Manual

Viscount · 2 Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 18

Is there a manual yet available for the new version?

We are trying to re-design our site so that our products are available under both a product type as well as under manufacturer category, but I cannot figure out a way to do it. For instance, if the customer wants to see all hammers, they click the hammers link and it shows all hammers we sell, regardless of manufacturer. But, if they only want to see parts by Sears, they click the Sears link and it shows all Sear's parts (which also includes their hammers). Our products are already there, I just need to add this new "sub category" or whatever it would be called for each product.

Another issue we are having is that all of our merchant pages (categories) have page names such as category15.htm and I'd like them to have the manufacturer's name (sears.htm), so I am not sure how to rename these...

I did not originally setup our site, I am just the one here to update it and figure it out Smile

thank you!

ed@searchfit · 2 Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 190

A new help system is under construction. In the mean time, the existing help system should answer many of your questions. Just click the purple "help" button on the upper right of the SearchFit Control Panel. Once clicked, the help information relevant to the given screen will appear at the bottom (in green).

Please Navigate to the "Category Types" screen and examine the Help. The "Generation Type" setting is what you are looking for.

In a nut shell, you need to assign a Manufacturer to each of your Products. Next you should create a new Category Type (for example, "Shop By Brand"). Finally, change the Generation type of that new Category Type to "Products by Manufacturers" or "Products by Manufacturers/Categories". Upon doing so, SearchFit will build an entire, alternate Product structure based on your Manufacturers.

stanley@searchfit · 2 Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 3603 Location: Austin, TX

Also, think about using our SEO Naming Rules to have a better webpage names for all those category15.htm and other pages...
_________________
Stanimir Stanev (Stanley)
SearchFit Architect and Lead Developer
www.searchfit.com
www.stanev.com

Viscount · 2 Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 18

Thank you both so much for your help. I wish I could say that I followed this and it is now working, but nothing I try helps.

I created a new category, I've gone into a product and added the manufacturer info, and tried to move that existing product to the new category.. but the new category type and/or category name doesnt show up. Any idea what I can be doing wrong?

thank you!!

ed@searchfit · 2 Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 190

Ok, let's get you on the right track.

Making a new Category and assigning it to your "Shop By Brand" Category Type is not correct step.

The system is automated and creates the Categories (within the "Shop By Brand Category Type) for you automatically.

The system will automatically create a new Category within the "Shop By Brand" Category Type for each Manufacturer that exists. The Categories' names will match the Manufacturer names.

Here are the general steps to create a "Shop By Brand" Category Type. If you follow these steps, then "Shop By Brand" Categories will also be created automatically.

1. Create a new Category Type called something like "Shop By Brand".
2. While Creating the New Category Type, locate the setting for "Generation Type". Select Either "Products By Manufacturers" or "Products By Manufacturers/Categories" (depending on the structure you prefer).
3. Finish Adjusting the settings for your Category Type as desired.
4. Click the "Save" Button.
5. Generate your website.

Now your site will automatically include a "Shop By Brand" Category Type (and Categories). You do not need to move Categories around to achieve this setup.

In the future, if you create a new Product and assign it a Manufacturer, then that Product will be added to the appropriate place in your "Shop By Brand" Category Type.

Viscount · 2 Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 18

Ed, thank you so much for taking the time to walk me through this!!!

We are in the process now of adding the manufacturer name to each product. I am pretty sure I now understand what to do to get the Shop by Manufacturer pages set up.

If you dont mind me asking, in order to also have these products listed under their type (in addition to manufacturer), do we assign all the parts to categories that are types of products?

We want our customers to be able to browse by manufacturer AND by product type.

Thank you again, so very much, for your time and assistance!!

ed@searchfit · 2 Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 190

Yes, in order to also have products listed under a Category that corresponds to their type (in addition to the shop by brand Categories), you must assign all Products to the Category that Corresponds to their type.

It's impossible to create a Product without assigning it to a Category. So, all your current Products are assigned to a Category.

You could do this:

1. Assign all Products to a Category that matches their type (if they aren't already).
2. Assign each Product a Manufacturer.
3. Create a Shop by Brand Category Type (as previously discussed).

The result would be that you have All products listed in both "Shop by Type" Categories/Category Type(s) and "Shop By Brand" Categories/Category Type.

zeev · 2 Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 446

I followed the instructions above and it works great for the first web site.
When I try a second web site, manufacturer category type for the second web site shows on the first one.
I tried to use "choose products" to assign category types to correct web site, but it does not work.
Firts web site is: http://www.giftsofart.com/
Second web site is: http://www.tallit.org/

ed@searchfit · 2 Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 190

It may not be possible to add more than one Shop By Brand Category Type per SearchFit cart. I will research this and let you know.

zeev · 2 Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 446

I noticed that "Shop By Brand Category Type" ignores all Link items.
I think that Link items should be included.
If an item is visible to customers it should also appear in shop by brand.

ed@searchfit · 2 Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 190

I'm don't completely understand your question.

If Product links were added to the Shop By Brand Categories, then the original product and the product link would both appear in the same category. That doesn't seem desirable (duplicate products in Category).

Please clarify the benefit of showing Product links.

zeev · 2 Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 446

I have multiple web sites and some items are LINKS to items that are on a different website. These items are being ignored, they should be treated link regular items.

ed@searchfit · 2 Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 190

There is a setting available on the "Per User" screen | "Generation" tab named "Manufacturer: include Product Links". If you switch this setting to "Yes", then Product Links will be included in the Shop by Brand Categories.

zeev · 2 Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 446

Thank you, it works.

zeev · 2 Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 446

I have a similar issue with Google Base feed. Is there a parameter to specify "include product links"?
With SEO hopefully the same product on different sites is considered a different product.

ed@searchfit · 2 Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 190

On the Google Base Feed screen, within the section "Google Base Feed Submission", there is a setting called "Include Product Links".

I suggest you change the above mentioned setting to "yes" and create a test feed to see if Product links have been added to your feed as desired.

zeev · 2 Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 446

I works great, thank you.

zeev · 2 Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 446

When I create "Shop By Brand" and specify "Products By Manufacturers" I get all products in what looks to a viewer like a random order.
I propose to create the products in category order and also create headings that will be category names. This way we will get a nice list with headings and all related items below each heading.

ed@searchfit · 2 Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 190

Thanks for the good suggestion. I will pass this on to Stan.