Message Elements

MESSAGE VIEW
entire message:  This button toggles between "code" and "result" for the entire message.
clear form elements:  This button will clear only the form elements created and not the message look.
start over:  YEP!...clears everything.

NOTES:
The "view" buttons:  let you toggle between "code" and "result" views.

MESSAGE LOOK
page title:  Use any appropriate title phrase. This title will be seen at the top of the window for pop up messages and centered at the top of the page for product messages. It is not seen for promotional messages.
The title is used as the search criterion for the product 'detail' messages. Read more about this function under "messaging" in the Going Live information pages.
page color:  Set a page color for the message using either the color name or HEX value.
text color:  Set the general text color for the message using either the color name or HEX value.
heading text:  Enter the text here that you want at the top of the message.
top copy text  Enter any copy you want for an introduction.
include image:  Images always help orient the customer. It's a good idea to use an image here; however if this is a promo or popup message, the window is generally narrow so a thumbnail size image is appropriate. The image used here must exist in the Images sub folder of the particular category where this message is saved.
link image: Promo pages only.  Select a product 'type' or 'detail' page from the category containing the image (up one folder) to open in the main window when the image is clicked. Note: The link will not work when viewing the page from this Mentor location.
end copy text:  Enter any copy you want for a closing. On product 'type' and 'detail' message pages this text will be followed by a select list.

NOTES:
The copy you enter on the left will wrap to the width of the message window.
The image when viewed here may seem off line from the text and form elements. This is because it is centered horizontally on the page. It will position better in relation to the other elements when the page is displayed in a smaller window.

RADIO
Use radio buttons when you want a customer to select a single option from a group of options. Radio buttons and drop down menus work similiarly.

descriptive heading:  Enter a general heading for this field that you want your customer to read on the form. IE: Make some choices.
group label:  There can be more than one group of form elements below the descriptive heading. It is a good idea to give each group a label and set the first group entry to a new row (v) with subsequent entries on the same row (h). Leaving the group label unchanged eliminates the label from subsequent entries.
label  Label each radio button entry using a phrase that describes the option.
font color  This will color the first entry text and can be changed for each subsequent label. This option can be useful at times. For instance, when the selection is for color, each label can be that color.
position  Select to have buttons and text entered either on the same row (h) or down the page (v). You can change this after each entry. IE: Make the first group entry 'v'. This will start a new row with the group label, a radio button, and the label just below the descriptive heading. Enter the next button in the 'h' mode. Switch to 'v' before entering the third button; and back to 'h' for a fourth button. This will result in a 2 x 2 button grid.
name  Each group of radio buttons must have a unique name. This name will appear as a detail appended to the item description on the purchase order; therefore, it is a good idea to make the name meaningful. IE: If the button group is for flavor options, make the name flavor.
value  Each button should be assigned an exclusive descriptive value. This value is the phrase that will accompany the 'name' appended to the item description on the purchase order. IE: If the name is flavor and the value is vanilla, the item detail description on the order will read as follows: DETAIL:  FLAVOR = vanilla&.

NOTES:
Refer to the hot link page from Form Elements for general information and instruction on the use of the group control buttons.
The general procedure when creating multiple radio buttons is to change the label and value, but not the name, for each entry. You must capture each change by clicking the 'enter' button.
More radio buttons:  To add another group of buttons under the same description heading, enter a new group label and a new label starting with a new name/value pair without changing the description. (The first line of new group entry is usually a new row "v")
More colors:  You can change the color for each entry you make.
The '&' in DETAIL:  FLAVOR = vanilla& referred to above is the character that separates each option group sent back to the purchase order so there can be multiple option details appended to each item. IE: DETAIL:  FLAVOR = vanilla&  CONE = sugar&

CHECKBOX
Checkboxes are used to solicit a customer confirmation. IE: Do you want extra Chocolate? yes or else yes    no.    Checkboxes may occur singularly or in groups; however, unlike radio buttons, checkboxes are usually independent of each other.

descriptive heading:  Enter a general heading for this field that you want your customer to read on the form. IE: Make some choices.
group label:  There can be more than one group of form elements below the descriptive heading. It is a good idea to give each group a label and set the first group entry to a new row (v). Leaving the group label unchanged eliminates the label from subsequent entries.
label  Label each checkbox entry using a phrase that describes the option.
text  A brief description of the option that your customer sees. IE: for box1) Extra chocolate 50 cents.; for box2) Blueberries 75 cents.
value  Each box must be assigned a value. For the 2 box example above the values might be: for box1) yes+0.50; for box2) yes+0.75
font color  This will color the first entry text and can be changed for each subsequent label. This option can be useful at times. For instance, when the confirmation is for a color, each label can be that color.
position  Select to have checkboxes and text entered either on the same row (h) or down the page (v). You can change this after each entry. IE: Make the first group entry 'v'. This will start a new row with the group label, a checkbox, and the label just below the descriptive heading. Enter the next checkbox in the 'h' mode. Switch to 'v' before entering the third button; and back to 'h' for a fourth button. This will result in a 2 x 2 checkbox grid.
name  Each checkbox must have a unique name. This name will appear as a detail appended to the item description on the purchase order; therefore, it is a good idea to make the name meaningful. IE: If the checkbox is for a confirmation for extra toppings, make the name extra toppings.
value  Each checkbox is assigned a descriptive value. This value is the phrase that will accompany the 'name' appended to the item description on the purchase order. IE: If the name is extra toppings and the value is yes+0.60, the item detail description on the order will read as follows: DETAIL:  TOPPINGS = yes+0.60&.

NOTES:
The general procedure when creating multiple checkboxes is to change the group label and name for each entry.
Notice the plus symbol:  Notice that a plus (+) symbol was used in values for the checkbox. This signals the storefront code to add this amount times the quantity selected for this item to the item total price. This is the dynamic pricing feature exclusive to the Commercial version of MyStore3™. To learn more about using dynamic pricing, look under "dynamic pricing" in the "Going Live" section.
Do not use the plus with non numerical values....the code won't know what to do with it! Also do not use the plus if you don't want to add a numerical amount to the price.

MENU
A menu is used like a radio button to allow the selection of one value from many possibilities. A menu presents a drop down list of the options.

descriptive heading:  Enter a general heading for this field that you want your customer to read on the form. IE: Select a preference.
group label:  There can be more than one group of form elements below the descriptive heading. It is a good idea to give each group a label and set the first group entry to a new row (v). Leaving the group label unchanged eliminates the label from subsequent entries.
menu text  Menu text is the phrase that describes the option and appears in the menu list box. The first entry is often an instruction. IE:  Select a size.
font color  This will color the first entry heading and group labile and can be changed for each subsequent group label. position  Select to have the group label and menu box entered in the same row (h) as the heading or on a new row (v). (new row recommended for each menu box unless the box is very short) You can change this after each entry. IE: Make the first group entry 'v'. This will start a new row with the group label and a menu box just below the descriptive heading. name  Each menu must have a unique name. This name will appear as a detail appended to the item description on the purchase order; therefore, it is a good idea to make the name meaningful. IE: If the menu is for size options, make the name size.
value  Each menu text entry should be assigned an exclusive descriptive value. This value is the phrase that will accompany the 'name' appended to the item description on the purchase order. IE: If the name is width and the value is EEEEE, the item detail description on the order will read as follows: DETAIL:  WIDTH = EEEEE&.

NOTES:
The width of a menu box is automatically set to the length of the longest line of menu test. You must use "enter" after each menu text/value change within the same menu name. This is similar to entering radio buttons.
Use "save" only after completing one menu list. You can start another menu within the same descriptive heading by changing the name but not the descriptive heading.
Eliminate the group label by leaving the field blank.

TEXT
Text boxes are used to let your customer make their own text entry. The entry is usually in response to a question in the descriptive heading. IE: What name do you want printed on your tee shirt?

descriptive heading:  Enter a description for this field that you want your customer to view.
instructive text:  Enter text here that you want to appear next to the text box.
font color  The color of the descriptive heading and instructive text font.
name  Give each text box you create a different name corresponding to the description you want to see on the purchase order for this box. IE: for box1) imprint name
horizontal/vertical  Select to have text boxes run either across or down the form. You can change this after each entry. IE: enter a first two buttons in the horizontal mode, switch to vertical before entering the third button, and back to horizontal before entering the fourth menu. This will result in a 2 x2 text box grid.
text  This is a default value that will appear in the text box when the form first loads. It is often used as a prompt. IE: Country USA   The entry the customer makes here is the value returned to the purchase order along with the name. Not required.
size:  The width of this text box in the number of columns. Typically 35 - 45.

TEXTAREA
Textareas are used to let your customer make their own text entry where more than one row of text is required. The entry is usually in response to a question in the descriptive heading. IE: What message do you want printed on your tee shirt?

descriptive heading:  Enter a description for this field that you want your customer to view. instructive text:  Enter text here that you want to appear in this textarea when the form first loads.
font color  The color of the descriptive heading and instructive text font.
name  Give each textarea you create a different name corresponding to the description you want to see on the purchase order for this entry.
horizontal/vertical  Select to have menus and text run either across or down the form. You can change this after each entry. IE: enter a first two buttons in the horizontal mode, switch to vertical before entering the third button, and back to horizontal before entering the fourth menu. This will result in a 2 x2 menu grid.
name  Give each text box you create a different name corresponding to the description you want to see on the purchase order for this box. IE: for box1) imprint name
text  This is a default value that will appear in the text box when the form first loads. It is often used as a prompt. IE: Country USA   The entry the customer makes here is the value returned to the purchase order along with the name. Not required.
columns:  The width of the textarea in number of columns. Typically this might 35 - 45.
rows:  The height of the textarea in number of rows of text.

HIDDEN
A hidden form field is often used to place a confirmation statement from the customer on the purchase order accompanying the the item being purchased. It can also be used to identify the message itself.

font color:  This will be the color of the statement text.
statement:  This is a bold visible statement on the message page. It will usually reflect the submitted message. This field can be left empty if the hidden element is simply used to identify the message.
name:  This is the element name. It should generically describe the message. IE: confirm or ID
message:  This is the submitted text. It will be appended to the item description along with the name. IE:DETAIL: CONFIRM = By accepting this offer, I agree....&

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