Shopping cart system – online shop
Features of the shopping-cart system
Setting up the CMS shopping-cart module
Import and export of items at CSV or TXT format
Updating the shop menu (automatic)
Updating the shop menu (manual)
Shop database, columns and properties
Shopping-cart system – advanced users: PHP, HTML and Java script
Shopping-cart system – payment systems
Shopping-cart system – receiving orders – forwarding to a mobile phone
Shopping-cart system – access statistics – optimisation
Shopping-cart system with secure area
Our shopping cart system contains a wide range of features and its layout and design can be customised conveniently with the help of the bluetronix software. Several means of creating and changing items are available.
Click on the image to test the shopping cart system
Features of the shopping-cart system
View of multiple categories and any number of categories and sub categories
Detailed view of each item
Shopping cart with ordering system and mini shopping cart
Several payment methods like PayPal, Moneybrookers, direct debit or by credit cards like VISA, Mastercard, American-Express, Diners-Club etc. Internet payment service providers like ChronoPay can also be used
Check inventory of stock
Differing tax rates of items
Special offers and quotes
Calculating bulk or per item shipping
Different item versions (in colour, size or specification)
Search function for items and terms
Dynamic category menu
Automatic size adjustment of image
Prices ex GST or including GST
Simple changes of layout design, e. g. arrangement as well as the number of items per page
Simple adding and changing of items (datasets) in Editing mode
Dataset and table view of item database including import and export function and export function
Import and export into CSV or TXT format
Detailed description in HTML format, e. g., articles with several pictures, text, links to producer, PDFs etc.
Multiple installations, for example multi-language shops or different shops for resellers and customers
Allowing access only to registered users by using the module Secure areas and registration
Using the module Newsletter allows you to send news to registered customers
FTP access, for uploading/downloading multiple pictures in one transfer
Statistics of site visits to optimise advertisement and sales campaigns
Single visitor analysis displays statistics for individual customers accessing your homepage
Forwarding emails to mobile devices like mobile phones or PDA’s
Based on database technology and optimised for up to 500.000 items
Setting up the CMS shopping-cart module
While in editing mode, click on 
Modules -> Shopping-cart system. Choose your preferred shop layout and define settings for tax and shipping details. To set up the system click Set up shop. The module software creates the underlying database as well as shop system files in the ‘shop’ directory.
Next you want to display the newly created shop menu on the left side of the homepage. To achieve, this open 
Layout -> Edit layout.
Activate ‘left area’ and click 
Select directory. Browse to the ‘shop’ directory and select ‘menu.html’. Save the layout and check the shop site.
Adding and changing items
In editing mode, each item displays so called database buttons. Using these buttons enable you to 
Add, 
Edit and 
Delete items.
To create a new, simply click on New record. To change an item, click next to the item name on Edit record.
While in the dataset view, insert a name for the new item, a price and so on. Additionally, description preview and description details can be filled out by using the 
Editor. This information might be helpful if you want to provide further images, text, links or PDF files for downloading. Save the item by clicking on 
Save. To create more items, click on 
Next record or 
Previous record, to switch back to table view, click Table view.
Item in the database view
Table view gives you an overview of all items in table view. Be careful not to delete or rename any rows of datasets unless you have a thorough understanding of shopping cart systems and PHP scripts. Therefore leave any unused rows blank. For further details about using the table view, please refer to the chapter table view.
Import and export of items at CSV or TXT format
Items can be imported into the shop database out of files in either CSV or TXT format. To import, start 
Database -> Import database. To select a file to import, click on Document manager. Now transfer the file including any item data from your local hard drive to the server. The file must be in CSV or TXT format (tab separated text) and must hold the columns of the table as they are detailed at Shop databases, columns and properties. Select an item file and click Apply, then choose the ’shop’ database as ‘target database’. Generally data will be added to an existing dataset, if you would like to delete existing data, simply check the respective checkbox. Now begin the importing process by clicking on Import.
To double check the results, go to Database -> Database manager and click on the Edit button next to the ‘shop’ database.
The export function can be found at Database -> Export database.
Updating the shop menu (automatic)
The shop menu needs to be updated after any import of data as there are added or deleted items.
To achieve this, click on 
Edit menu, which will update the shop menu automatically. Save it and check the result.
Updating the shop menu (manual)
Sometimes, you want to insert additional menu links at the shop menu like ‘terms and conditions’ or ‘details’. To insert a menu item manually into the shop menu click Edit page. While in the editor, click on shop menu and then on the Edit menu symbol. Please note that the menu will not be updated automatically, existing entries will be detected only. Now you are able to add further menu items like ‘terms and conditions’.
Shop database, columns and properties
| Column Name | Description | Note |
| Category1 | 1. Category e. g., ‘screens’ | must not contain characters " and ' |
| Category 2 | 2. Category e.g., ‘TFT display’ | must not contain characters " and ' |
| Category 3 | 3. Category | must not contain characters " and ' |
| Category 4 | 4. Category | must not contain characters " and ' |
| ItemNumber | Item number e.g., ‘1234’ | Text format |
| ItemName | Name of the article like „TFT display type 123“ |
|
| Price | Article price | Decimals separated by ‘.’ (‘dot’) |
| DescriptionPreview | Short description for category view | Text and HTML format |
| ImagePreview | URL of preview picture for category view e. g., ‘http://www.bluetronix-demo.com.au/shop/mouse.jpg’ | need to state complete URL including „http://...“, no relative links |
| DescriptionDetail | Detailed description of the article for detailed view | Text and HTML format |
| ImageDetail | URL of the detail picture e. g., ‘http://www.bluetronix-demo.com.au/shop/mouse.jpg’ | need to state complete URL including ‘http://...’, no relative links |
| Shipping | State shipping charge here, if you want to have different amounts for each item | Decimals separated by ‘.’ (‘dot’) |
| DeliveryTime | Delivery time as customer information e.g. , ‘3 days’ for example | Text format |
| InStock | The available amount of articles in stock, e.g., ‘10’ – this will also be the maximum quantity | Number |
| GST | This input is only necessary if a product has a different GST percentage then what is defined system wide | Number |
| Version1 | Versions of an article like ‘red_blue_green’ | Text format, separate multiple entries with ‘_’ (‘underscore’) |
| Version2 | Further specifications like ‘USB_Firewire’ | Text format, separate multiple entries with ‘_’ (‘underscore’) |
| Version3 | Other versions | Text format, separate multiple entries with ‘_’ (‘underscore’) |
| Version4 | Other versions | Text format, separate multiple entries with ‘_’ (‘underscore’) |
Links at shop sites
In some cases it may be necessary to link directly to a certain article or category site. For example to have a link at the start page to special offers. First you have to identify the URL address, browse to your homepage in a second window then navigate to the shop item site you want to link to. Now you see the complete URL in the address bar of the browser ready to copy it.
Examples of shop system links:
| http://www.yourdomain.com/shop/item.html | link to all items |
| http://www.yourdomain.com/shop/itemB.html | link to all items in shop layout B |
| http://www.yourdomain.com/shop/itemC.html | link to all items in shop layout C |
| http://www.yourdomain.com/shop/item.html?&PR_K1=cameras&PR_K2=digital%20cameras | link to all items of the category ‘cameras’ and subcategory ‘digital cameras’ |
| http://www.yourdomain..com/shop/detail.html?&PR_ID=2&N=video%20camera | Link to a detail view of an item having the ID=2 and the name ‘video camera’ |
Editing the shop templates
The bluetronix software allows you to customise Database templates, as well as category view, items and the shopping cart.
Let’s look into modifying a template as example, click on Edit page.
Customising database templates in the editor, here the shopping cart system
The editor enables you to customise layout, to change image sizes and arrangement and to set number of images per page. Instructions on how to customise a template in the editor can be found at Edit database templates. Instructions on how to customise the layout (images and colours) can be found at Edit layout.
By setting up the module multiple times, you can create individual shops for different groups of customers, for example resellers and consumers, or shops in different languages.
Shopping-cart system – Advanced users: PHP, HTML and Java script
You will not need any programming skills to customise a layout. All can be done within the editor.
Advanced users are able to change templates, databases and tables. The strict separation of the layouts and PHP scripts makes it possible to have an easy to handle shop system.
Shopping-cart system – Payment systems
The shopping cart shows chosen articles with picture and version. Deleting items or changing the quantity is done effortless. The shop supports prices including GST and ex GST. Where applicable the GST amount will be added to the total.
The shopping cart can be treated like any other form, so feel free to customise it. For example different carts for different payment methods, like PayPal, Moneybrookers, or direct debit, by credit card (VISA, Mastercard, American-Express, Diners-Club etc.) and use internet payment service providers like Chronopay etc.
You can integrate the payment methods by yourself. In the case of PayPal this can be done by simply inserting a link. Additionally we will offer an integration service (see Webdesign). To be able to charge credit cards it is necessary to have a trade license, an ABN or a credit card approval contract.
Shopping cart system – Receiving orders – Forwarding to a mobile phone
Orders send to your shop system will be stored in the form archive 
Extras -> Form archive. Furthermore you can configure email forwarding to your address and automatic email confirmation to the customer.
Because the bluetronix software supports POP3, SMTP and IMAP accounts, you will be able to configure your mobile phone or PDA to receive emails from your shopping cart system. This way, you will be informed of new orders in real time and you can respond in a timely fashion.
Shopping cart system – Access statistics – Optimisation
In combination with the module ‘Access statistics’ you can also optimise prices and offers. You are able to see which articles, categories and sites a customer has visited and how long he stayed on each site. Using this tool, problems can be analysed and fixed.
Furthermore, you can see how your visitor found your homepage. Your client might have typed the URL directly in the browser address bar or clicked on a link from an external page or searched for your website to enter your shopping cart system. The benefit of ads linking to your page can be analysed this way.
Shopping cart system with secure area
In combination with the module ‘Secure area’, the shopping cart or the whole shop can be password protected. Secure areas make it possible to create different views, e.g., shopping cart systems showing prices to registered resellers only, article presentations for registered users only, etc. For further information refer to the chapter CMS module secure areas.
