MyStore3 is a 3rd generation dynamic storefront that helps you to sell your product by using several message forums and relational messaging.
A relational message is one that is displayed automatically in response a particular
navigation route or in response to a particular action taken by the customer. There are three forums for displaying
these messages: the main store window, the right side columnar pane, and a separate pop up window.
There are four groups of relational messages.
The introductory message:
The first group comprises just one message file, the promoin.htm file found in the Files folder.
It is displayed in the right side pane.
The 'promoin' message is used as a customer confidence builder by relating your store to
several well known organizations. You may want to add information to this message; however the
Message Mentor cannot be used to edit this message. As the file names implies, 'promoin' appears
when a customer enters the store (or clicks the "About" nav button)
Promotional messages: NOTE: The above two message types can be the same document
with the two different file names.
The second message group is comprised of the promo.htm and the promoout.htm files found in each category folder
of the Database folder. These messages are related to the category where they are stored and appear automatically in
the right side pane in response to entering that particular category or exiting by viewing the Purchase Order.
One promo.htm file and one promoout.htm file is required in each of the
category folders. Use the Message Mentor to create these messages.
The promo.htm message is displayed when a customer selects a category to view. It is usually
used to call attention to something special within that category. It can have a thumbnail image linked
to a product 'type' or 'detail' page in that category.
The 'promoout' message is displayed when a customer is assumed ready to check out by viewing the purchase order.
It is generally used to call attention to a particular item in a category. It may also have some check out instructions.
The particular 'promoout' message displayed is the one located in the folder of the last category visited. It is presumed
that something in this category will be of the most interest to the customer. The message can have a thumbnail image linked
to a product 'type' or 'detail' page within that category. The 'promoout' message represents the last chance to 'talk' to
your customer before they leave the store. You can use the message mentor to create this message.
Product messages: Do not hesitate to
create as many messages in this group as appropriate; they will keep your store lively, help to sell products, and
the information provided will get customers back. There must be a 'type' message associated with each grouping of item types in the category; however, they can
all be identical where appropriate. This message is used to provide more
information on items in the type grouping. These messages are saved to the
category folder using the phrases that describe the various item TYPEs in the database table for that category.
NOTE: To create clones of this 'type' message you don't need the Mentor every time. Open
the file in any simple text editor and save as an_item_type.htm.
The third groupof messages is comprised of product 'type' and product 'detail' pages. These messages appear in the
main window in response to the customer requesting more information by clicking a link on a product list page or in one
of the above 'promo' messages. Both of these message types are
specific to a product category and automatically include a selection list of some of the items in the category.
Use the Message Mentor to create these messages.
The 'detail' message is optional. You can create a link to a detail message in the DESCRIPTION field of
the item listing and/or from a thumbnail image in the promo messages.
This 'detail' message is usually used to provide more information and/or a large image of a specific item. The message is saved to the
category folder using any appropriate file name.
The selection list included in these messages is the same style as that on a product listing page.
What items get listed is dependent on the built in search criterion.
For product 'type' messages, the search
is for all items of the same type based upon the TYPE entries in the database table for the category.
For product 'detail' messages, the search is for all items in the category where the message title is
contained in the DESCRIPTION field entries in the database table for the category. In other words, if the title
you give the message is unique to just one item description, the selection list on the 'detail' message will be
for just that item. You can include more items in the selection list by being less specific with the title. IE:
DESCRIPTION
'Shirt,
Pop up messages:
The fourth group is comprised of advisory and/or form input messages that appear in a pop up window in
response to the customer selecting a particular item for the shopping basket. These messages are most often used to reduce clutter
in a database table by gathering customer specific preferences in a forum separate from the item list page. IE: Rather than
list every tee shirt size in the a product table for selection from the item list, use a pop up message to get this information.
They can also be used to provide an item advisory. IE: Temporarily out of stock
The size of the pop up window, is determined by the window size parameters entered when creating a particular database table.
There can be as many included form elements and types as needed in the message. The form elements supported are:
radio button, checkbox, menu list, text box, and text area. MyStore3 uses a proprietory method of polling a submitted form message
no matter what or how many elements are included. The polled information is concatenated into a single line of form element names
and values and appended to the item description as it appears in the shopping basket and purchase order.
The message is activated only where there is a single letter entered in the SPECIAL field of the item record corresponding
to the message file name. The message is stored in the corresponding category folder.
There can be as many of these messages as necessary for different item types in the category. One message can serve many items.
Use the Message Mentor to create these messages.