Gift & Basket Selections ? Oreos > 2) Gift Baskets ? Basket Selections ? Small Items > 3) Special Occasions ? Party Favors ? Individually Wrapped > > At this point, I have the database set-up like this: (YE is Year Round > Series, BA is Gift Baskets Series and SP is Special Occasions Series) > > SKU Item YE YECat YESubCat BA BACat BASubCat SP SPCat > SPSubCat Wholesale Retail Case Cost > 123 Chocolate Covered Oreo T Gift & Basket Selections Oreos T > Basket Selections Small Items T Party Favors Individually Wrapped > T T 24 20.40 > > At the time the visitor starts shopping, they are identified as “Retail” or > “Wholesale” depending on whether they log into the wholesale area with their > account information. > Then, to display the appropriate information from the catalog: > > 1) I find all items marked “T” for the appropriate client (wholesale > or retail) > 2) Then, I find all items marked “T” in each of the main “Series” and > display the matching “Category” and “Subcategory” names. > 3) For pricing, I have math calculations in the formulas.db to > determine: Retail= 2*(cost/case) or Wholesale=cost/case > > Does this sound like the best way to go about it, or is there a way to > better structure the site and/or database(s)???? > My main concern of course is future growth of the site. > > One added feature that I am already fully aware of is: custom product > packaging. > For example: the above chocolate covered Oreo, with the new feature, will > be available: > > 1) in standard packaging (cellophane bag with raffia tie) > 2) in customized packaging for special events (cellophane bag with > printed ribbon: “Mr. & Mrs. Carlton Walls, August 17, 2002” ) > 3) in customized packaging for special events (cellophane bag with > printed ribbon: “Happy Holidays from ACME, Inc.” ) > > My guess would be to incorporate some packaging information to the product > database then reference additional costs in a packaging database. > But of course, if the Oreos are being purchased as party favors for a > wedding, they’ll be purchased in bulk quantity therefore there will be a > discount to the retail price. > And, at the same time, if they’re being purchased in bulk quantity for a > corporate occasion, they will be sold at a discount to the wholesale price. > > WHEW!! > > Anyway, this gets very confusing for me!!! This is by far, the most complex > product catalog that I’ve encountered since starting, and I’m a bit nervous > about getting things set-up best in the beginning. I would really like some > opinion on this one. > > Thanks so much!!! > Kim > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list
. > To unsubscribe, E-mail to: > To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to > Web Archive of this list is at: http://search.smithmicro.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------- This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to the mailing list . To unsubscribe, E-mail to: To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to Web Archive of this list is at: http://search.smithmicro.com/
Associated Messages, from the most recent to the oldest:
Kimberly,Rather than have your product categories as fields in the database, I've done sites like these where product categories are stored in one field as words that will get seperated out in the site with a [listwords] context. I've found that once I create a database with only specific categories, the client comes back and adds a new category every few weeks, making it a royal pain in the butt to change the database each time. If you have one category field and store information in it like ~YE~YECat~BA~SP~, whenever your client adds a new category, it's as simple as a 2 minute modification to your product admin templates. I usually use checkboxes to list available categories in the add a product or edit a product pages. All the check boxes would have the same name (_category) and the value would be the category, like YE, then using your replace or append context, you simply do a ...&category=~[formvariables name=_category][value]~[/formvariables]In your edit a product page you use a listwords with a ~ delimiter to add the 'checked parameter to each categories checkbox that is associated with that product. You can also use the listwords to define categories of products in a search results page in the site and create radio options or select menus for other features. It's much more expandable than using multiple fields in the database. I use this same method for offering multiple colors or sizes for one products. If you want to get even fancier, you can add an administrative feature that adds these available checkbox categories to a seperate categories.db and then create your list of checkboxes from that.HTH -RobertKimberly D Ingram wrote:> Ok, here goes: I need direction for a gourmet chocolate factory. > > They need 2 areas for their website visitors, (retail and wholesale) of > course with separate pricing. > On top of that, some of the products will appear in multiple “Series” under > various “Categories” and “Subcategories” > > UGH!!! > > For example… a chocolate covered Oreo needs to appear in the following > “Series ? Category ? Subcategory“ > > 1) Year Round Items ? Gift & Basket Selections ? Oreos > 2) Gift Baskets ? Basket Selections ? Small Items > 3) Special Occasions ? Party Favors ? Individually Wrapped > > At this point, I have the database set-up like this: (YE is Year Round > Series, BA is Gift Baskets Series and SP is Special Occasions Series) > > SKU Item YE YECat YESubCat BA BACat BASubCat SP SPCat > SPSubCat Wholesale Retail Case Cost > 123 Chocolate Covered Oreo T Gift & Basket Selections Oreos T > Basket Selections Small Items T Party Favors Individually Wrapped > T T 24 20.40 > > At the time the visitor starts shopping, they are identified as “Retail” or > “Wholesale” depending on whether they log into the wholesale area with their > account information. > Then, to display the appropriate information from the catalog: > > 1) I find all items marked “T” for the appropriate client (wholesale > or retail) > 2) Then, I find all items marked “T” in each of the main “Series” and > display the matching “Category” and “Subcategory” names. > 3) For pricing, I have math calculations in the formulas.db to > determine: Retail= 2*(cost/case) or Wholesale=cost/case > > Does this sound like the best way to go about it, or is there a way to > better structure the site and/or database(s)???? > My main concern of course is future growth of the site. > > One added feature that I am already fully aware of is: custom product > packaging. > For example: the above chocolate covered Oreo, with the new feature, will > be available: > > 1) in standard packaging (cellophane bag with raffia tie) > 2) in customized packaging for special events (cellophane bag with > printed ribbon: “Mr. & Mrs. Carlton Walls, August 17, 2002” ) > 3) in customized packaging for special events (cellophane bag with > printed ribbon: “Happy Holidays from ACME, Inc.” ) > > My guess would be to incorporate some packaging information to the product > database then reference additional costs in a packaging database. > But of course, if the Oreos are being purchased as party favors for a > wedding, they’ll be purchased in bulk quantity therefore there will be a > discount to the retail price. > And, at the same time, if they’re being purchased in bulk quantity for a > corporate occasion, they will be sold at a discount to the wholesale price. > > WHEW!! > > Anyway, this gets very confusing for me!!! This is by far, the most complex > product catalog that I’ve encountered since starting, and I’m a bit nervous > about getting things set-up best in the beginning. I would really like some > opinion on this one. > > Thanks so much!!! > Kim > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . > To unsubscribe, E-mail to: > To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to > Web Archive of this list is at: http://search.smithmicro.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------- This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to the mailing list . To unsubscribe, E-mail to: To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to Web Archive of this list is at: http://search.smithmicro.com/
Robert Wade
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