Catalog Administration: Getting Started:

TechCart Enterprise Edition allows you to utilize a SQL based product catalog.  The product catalog system has been designed to be as simple or as complex as your store requires.  For most basic retailers the default product table setup combined with the catalog wizard should work just fine, for more advanced applications, knowledge of MySQL is required.

The first time you go into your catalog setup from the main administration area, you will be asked your primary database configuration.  Your system administrator should have already installed MySQL and created a database for you to use.  For the system to access the database you will need the to enter the following information that your system administrator should be able to provide you.

Database Configuration Screen

Database Name
The name of the database as created by your system administrator.

Database Username
The username assigned to your database.

Database Password
The password used to access your database.

Path To Root Template Files
This is the path to where you would like to put your website HTML template files.   These templates are the foundation of your site.  The default may not be the best selection for your particular needs.  This path must be a full path with a trailing slash (/).

Default No Results Found Page
By default, if a search is performed and no results are returned a page will appear stating that no result have been found.  Unless otherwise specified in the query TechCart will use the file you specify here as this page.

Once you have completed the configuration information you are ready to setup your product catalog.  Press 'Save and Continue' to move on to the next step.


Site Design
The TechCart product database system is extremely powerful as well flexible and allows a for non-restrictive designs.  The catalog system has not been designed to build and design your e-commerce storefront from scratch, although the database wizard will create a generic set of pages to give you some guidance as far as interacting with the storefront.  There are practically no design limitations and the look and feel of your site is entirely up to you.

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