User specific product catalog?

Dmitrij Jazel

Posted on 22/01/2013 12:48:05

Hello DW guys,

I will try to be as clear as I can, please ask questions if anyone needs some more details...

I was wondering if it actually is possible to do something like this with some standard module, or settings in ecom, or what could be an easy way to solve it.

What we have: eCom solution with lots of products and groups setup... they are using discounts etc...

What I need:

I wanted to know if it is possible to setup a way that I could tell a user Albert - see products in group A and some of products in group B

And for Charlie - to see products from product group C and some of from B

It should be easy way so that clients could control it.

in my example it is easy to include product name/group with first name of client - but actual solution has many groups with normal names obviously - there should be a way to controll it dynamically or come with some other solution if possible...

Kind regards,

Dmitrij

Replies

Marco Johannesen

Posted on 22/01/2013 13:08:17

I guess you could use the "Filter" setup, and just use "Groups" as a filter, and then just add the "groups" A+B, or B+C in the URL.

Guess that would be pretty dynamic, and possbile for Clients to understand? ;-)

Dmitrij Jazel

Posted on 23/01/2013 09:09:23

Hej Macro,

This sounds like something I could use... :-)

But where do I find that "Filter" setup? I remember it skipped once before through my eyes, but I can't find it now.

Regards,

Dmitrij

Marco Johannesen

Posted on 23/01/2013 09:14:08

Create a Product filter in "Management Center" -> eCommerce -> ProductCatalog -> Searchfilters....

There you add "Groups" as an filter....

You add the "filter" option on the Ecom/Products module.

And then you can just hide the "filter" part, and add them as URL parameters ;-)

Dmitrij Jazel

Posted on 23/01/2013 11:18:30

Hej Marco,

Thanks again :-)

Allright, But it says that I should "Please configure your search index first."

Could you please tell me where this one is located? :-)

Kind regards,

Dmitrij

Marco Johannesen

Posted on 23/01/2013 11:55:01

Did you create them in "Management Center" -> eCommerce -> ProductCatalog -> Searchfilters.... ? :-)

Dmitrij Jazel

Posted on 23/01/2013 12:55:26

That is the ting :-)

I went to: "Management Center" -> eCommerce -> ProductCatalog -> Searchfilters

than

I wanted to click the button in the top "create new", but - it is grayed out, and "Please configure your search index first." message is shown...

take a look at attachment

Merethe Nielsen

Posted on 23/01/2013 13:38:39

You need to run the indexer. Go to Management center - System - Searching and update.

http://manual.dynamicweb-cms.com/Default.aspx?ID=7353

Setup search filters:

http://manual.dynamicweb-cms.com/Dynamicweb-On-line-Manual/Management-Center/eCommerce/Product-catalog/Search-filters.aspx

Kind regards,

Merethe

Dmitrij Jazel

Posted on 23/01/2013 15:24:13

Hmm...

Well I will be frank,

First of all thanks Marethe and Marco ALOT for help. And sorry if it might be just me...

But I don't get it... (maybe I just got too tired today most likely) but

Why would you ever need to add a scheduled task to an indexer...

Why would indexer be attached to something like filtering,

And why there is "add new" or "make new" button when you opening searching section if you need to setup "new" indexing cause none exists right now.

I honestly think that is a bit of an overkill for someone who is new to this function...

Could someone put a simple example in documentation on this one atleast, or maybe make a video about it that could bring some light on it.

(so far I have problem with this part here: http://manual.dynamicweb-cms.com/Default.aspx?ID=7353)

Why would you have to do all this just to add a filter field in product catalog...

Aniways I will try adding this in feature request. Maybe again, it's just me, but I personally found it a bit complicated to use :-(

I will try to use what I can for now...

Thanks guys,

//Dmitrij

Imar Spaanjaars

Posted on 23/01/2013 20:23:51

This post has been marked as an answer

>> Why would you have to do all this just to add a filter field in product catalog...

Sometimes doing something seemingly simple requires complicated steps to be completed first. Here's a run-down of why this is needed.

1. For performance reasons, Dynamicweb eCommerce doesn't search the SQL database directly. This would quickly break if you had thousands or hundreds of thousands of products.

2. Instead, it queries an index which is built of the product catalog. Querying an index is much faster, and enables you to perform complicated queries, and execute them really fast (give me all products in group X and X, with a price between Min and Max, a product rating of 4 and more, and that are on stock for example.)

3.In order to build a filter based on this index, you need to build the index first so the field gets included. During the build, Dynamicweb reads all product data from the database and stores the relevant data in the index.

4. In order to build the index and keep it up to date, you need to create a scheduled task that runs every now and then. This way, new and updated products are reflected in the index as well.

So, yes, for something simple as adding a filter, you need to do some setup first. That seems complicated but you get a lot in return.

For more details, check out the chapter in Search from the eCommerce book: http://developer.dynamicweb-cms.com/documentation/books/dynamicweb-ecommerce-8.aspx

Cheers,

Imar

Votes for this answer: 1

Dmitrij Jazel

Posted on 28/01/2013 13:01:20

Hej Imar,

You do have a point with hundreds of thousands of products. And thanks for help! :-) All seams to be much more clear when looking at this with fresh eyes,

I think I got the general idea about the filters now.

Just have a question here, I am now working with DW solutionset ecom B2C product catalog (B2C_Main.html).

I can see it uses:

<!--@Page:Ecom.Search-->

To list all searchfields.

But in your Chapter #12 on Search (that I really like) it says you have to use :

<!--@[system name]--> like <!--@category--> or <!--@price-->

In order to see the searchfield - in my understanding - call the searchfield template to see the search criteria in the front-end.

But as I am trying to add a "product field values" type additional search field to ones already there (for now I can see only Price and Customer rating. But my field is not coming up.

Any idea why it doesn't show up?

Regards,

Dmitrij

Merethe Nielsen

Posted on 28/01/2013 13:09:38

Did you add the template tag for the product field filter to the search form template?

Check attached image.

Imar Spaanjaars

Posted on 28/01/2013 13:10:17

Hi Dmitrij,

Did you set up the filter in the backed? And is the filter in a group that has been made available on the settings of the Product Catalog module on the paragraph?

Imar

Dmitrij Jazel

Posted on 28/01/2013 13:26:08

Hej Imar,

Yes it is,

First I tried to just add one more field to existing group, gave it a unique name, setup a test template with a testing string (empty template with testing string "testing") and nothing came out.

Than I also made a new group, included it in the product catalog module (under advanced searching), and tried to do the same with a new "product field values" field, and still nothing came out :-(

Merethe Nielsen

Posted on 28/01/2013 13:31:51

In addition to my last screenshot, you need to select the filter group in paragraph settings and insert the search tag in the product list template.

Remember to re-index you filter in MGM center - Searching - Update when you make changes to filters/products.

Dmitrij Jazel

Posted on 28/01/2013 13:45:12

Hej Marethe,

That is exactly what I needed here...

I got it working! thanks alot...

For now I will try continue from here... and I will let you know if I have any other questions.

Thanks alot, Everyone! Your patience is really much appreciated! :-)

Regards,

Dmitrij

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User specific product catalog?

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