Important Tables & URLS present in Catalog Subsystem

Tables
STORECAT -store to catalog
CATTOGRP -catalog to group
CATGRPREL -group to group
CATGPENREL -group to parent
CATENTREL -group to praent
CATENTREL -parent to item

URLS---
StoreCatalogDisplay
TopCategoriesDisplay
CategoryDisplay
ProductDisplay

Detailed Description of Catalog Subsystem

CatalogSubsystem

The catalog subsystem is a component of theWebSphere Commerce Server that provides online catalog navigation,partitioning, categorization, and associations. The catalog subsystem containsall logic and data relevant to an online catalog, including catalog groups (orcategories), catalog entries, and any associations or relationships among them.

Catalogentries classification:

· Products.

· Items.

· Packages.

· Bundles.

· Dynamic or static kit.

PRODUCT and ITEM:
An item is a tangible unit of merchandise that has a specific name, partnumber, and price. For example, a 15 inch hammer with a wooden handle (partnumber 15) is an item.
A product, however, is a group of items that exhibit the same attributes.For example, a hammer is a product, while the 15 inch hammer with a woodenhandle is an item. The attributes of this product are "handle type"and "size," which are defined by the corresponding attribute values, wooden and 15 inch.
To distinguish products and items, keep in mind that a product cannot bepurchased, while an item can potentially be purchased.

PACKAGEand BUNDLE:

Packages and bundlesare groupings of catalog entries used for promotional purposes.

A bundle is acollection of catalog entries that allow customers to buy multiple items withone click. A bundle can be agrouping of items, or a combination of products, items, and fully resolvedpackages. The bundle is decomposed into separate orderableSKUs that are added individually to the shopping cart.

Unlike bundles, apackage is an atomic collection of catalog entries. Viewed in similar ways as aproduct, you cannot decompose ormodify a package during navigation or after the package has been placed in theshopping cart. For example, a computer package might contain a specific centralprocessing unit, monitor, and hard drive that cannot be sold separately.

Dynamic kit and Static kit

A dynamic kit is a typeof catalog entry which can be dynamically configured by the customer.
This configuration (or grouping) of products is based on the customer'srequirements and is sold as a single unit.

A static kit is a groupof products that are ordered as a unit. The information about the productscontained in a static kit is predefined and controlled within WebSphereCommerce.

Types of SUBSYSTEMS IN WCS.

Types of SUBSYSTEMS IN WCS.

• Catalog Subsystem.

• Order Subsystem.

• Trading Subsystem.

• Merchandising Subsystem.

• Marketing Subsystem.

• Member Subsystem.

• Payment Subsystem.

Difference between V6 and V7

Order trash can feature disabled by default
In WebSphere Commerce Version 7, the order trash can feature is disabled by default. In WebSphere Commerce Version 6, the default owner for deleted orders was -1002. In Version 7, the default owner for deleted orders is now -1006 (a guest user).
Changed functionality
Changed functionality typically involves changes in default values or an outcome different from what would have occurred in previous releases. For example, a default parameter might use one value in WebSphere Commerce Version 6 and a different value in WebSphere Commerce Version 7.
Madisons starter store replaces the consumer direct sample store
The Madisons starter store is the new store that replaces the consumer direct sample store in the previous release. The Madisons starter store uses Rich Internet Application (RIA) technologies such as Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) and Dojo widgets to provide customers with an interactive and rich shopping experience. RIA technologies help to improve order conversion rates and reduce shopping cart abandonment. The store can be used as a standalone store using the consumer direct business model or as an asset store in Extended Sites or Demand Chain business models.
The Madisons starter store provides all the pages and features necessary for a functioning consumer direct online store. It is packaged with WebSphere Commerce as a store archive. It contains a full set of consumer direct features, including user registration, catalog browsing, promotions, and targeted marketing. The store contains rich interactions, including the product quick info pop-up window, product fast finder, mini shopping cart, and a streamlined checkout flow.
The store is fully accessible and translated into group one languages, supporting locale-specific bidirectional languages. Technological features include search engine optimization, support for multiple Web browsers and platforms, and options to accommodate a variety of flows, depending on customer needs.
In WebSphere Commerce Version 7, the Madisons starter store includes the store locator, inventory availability, and buy online, pickup in-store capabilities.
Apache Derby replaces Cloudscape database support
WebSphere Commerce Version 7 supports Apache Derby instead of Cloudscape. IBM has dropped support for the Cloudscape database. If you are using IBM Cloudscape it is recommended that you upgrade to the recent release of Apache Derby.
DB2 loop-back configuration has been removed on Unix platforms
DB2 loop-back configuration has been removed from Unix platforms. The DB2 loop-back configuration was implemented as a workaround due to a DB2 limitation. This limitation has been resolved with the new DB2 JCC type 4 connection type.
Oracle database character set has been changed from UTF8 to AL32UTF8
WebSphere Commerce has moved to the AL32UTF8 character set to align with the Oracle database recommendations. If you are using a WebSphere Commerce Version 6 Oracle database, you must migrate your database character set to use AL32UTF8.
Workspace Administration Tool
The Workspace Administration tool is deprecated for WebSphere Commerce Version 7 Feature Pack 3. This feature was used to manage workspaces and workspace-related activities.
Recommended action:
The Workspace Management tool, replaces all of the workspace management features in the Workspace Administration Tool. It is recommended that you use the Assets tool in the Management Center to manage your workspaces. However, if you have business reasons to continue using the Workspace Administration Tool, you can re-enable it.

Versions of WCS & Consoles present in RAD

Versions:

They were 3 versions of wcs they are: 5.6, 6 and 7.

• In 5.6 there is no implementation of struts.
• The main difference between 5.6 and 6, the view command in V5.6 is replaced with Struts.
  
• In 6 there was no social and mobile commerce and in 7 these both were implemented.
• 7 provides multichannel precision marketing etc.

Consoles:

They were 5 consoles in wcs they are:

1. Management Center: Manages data related to stores.

2. Accelerator: It is related to marketing, merchandising, catalog management etc.

3. Organization Administration Console: Creates users & assign roles and categorize users based

into a group.

4. Workspace Administration Console: Managing business sites like adding products, site up, site

down etc.

5. Administration Console: Store publishing, registries etc.

WCS EDITIONS

WCSEDITIONS:  There were 3 editions of WCS they are:

     1  Express.
     2 Professional.
     3 Enterprise.
 

Express: Express meets the needs of small and medium sized businesses. It provides full consumer direct support and simple business direct support.

Professional: It meets the needs of most consumer direct businesses. It includes features such as workspaces.

Enterprise: It offers online commerce and collaboration with traditional and new customers and partners through management of online trading relationships. It also provides B2B commerce functions, including accounts, contracts, and request for quotes, purchase orders, requisition lists and approvals.

Types of WCS

There were 2 types of wcs they are:

1. WCS Server.
2. WCS Developer.

WCS Server: It is used throughout the world.

WCS Developer: It is installed by the individual user in his/her system.

what is IBM WebSphere Commerce...?

IBM WebSphere Commerce is a platform framework for e-commerce, including marketing, sales, customer and other functionality in a tailorable, integrated package.WebSphere Commerce is a customizable, scalable and high availability solution built on the java- javaEE platform using open standards, such as XML, and Web services.