Product Configuration (EC12)

The Product Configuration (EC12) program defines the sort and style of information displayed to the Internet when a customer navigates to a product on the website. Because there are many ways a customer can browse the website and 'find' a product, it is necessary to define how information about that product is shown to the site for each of the possible routes a customer can take to 'find' that product.

WARNING: EC12 was designed for use by Tecsys staff only. This program contains records and links that are vital to the operation of the website. Modifications to any records in EC12 may potentially cause the website to stop operating properly. We strongly recommend that you only update/edit this program with the assistance of TECSYS SMB Custom Programming staff.

EC12 is a facility that allows your website to look and feel different within unique areas of the site. Although consistency is important to your Internet site, you may want product details to be presented in a slightly different manner in the following instances:

  • When the customer uses the Search feature.
  • When the customer finds the product in a Flyer.
  • When the customer navigates to the product using the Categories defined for your products.

By default, the sytsem is configured to show the product details page the same way regardless of which method was used to navigate to it.

There are multiple ways through which a customer can find a product on the website. The following list includes many, but not all, methods a customer can use and each method should be included in EC12: (Note: This list is not meant to represent the only methods available. Please use this list as your starting point and add as required.)

  • Search - found by using the Search tool.
  • Shopping Cart - entered on an open shopping cart.
  • Flyer - viewed on an open flyer.
  • Categories - found through navigating Categories.
  • Invoice History - viewed after reviewing previous purchases.
  • Favourites List - entered into a list of Favourite products.

EC12 enables you to specify the web page template and the program logic used when products published on the website are selected or queried by the web user. Specifically, EC12 defines:

  • The template that is used to display products when those items are 'found' on the website using various methods.

  • The program that is used to control the display of products, or to control the functions of the page.

There are four sections on the EC12 window. The following list defines the fields displayed in each section:

  • In the 'Header' section:

    • Product Source - enter or select from the query the method or Product Source that is used to 'find' the product on the web page. You can enter a maximum of 32 alpha numeric characters in this field.

    • Description - enter a description of the Product Source. You can enter a maximum of 32 alpha numeric characters in this field.

  • In the Authorization section:

    • Authorization Selector - when selected, you can assign a particular Product Source to each of the functions (as defined in Menu Functions (EC08)) on the website menu.

      • By selecting the Authorization Selector check box and selecting a function from the EC Function query, the current Product Source is matched to the function listed. In this way, you can alter how products are displayed on the site depending on which button the web user presses, and how that user found the current product.

      For example, EC12 can be used to ensure that products displayed on the website use the following templates and rules:

    EC Function
    		 Product Source
    		 Purpose
    Product Catalog Category Uses a standard template to display products that are 'found' by navigating through categories (EC10)
    Shopping Cart Cart Uses a special template to display products that are 'found' by selecting them for display while they are inside a shopping cart.
    Complementary Products Complements Uses a unique template to display products that displayed when the user visits a page of complementary products (defined in Product Publishing (EC13/Complements) when the item desired is not available.
    Favourites List Favourite Uses a special template to display products that 'found' by selecting them for display while they are inside a favourites list.

    • EC Function - enter or select from the query an EC Function. EC Functions are maintained in EC08. EC Functions include both the program and label. The EC Function field is available when the Authorization Selector check box is selected.

    • Program - this field is available when the Authorization Selector check box is NOT selected. TECSYS SMB Programming staff will determine the program that is maintained in this field.

    • Label - this field is available when the Authorization Selector check box is NOT selected. TECSYS SMB Programming staff will determine what is maintained in this field.

  • In the Product Source Specific Logic section the input fields are used to specify the program and the position in the program of the logic to execute code specific to product sourced pages. For example, the specific logic for the Product Source is currently to collect product 'hit' statistics.

    • Program - TECSYS SMB Programming staff will determine the program that is maintained in this field.

    • Label - TECSYS SMB Programming staff will determine what is maintained in this field.

  • In the Product Display Page section:

    • HTML Selector - when selected, you can specify an HTML page template (defined in HTML Page Templates (EC05)) in the HTML Page field. The template is used to display the page of product details when an item is 'found' on the website using the current Product Source. If programming logic must be executed when the product is 'found', the correct program and statement label within that program will be listed in the Program and Label input fields.

    • HTML Page - enter or select from the query an HTML Page. HTML Page Templates are maintained in EC05. This field is only available when the HTML Selector check box is selected.

    • Program - this field is available when the HTML Selector check box is NOT selected. TECSYS SMB Programming staff will determine the program that is maintained in this field.

    • Label - this field is available when the HTML Selector check box is NOT selected. TECSYS SMB Programming staff will determine what is maintained in this field.

The following table outlines the functionality of each button on the Product Configuration window:

Button Label Icon Functionality
Update Update Saves the current Product Source.
Delete Delete Deletes the current Product Source.
New New Clears the field allowing you to add a new Product Source.

EC12
Product Configuration (EC12)