Chapter 4:  Inventory

In this chapter:

• 4.1: Introduction
• 4.2: Modify Product Info
• 4.3: Featured Products
• 4.4: Product Discounts
• 4.5: Import/Export
• 4.6: Product Options

Adding a New Item

By clicking the "Add New Item" button on the Modify Product info page, you will be given a form containg the list of current data fields for you to complete.  To add a product, enter all applicable information.  Not too difficult, is it?  Nah.

Required fields are marked with *.

NOTE:  DO NOT enter carriage returns or tabs in these fields.  To control layout, use html tags.

• Catalog Number (%%catalogno%%)
  This is used to track the item throughout the database.  There MUST be a value in this field.

• Item (%%item%%)
  This is the name of the item you are adding.

• Description (%%descr%%)
  This is text which describes the item.  Use html tags to control layout.

• Picture (%%picture%%)
  This is an image file of the item.  You may specify the SERVER PATH to the image or upload it using the upload field.

• Retail Price (%%ret_price%%)
  Enter the retail price of the item- DO NOT enter the dollar sign...that is done on the templates.

• Wholesale Price (%%whol_price%%)
  ditto above

• Taxable
  If this item is subject to sales tax, check the box.

• Shipping Weight
  If you are using UPS shipping calculations, then enter the item's weight here.  Use the following format:

  10 oz
  10 lb
  10 lb 2 oz

• Shipping Dimensions
  This gives the size of the item.  If you are using the UPS packaging options (in the shipping setup), EDatCat will calculate how many/which items will fit into your standard boxes.  Use this format:

Length,Width,Height (in inches)

If the item needs to be shipped in separate boxes, enter the dimensions for each package.  For instance, if you are shipping a computer, you will probably ship the monitor and the computer itself separately.  If the computer's dimensions are 29,18,30 and the monitor's dimensions are 26,26,26, you would enter:

29,18,30;26,26,26

• Ship Item Separately
  Check this if the item needs to be shipped all by itself.

• Shipping Cost
  If you need to specify a flat-rate fee for shipping this item, enter it here.

• Category (%%category%%)
  Select the category that this item belongs to.

• Status (%%status%%)
  Select this item's current status.

• Template
  If this product needs to have its own special presentation, you can specify a unique template that EDatCat will use for this item.  Similar to the special category template, you can copy the "detail" template, customize it to your needs, and name it accordingly.  You may provide the SERVER PATH to the template or upload it automatically.

• Popup (%%popup%%)
  If you would like to provide pop-up information pertaining to this product, enter the server path to the html file.  You can include a link to this file by using the %%popup%% shortcut.  By default, EDatCat will generate a standard link to this page.  You can create a popup window by placing the necessary code within your templates.

• Related Items (%%other_items%%)
  If you're selling a toothebrush, it may help to let your visitors know that you also sell toothepaste.  You can enter catalog numbers of items that relate to the one you are adding and, bu using the shortcut %%other_items%%.  This shortcut will generate a list of the related items with checkboxes so your visitors can quickly add them to their shopping cart.  This option must be used within the Add to Cart form.

Note:  While some of your products may contain values in the popup and related items fields, all of them may not.   For details on how to keep your layout clean and cohesive, see this article on incorporating our advanced IF...THEn shortcut in conjunction with these fields.

How do I modify a product?

To modify a product's information, you must first select a product.  To locate your product, EDatCat gives you three options:

1. Enter a specific catalog number
2. Search the item descriptions in your catalog
3. List all products in a given category

You must use the "Go" buttons provided.

When you find the product you want to modify, change the info you need to change and click "Submit".

If you want to delete the item, click "Delete".

Next:  Featured Products