Here are the Steps to start developing with Multifront:
Step 1: Install the MSI
After you purchase Multifront, you will be able to download an installation MSI
| • | Use the MSI to install the storefront on your local development machine |
| • | Follow the Development Installation instructions in the Installation guide carefully. |
| • | You can now open the Multifront Solution file using Visual Studio 2008 |
| • | Compile the solution and run it to ensure that the storefront comes up without any errors |
Step 2: Basic Site Admin Settings
While the storefront will work with a basic install, setting the following parameters for your store using the Store Management page will ensure that all features of your storefront operate as expected.
| • | URL - Enter the URL that you will be using to access the store. Note that the "www" and port number of URLs is ignored. |
| • | Profiles - A store must have at least one Default Profile and one Anonymous Profile. |
| • | Admin, Sales, and Customer Support Email Addresses - Use an email address where you will be able to receive the messages in your in box. In this way you will be able to see orders and customer requests as they come in. |
| • | SMTP Mail Server Settings - This setting is required for any email (orders or customer requests) to be sent out from the system. |
| • | UPS/FedEx Settings - if you intend to use the UPS Shipping Option you will first need an account. If you do not have an account leave these settings blank and use a Custom Shipping Options instead. |
| • | In addition you should make sure that you have the following set. |
(a) At least one Shipping Option.
(b) At least one Payment Option.
Step 3: Getting Started With Modifying the Code
Right out of the box Multifront will provide a professional and easy to use site. You can however change the code to implement just about any custom look and feel or business logic that you want (the Trial Edition only allows modification of Master Pages and CSS). Multifront is created from the ground up to be easily customizable. Here are just a few notes to get you started when looking at the code.
| • | You must be familiar with ASP.Net development using C# (VB is not supported). |
| • | You can use Visual Studio 2008 to modify your code. |
| • | User controls for the site are in WebApp\Controls\Default.The look and feel for each page is in their own directory. For example, the Home page user controls can be found in WebApp\Controls\Default\Home. All of the code behinds for these pages are in these directories as well. |
| • | Master pages, CSS and Images can be found in WebApp\Themes\Default. The main master page for the Multifront is in WebApp\Themes\Default\MasterPages\main.master. |
| • | The top menu for the Admin is controlled by the WebApp\SiteAdmin\Web.sitemap file. To disable a menu item, such as Delete Catalog Data, just comment out the appropriate line in this file. |
| • | Master pages for the remaining site admin pages can be found in Web\SiteAdmin\Themes\Standard. |
View of the Visual Studio Solution
Step 4: Before Creating a Production Catalog
Before loading your catalog data, you should delete the existing demo catalog data as follows:
| • | Log into the SiteAdmin. |
| • | On the top menu, click Catalogs under Merchandise. The Catalogs page is displayed listing all the available store catalogs in the storefront. |
| • | Click Delete on the catalog you want to delete. |
| • | The Catalogs page is displayed with the deleted catalog removed from the list. |
Note:
| 1. | You will not be allowed to delete the Catalog if it has associations to Departments. Delete these associations first and then delete the catalog. |
| 2. | You will not be allowed to delete the Catalog if you are logged in to a Store URL that is associated to it. |
See Also: