CLOSE this help screen to edit your page. To return to it, Click the "Help" link on your product page templates (while in "EDIT MODE")

All the help you need installing the Cart
Editing the Product Page Templates
Step by Step "How To" Guide to editing the product templates.

Change the following variables by clicking the [Edit File Now] button in the other browser window. Change each of the variables according to these instructions.
  1. Item Number (itemIDnmbr)
  2. Total Pages (totlItmPgs)
  3. Your Company Name (compnyName)
  4. Your Home Page URL (homePgeURL)
  5. Item Name (short) (itemsNamSt)
  6. Stock Number (itemStockN)
  7. Item Price (itemSalePr)
  8. Item Size (itemsSize0)
  9. Item Color (itemsColor)
  10. Item Feature #1 (itmFeatur1)
  11. Item Feature #2 (itmFeatur2)
  12. Item Feature #3 (itmFeatur3)
  13. Item Feature #4 (itmFeatur4)
  14. Item Name (long) (itemLngNme)
  15. Long Description (itemLngDsc)
  16. More Link (moreDescPg)
  17. Include Buying Tips (includeTip)
  18. Default Quantity (defaltQnty)
  19. Edit Mode (areWeEditn)

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After you have edited all of the variables and like what you see. Save this file and come back to itemIDnmbr and start all over again for item2.html, item3.html, item4.html, item5.html and so on until all of your items have a corresponding ITEMx.HTML page. IMPORTANT! Each time you save a file and begin a new one, SAVE AS the next filename before you change anything else. The most frustrating thing that can happen is accidentally overwriting a product page after working on it for several minutes.

Item Number

This is the cart's "item ID number" for your product. ALWAYS start with ONE (1) and NUMBER REMAINING ITEMS SEQUENTIALLY! This is NOT your stock number, this is the item number the Real Soft Shopping Cart uses to identify and keep track of which product is being bought.

IMPORTANT!: As soon as you have changed this number, SAVE THE FILE AS ITEMx.HTML Where "x" is the itemIDnmbr you just entered.

For example. If you are starting with your first page, leave this variable set to one and SAVE AS "ITEM1.HTML". When you start on your second page, change the itemIDnmbr to "2" and SAVE AS "ITEM2.HTML".

After you finish editing the remaining variable values for your first page "item1.html", save it and change this number to "2". Then IMMEDIATELY SAVE AS "item2.html". Modify the remaining variables and save that file. When you change the itemIDnmbr to "3", save as "item3.html" and so on, until you have created all of your ITEMx.HTML files.

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Total Pages

Enter the TOTAL number of items you will be selling with your shopping cart system. WHEN THIS NUMBER CHANGES YOU WILL NEED TO CHANGE IT IN EACH OF YOUR ITEMx.HTML FILES. This value determines which page will be loaded when a NEXT or PREV button is pressed!

Example:

var totlItmPgs = 7;

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Your Company Name

Your company name will display properly on lower resolution monitors if you keep it between 5 and 30 characters long. Experiment with this string. It can be longer if you like the way it looks. To avoid a long name from "breaking" at the last word of the name try using <nobr> and </nobr> tags.

Examples:

var compnyName = "Mullins Seed Factory";

var compnyName = "<nobr>Design One Systems</nobr> <nobr>High Performance Kits</nobr>";

The above example: Design One Systems High Performance Kits includes <nobr> and </nobr> tags preventing a potential display in a low resolution web browser like this:

Design One Systems High Performance
Kits


Instead it will display like this:

Design One Systems
High Performance Kits


Adjust your company name until you are satisfied with the way it looks. Spend as much time as possible adjusting these common elements, like your company name, etc. just the way you like. These items will remain consistant from one page to the next so make sure you like the way your template looks before you key in and save all of the remaining ITEMx.HTML pages.

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Your home Page URL

Your home page URL must be a web address that ends in either a domain suffix,

(i.e. http://www.mydomain.com)

or it can be a directory address

(i.e. http://www.myISP.net/mysite)

Note that there are no slashes "/" at the end of these examples and the addresses don't end in ".html" or some other file extension. THIS IS CRITICAL to how the cart reacts when other links are clicked, like the "(More... ) Link" explained below.

Examples:

var homePgeURL = "http://www.bobsbooks.com";

var homePgeURL = "http://members.aol.com/cooltees";

var homePgeURL = "http://www.megaisp.net/~bdavies";



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Item Name (short)

This is a SHORT version of your product name. This is the name that will appear in the actual shopping cart applet window on the left. KEEP THIS NAME SHORT!!! If you put in too long of a name a horizontal scroll bar will appear in the bottom of the applet window making it very difficult for your shopper to see what he has put in his cart.

Examples:

var itemsNamSt = "Smoke Detector";

var itemsNamSt = "Hi Fashion Barbie";

var itemsNamSt = "Item Editor 1.0";

None of these item names will cause the bottom of the cart applet to scroll. They will display beautifully with the price and extended pricing information visible without scrolling back and forth.

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Item Stock Number

This can be whatever internal stock numbering scheme you may already have in place. This number can be any alpha numeric string so long as it doesn't exceed 15 to 17 characters in length. Going over this length may cause your page to display improperly.

Always include a stock number in these product pages. Even if you have to make up some new ones. This keeps your products organized and gives the impression to your shopper that you are an established company. It's not practical to leave out this item.

Examples:

var itemStockN = "1-875-1245";

var itemStockN = "AF-3120";

var itemStockN = "VAR 02179-A";



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Item Price

Use any price you want. Just be sure to include a decimal point and TWO decimal places. A price like 24.50 is acceptable, $24.5 is not.

Examples:

var itemSalePr = "22.95";

var itemSalePr = "10.00";

var itemSalePr = "11210.00";

var itemSalePr = "1.28";



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Item Size

If you are selling clothing or some type of apparatus that comes in different sizes like hammers or screwdrivers you can optionally include a size in these templates. If you want to use the size feature of these product pages simply change the default value next to this variable to something other than "null".

If you leave itemSize0 = "null" then a size caption will not appear on the page. If you need to include a size in your product description do it here so it is set apart from the other text on the page. EXPERIMENT if you want, try changing this value to "Large" and reload this page to see the results. Change it back to "null" (all lower case) to remove the size listing from the page.

Examples:

var itemsSize0 = "Large";

var itemsSize0 = "10 Gallon";

var itemsSize0 = "8 mm";

var itemsSize0 = "12 pound bag";

var itemsSize0 = "20 count";

var itemsSize0 = "36 exposure";



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Item Color

Item Color is similar to Item Size in that it will not appear unless you change it's value to something other than "null". Change this item to "Blue" and reload the page. You will note that now there is a "Color heading" with the word "Blue" next to it.

Change it back to "null" (all lower case) to remove the color listing from the page.

Examples:

var itemsColor = "Red";

var itemsColor = "Tan over Mauve";

var itemsColor = "Orange and Black";

var itemsColor = "Clear";



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Item Feature 1

This and the following three variables all control whether or not a feature list is displayed on your catalog pages. Changing this item to anything other than "null" will cause the feature list to be displayed. Adding subsequent features to the variables itmFeatur2, itmFeatur3 or itmFeatur4 will make their respective "Feature Bullets" appear with what ever text you have assigned to them following.

Try not to get carried away with the features list. Cramming every single detail into the feature list will make this page scroll off the screen making it harder for your customer to navigate your catalog and BUY from you. Trust us on this one -- KEEP YOUR FEATURE LIST SHORT! There is a "(More... ) Link" designed specifically for linking to your EXISTING PRODUCT PAGES. Let your detailed and well designed existing product pages tell the whole story. That's why there is a "(More... ) Link". If your customer wants to know "More he or she can click the "(More... ) Link".

Examples:

var itmFeatur1 = "Stainless Steel";

var itmFeatur1 = "Windows 98 Compatible";

var itmFeatur1 = "Resists Fading and Stretching";

var itmFeatur1 = "Veneer Top and Laminated Sides";



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Item Feature 2

Changing this item to anything other than "null" will cause the second feature on the feature list to be displayed. The feature list will not work properly unless you have already entered a new value for itmFeatur1 described above.

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Item Feature 3

Changing this item to anything other than "null" will cause the third feature on the feature list to be displayed. The feature list will not work properly unless you have already entered a new value for itmFeatur1 and itmFeatur2.

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Item Feature 4

Changing this item to anything other than "null" will cause the fourth feature on the feature list to be displayed. The feature list will not work properly unless you have already entered a new value for itmFeatur1, itmFeatur2 and itmFeatur3.

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Item Name (long)

This is the product name that will appear on the actual catalog (ITEMx.HTML) page. 30 Characters MAX. If you REALLY need more room for your item name we recommend utilizing the "(More... ) Link".

Examples:

var itemLngNme = "Family Photo Album";

var itemLngNme = "Men's Diamond Watch";

var itemLngNme = "Checkers 1.0 for Windows 98";

var itemLngNme = "Fiero Turbo Kit";



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Item Long Description

Enter a long (130 characters or so maximum) description of the product here. That may not seem like a lot of characters but keep in mind that the purpose of the catalog pages is to facilitate "Quick Browsing" and hopefully "impulse buying" of your products. We can't stress enough to leave this descriptiong fairly short (if you consider 130 characters or so 'short') The resulting page will not scroll leaving the [<< Prev] and [Next >>] buttons visible on the pages without having to hunt for them.

We admit the name of this variable may be a bit misleading because even though we're calling it a long description, keeping it around 130 characters in length or so will greatly enhance your shoppers experience with your catalog. Leave the detailed descriptions to your existing product pages.



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The (More...) Link

After referring to this link again and again I am sure you are ready to find out, finally, what it is and what it does. Simply put, the "(More... ) Link" ties your existing product pages into your catalog. When this value is present the word "More" followed by the three dots will appear in paranethesis at the end of your long product description. Make it easy on your customer and simply ADD your existing product description page URL to this variable. You are making things much harder on yourself and your shopper if you try to make these catalog pages fulfill the same function as your existing highly detailed product pages.

Leaving this link set at "/youritem.html" will cause the "(More... ) Link" not to appear on your product pages.

Examples:

var moreDescPg = "/products.html#jazzpager";

var moreDescPg = "buy/teeshirts.html";

var moreDescPg = "http://www.dsepc.net/services.html";



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Include Buying Tips

This setting "turns on" and "turns off" the "Shopping Tips" at the top of your catalog pages. There are more reasons to leave it off then turn it on. But you know your clientele best. If you think they may need a little extra help figuring out how to buy your products then toggle it's value to "Y". If not, leave it at "N". Try turning it on and off and see for yourself if you want to include the tips or not.

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Default Quantity

This setting changes the number that comes up in the Quantity box. If you have a special on a product, for example, and offer FREE shipping when buying quantities of 5 or more you might set the default value to "5". Your shopper can always change this number to the actual quantity that he or she wants to buy. Change this value at your descretion. It's best in most situations to just leave it at "1" unless you sell some items in minimum quantities.

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Edit Mode

The name of this variable should make it obvious. But in case you haven't guessed, this setting removes the [Edit File Now] button and "test links" from your product page. After you are satisfied with the way your product page looks, change this setting to "N" to remove the "button" and "test links".

Finishing Up

If you have edited all of the variables and like what you see. Save this file and go back to itemIDnmbr above and start all over again for item2.html, item3.html, item4.html, item5.html and so on until all of your items have a corresponding ITEMx.HTML page. IMPORTANT! Each time you save a file and begin a new one, SAVE AS the next filename before you change anything else. The most frustrating thing that can happen is accidentally overwriting a product page after working on it for several minutes. After you have edited all of your pages you are ready to go on to editing the CART.HTML file.


Copyright © 1998, The Real Soft Shopping Cart