ECommerce Software Updates
| 8/27/2008 | Category Export: Include Category Number - Include Category Numbers in Category Exports, enabling the rapid creation of direct links for all categories | |
| 8/13/2008 | OrderQuery XML Tool: Query by Order Status and Billing Status - Query for orders via the OrderQuery XML Tool using Order Status and Billing Status as query criteria | |
| 8/8/2008 | Quick Find - Quickly search for objects from every list and detail screen within the OMS. | |
| 7/30/2008 | Suggestion Box Boolean Options - Toggle the Category Suggestion Box and the Product Suggestion Box features on or off from Settings/Boolean Options. | |
| 7/28/2008 | Category Suggestion Box - Select a category by beginning to type the category name and then selecting it from a list of matching categories. | |
| 7/15/2008 | OrderQuery and OrderUpdate XML Tools: Line Number - Update individual Line Items via the OrderUpdate XML Tool, using Line Numbers queried via the OrderQuery Tool | |
| 7/15/2008 | Invoices and Packing Slips: Include Tracking Numbers - Include Tracking Numbers on Invoices and Packing Slips in the Order Management System | |
| 5/13/2008 | New USPS Packaging Types - Utilize Large Envelope and Large Flat-Rate Box packaging for use with USPS Rates and Endicia Shipping | |
| 4/28/2008 | Customer Note Flag - Display a flag next a customer name when that customer has a note associated with their record | |
| 4/22/2008 | Cart: Determine/Edit Shipping, Sales Tax and Preferred Delivery Date Buttons - Upload custom "Determine/Edit Shipping, Sales Tax and Preferred Delivery Date" buttons. | |
| 4/16/2008 | Cart: Stack Buttons/Links - Stack coupon and gift certificate buttons/links in the shopping cart | |
| 4/2/2008 | Order Exports: Order Time - Include Order Time in Excel and Access Order Exports | |
| 4/2/2008 | Search Engine Friendly Catalog: Category Page Elements - Specify Page Title, Meta Description, and Meta Keywords for Search Engine Friendly Catalog category pages | |
| 3/31/2008 | Search Engine Friendly Catalog: Product Page Elements - Specify Page Title, Meta Description, and Meta Keywords for Search Engine Friendly Catalog product pages | |
| 3/25/2008 | UPS .zpl Printer Support - Create .zpl (Zebra Printer Language) thermal labels via UPS Shipping | |
| 2/19/2008 | Company Name Field - Add an optional or required Company Name field to customer and order addresses | |
| 2/19/2008 | Product Suggestion Box - Select a product by beginning to type its name into a text box, then selecting from a list of matching suggestions | |
| 1/24/2008 | File Import: Single File - Upload individual files using the Image Import | |
| 1/3/2008 | Gallery Thumbnails Across - Specify how many Mini-Thumbnails appear per row in Product Image Galleries on Product Detail screens in the Online Store | |
| 1/3/2008 | Paypal Ship To Address - Have Paypal ask for a Ship To Address when sending customers to Paypal via Instant Payment Notification to remit payment | |
| 1/3/2008 | Product Detail Style - Utilize either of two possible styles on the Product Detail screen of the Online Store, as controlled by the new Detail Style option | |
| 1/3/2008 | .zpl Printer Support - Create .zpl (Zebra Printer Language) thermal labels via FedEx and Endicia Shipping | |
| 1/3/2008 | CSS Markup - Utilize new DIV and SPAN tags, in conjunction with ID and CLASS attributes, in the Online Store to enhance layout flexibility via the Style Sheet Addendum |
8/27/2008 -- Category Export: Include Category Number
Category Exports (Categories/Export in the Order Management System) now include a Category Number (i.e. CATEGORY_NO) field. This enables the rapid creation of direct Category Links for each category included in the export, as Category Link URLs take the form http://www.nexternal.com/AccountName/CategoryCategoryNumber (or http://DomainAlias/CategoryCategoryNumber, if a Domain Alias is in use at Settings/Site Options).
Back to top8/13/2008 -- OrderQuery XML Tool: Query by Order Status and Billing Status
If you are using the OrderQuery XML Tool (Settings/XML Tools in the Order Management System), you may now query orders using Order Status and/or Billing Status as query criteria. Additionally, the OrderQuery tool has been updated to allow more than one query criterion in the OrderQueryRequest. Please refer to the XML Documentation for full details.
Back to top8/8/2008 -- Quick Find
A search field is now available on every list and detail screen within the Order Management System. The yellow search button has been replaced with an "Advanced Search/Sort" link located in the upper right corner of every screen. With the exception of the Order Number search, you may enter just part of a word to find a list of matching records. For example, a Last Name Search on the Customer List Screen for "Smi" would return a list of customers that have a last name that includes the combination of letters "smi," such as customers with the last name "Smith."
Back to top7/30/2008 -- Suggestion Box Boolean Options
By visiting Settings/Boolean Options and checking or unchecking the Category Suggestion Box or Product Suggestion Box you can toggle these features on or off.
Back to top7/28/2008 -- Category Suggestion Box
Stores with 100+ categories can select categories by typing them into a text box and then selecting them from a menu that appears displaying matching category names. This feature implements subcategories by separating them with the pipe ("|") character. Therefore, if "Irons" is a subcategory of "Golf Clubs" then it will be displayed in the suggestion box as "Golf Clubs | Irons".
Back to top7/15/2008 -- OrderQuery and OrderUpdate XML Tools: Line Number
If you are using the XML Tools (Settings/XML Tools in the Order Management System), you may now update individual Line Items via the OrderUpdate XML Tool. To do so, query Line Numbers via the OrderQuery tool (i.e. the Order/ShipTo/ShipFrom/LineItem/LineNo node in OrderQueryReply), then use those Line Numbers in the OrderUpdate Tool (i.e. the OrderUpdate/StatusUpdate/LineNo node in OrderUpdateRequest). This allows you to, for example, specify Tracking Numbers on the Line Item level.
Back to top7/15/2008 -- Invoices and Packing Slips: Include Tracking Numbers
The new Include Tracking Numbers field (Settings/Site Options/Invoices and Packing Slips in the Order Management System) controls whether or not Tracking Numbers are included on Invoices and Packing Slips. If included, Tracking Numbers appear in the upper right, along with fields such as the Order Date and Order Number.
Back to top5/13/2008 -- New USPS Packaging Types
If you are using USPS Rates and/or Endicia Shipping (Settings/Compatible Software/Online Shipping Tools), you may now utilize Large Envelope and Large Flat-Rate Box packaging. Packaging types may be specified when packages are defined Settings/Compatible Software/Online Shipping Tools/Preferences, subject to override at the product level in the Product Overrides section.
Note: Large Envelope is available only for USPS First Class Mail International™, while Large Flat-Rate Box is available only for USPS Priority Mail International™. If a packaging type that does not apply for a given shipping method is selected, packaging type reverts to Own Packaging.
4/28/2008 -- Customer Note Flag
A new option has been added to Settings/Site Options titled “Customer Note Flag.” When this option is checked, a flag will appear next to that customer’s name on both the Order List and Order Detail Screens in the Order Management System if that customer has a note associated with their record. Mousing over the flag will display the respective note.
Note:- Customer Notes are created internally and are never viewable by the customer.
- For current clients, this option is off by default and must be turned on.
4/22/2008 -- Cart: Determine/Edit Shipping, Sales Tax and Preferred Delivery Date Buttons
A new option has been added to the Layout/Buttons section of the Order Management System that allows the "Determine/Edit Shipping, Sales Tax and Preferred Delivery Date" links to be replaced by custom images in the cart. To see an example of a shopping cart using these buttons, please visit store.firstfairway.com and add something to the cart.
Back to top4/16/2008 -- Cart: Stack Buttons/Links
A new option has been added to the Cart Layout section of the Order Management System that allows the Enter Coupon, Order Gift Certificates, Redeem Gift Certificates, and Redeem Gift Cards buttons to be stacked vertically in the online store. Additional css elements have also been added to the anchors and images of those buttons/links to provide more control over their layout properties. To see an example of a shopping cart with Stack Buttons/Links on, please visit store.firstfairway.com.
Back to top4/2/2008 -- Order Exports: Order Time
Excel and Access Order Exports (Orders/Export in the Order Management System) now include an ORDER_TIME field, which holds the time at which the corresponding order was placed, subject to adjustment via the Time Adjustment field (Settings/Site Options).
Back to top4/2/2008 -- Search Engine Friendly Catalog: Category Page Elements
New fields have been added to the Categories Section of the Order Management System, providing more control over three important elements in the Search Engine Friendly Catalog Category Pages. The Title, Meta Description, and Meta Keywords can now be specified for each category in your database. If values are present, they will override the default settings of these values at Products/Exports/Search Engine Friendly Catalog Preferences.
Notes:
- Concurrent with this update, the Category Import and Export files have been modified to accommodate the three new fields.
- It is widely believed that the Title Tag is the most import HTML element on a page with regards to search engine optimization. The Meta Description is often display on the search engine results pages and compelling copy in this field can increase the likelihood that the link will be clicked. Though the value of the Meta Keywords has diminished over time, it is still recognized a valid meta element.
3/31/2008 -- Search Engine Friendly Catalog: Product Page Elements
New fields have been added to the Products section of the Order Management System, providing more control over three important elements in Search Engine Friendly Catalog product pages. The Title, Meta Description, and Meta Keywords may now be specified for each product in your database. If values are present, they will override the global settings of these values as specified at Products/Export/Search Engine Friendly Catalog Preferences.
Notes:
3/25/2008 -- UPS .zpl Printer Support
When using UPS Shipping to create shipping labels and generate tracking numbers, you may now choose to create labels in the .zpl (Zebra Printer Language) format. Labels in the .zpl format are designed to print only to a "Zebra" compatible thermal printer; newer thermal printers are more likely to support the .zpl format. Older thermal printers are more likely to use the .epl2 (Eltron Printer Language v2) format, which continues to be supported.
You may select the default label format for UPS Shipping at Settings/Compatible Software/Online Shipping Tools in the Order Management System. The default format may also be overridden when creating labels via the Shipping Labels button on the Order Detail screen.
Back to top2/19/2008 -- Company Name Field
The new Company Field on the Customer Type level (Customers/Types in the Order Management System) controls whether and how a Company Name field is included as part of customer and order addresses for the designated Customer Type. You may choose not to use the Company Name field, or to make it optional, required, or business required (i.e. required for business addresses, optional for residential addresses).
Notes:- If you choose not to use the Customer Name field for a given Customer Type, the label "(or Company Name)" appears below the Address Line 1 label, to indicate to the customer that a Company Name, if applicable, may be entered in that field.
- Concurrent with this update, Company Name-related fields have been added to the Customer Imports (Customers/Import), Customer Exports (Customers/Export), Customer Integration (Customers/Integration), Order Exports (Orders/Export), and XML Tools (Settings/XML Tools).
2/19/2008 -- Product Suggestion Box
This update applies to places in the Order Management System where products are selected from a list, such as when selecting Related Products during the creation or edit a product.
If you have 100 active (i.e. not Discontinued) products or fewer in your product catalog, you may continue to select Related Products from select boxes. However, if you have more than 100 products, you may begin to type the names of the Related Products into the text boxes provided. Once you have typed 3 or more characters, matching products will be suggested to you. You may then select a product from those suggested, or continue to type the name in full. Once a name is entered, either the green check or red x icon will appear to the right of the text box, indicating a valid or invalid entry, respectively.
Back to top1/24/2008 -- File Import: Single File
The Image Import (Products/Import or Categories/Import in the Order Management System) may now be used to upload single image files, and single audio clips. The Image Import may also continue to be used to upload many files simultaneously, by packaging them into a .zip file.
Note: Only .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .jpe, and .png files are valid image files. Only .wav, .au, .snd, .mid, .midi files are valid audio clips. Other files types are not permitted.
1/3/2008 -- Gallery Thumbnails Across
For products with Image Galleries, the new Gallery Thumbnails Across field (Layout/General Layout/Product Frame Options in the Order Management System) controls the number of Mini-Thumbnails displayed across each row in on the Product Detail screen in the Online Store. Mini-Thumbnails are generally displayed below the currently displayed Main Image, unless Tabbed is selected as the Detail Style option, with Under Image selected via the gallery thumbnails select box.
Note: The maximum allowed Gallery Thumbnails Across value is 10.
1/3/2008 -- Paypal Ship To Address
The new Ship To Address field for Paypal Instant Payment Notification (Settings/Billing Options in the Order Management System) controls whether or not Paypal asks the customer for a Ship To Address -- you may choose to have Paypal not use a Ship To Address, or make the address optional or required. If you do have Paypal ask for a Ship To Address, the address must be entered by the customer or selected from the customer's Paypal address book. It is not possible to pass Ship To Address information to Paypal via Instant Payment Notification.
Tip: Nexternal strongly recommends choosing (do not use) as the Ship To Address option, unless you are using a value-added Paypal service (e.g. Seller Protection) that requires a Ship To Address. Under most circumstances, it is unnecessary and undesirable to have the customer specify a Ship To Address with his/her Paypal payment.
1/3/2008 -- Product Detail Style
The Product Detail screen of the Online Store may have two possible styles, as controlled by the new Detail Style option (Layout/General Layout/Product Frame Options in the Order Management System).
The Stacked option places the Product Name, SKU, Price, Attributes, and other relevant fields at the top of the Product Detail screen. The Product Main Image appears below, either on the left or right (as specified by the Main Image Position field), with the Long Description on the opposite side. Related Products, Reviews, and Questions appear further below, with Product Details and Specifications at the bottom. If you choose this option, enter the number of attributes to be displayed across a row, up to a maximum of 10. The Stacked option is thus identical to the preexisting Product Detail screen.
The Tabbed option places the Product Main Image at the top of the screen, either on the left or right (as specified by the Main Image Position field). The Product Name, SKU, Price, Attributes, and other relevant fields appear in a column on the opposite side of the image. Product Description, Reviews, Questions, and Details are within a tabbed menu below. If you choose this option, you must also choose whether to place Mini-Thumbnails for Gallery Images under the Product Main Image, or under the Product Name.
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| Product Detail Stacked | Product Detail Tabbed |
Note: The tabs for the Tabbed option utilize the Banner Color/Image, Banner Text Color, Secondary Banner Color/Image, and Secondary Banner Text Color. Similarly, the Long Description, (Price) Details, Customer Questions, and Customer Reviews Labels (Layout/General Layout/Labels) are used to label the tabs.
Tip: The tabs for the Tabbed option contain CLASS and ID tags to facilitate the use of custom style elements via the Style Sheet Addendum (Layout/Advanced Layout). This is an advanced feature for use by experienced professionals only.
1/3/2008 -- .zpl Printer Support
When using FedEx Shipping and Endicia Shipping to create shipping labels and generate tracking numbers, you may now choose to create labels in the .zpl (Zebra Printer Language) format. Labels in the .zpl format are designed to print only to a "Zebra" compatible thermal printer; newer thermal printers are more likely to support the .zpl format. Older thermal printers are more likely to use the .epl2 (Eltron Printer Language v2) format, which continues to be supported.
You may select the default label format for FedEx Shipping and Endicia Shipping at Settings/Compatible Software/Online Shipping Tools in the Order Management System. The default format may also be overridden when creating labels via the Shipping Labels button on the Order Detail screen.
Note: At this time, UPS Shipping supports only labels in the .epl2 format, while DHL Shipping and USPS Shipping do not support thermal labels.
1/3/2008 -- CSS Markup
Many elements in the Online Store have been marked up with DIV and SPAN tags containing ID and CLASS attributes, which may be referenced via the Style Sheet Addendum (Layout/Advanced Layout in the Order Management System) to further customize the appearance of the store. Use the "View Source" feature on your browser to see which tags and attributes are applicable to your Online Store. The Style Sheet Addendum is an advanced feature that should be used only by experienced programmers with a deep understanding of CSS. Improper use of the Style Sheet Addendum can have severe negative consequences, including rendering your Online Store inoperative.
Notes: