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Marketplace Administration
Create New Marketplace Categories | Administrate Marketplace Categories
Submit and Upload Marketplace Ads | Administrate Marketplace Ads | Administrate Pages
Custom Tag Information
The idea behind this module is to provide you with a area on your site where you can host classified ads and other things
of the sort with an interface that allows searchable/sortable item attributes. If you click on "Marketplace Administration" in
"Admin Suite" you will be taken to the window shown below.
The first option we will explore in "Marketplace Administration" is "Create New Marketplace Categories". Click
on it and you will be taken to a window shown below.
Create New Marketplace Categories
From this window you can create a new marketplace category. Each category has it's own set of attributes that you must
specify. First, you need to type the "Category Name" and then the "Leadin", which will be a short description of what
kind of items will be advertised. "Description" will be a longer version of the leadin, fully explaining what the category
contains. After this, there is a pull-down list labeled "What category, if any, would you like it to fall under?". This
option is for you want to make this new category a sub category of another. If you do, select the parent category from the
list, otherwise, leave it set to "New Top Level". Once you have entered this information click on "Next->" and you will
be directed to the window shown below.
From this window you will need to specify the attributes of this new marketplace item. If you have previously created
any attributes, you can select one of these for your new product by clicking on the "Add an Existing Attribute" radio button
and then selecting the existing attribute from the pull-down list just below that. Once you have specified the information for
the repeated attribute, click on "Add Attribute".
If you would like to add a new attribute, first click on the "Create a New Attribute" radio button (selected by default).
Next you need to enter in a name for the new attribute. This name will appear beside the attribute whenever it's value
is displayed or inputed. After the name you must choose what kind of attribute this will be from the "Attribute Type"
pull-down list.
- radio button
- these are the selection circles that are shown in the window above. This should represent and attribute that has
just one of two or more possible values. (ie Sex: male/female) The possible values will be added after creation.
- dropdown list (same as pull-down list)
- these are this lists that appear as a value with a downward pointing arrow on the right of the field. This should
represent and attribute that has just one of two or more possible values. (ie Favorite Colour: red/green/blue/yellow/etc)
The possible values will be added after creation.
- text
- this is a single line text field. (ie name)
- textarea
- this is a multi-line text field. (ie description)
- checkbox
- this is a square box that has a check-mark in it when it's selected. This should be used to either ask a yes/no
question (ie I accept the Terms of Use) or to specify multiple values in a list (ie Things I Collect: stamps/comics/sandicast dogs).
If you are using a checkbox for the second use shown you will need to create a checkbox for every value (one for stamps, one
for comics, one for sandicast dogs).
- multiselect list
- this appears as a multiline version of a dropdown list. This should be used to specify multiple values in a list (ie Things I
Collect: stamps/comics/sandicast dogs). The possible values will be added after creation. When using a multiselect list, to
select more than one value you must click on one, then each time you want to select another value in addition to it you must
hold down your "Ctrl" ("Shift" on a Mac) key and click on the new value you'd like to add. Most people that use the internet are not very
familiar with this multiselect list usage, as a result we suggest against it's use, substituting a series of checkboxes
instead.
- separator
- a separator appears simply as the attribute name. This should be used to separate groups of attributes
like a group of checkboxes that allow you to choose all the things you collect.
- numeric
- this appears as a single line text field and should be used for numeric values with a decimal place (ie weight).
- money
- this appears as a single line text field and should be used for monetary values.
- email
- this appears as a single line text field and should be used to specify an e-mail address
- url
- this appears as a single line text field and should be used to specify a web address
- integer
- this appears as a single line text field and should be used to specify an integer (no decimal) numeric value.
After you have selected the "Attribute Type", click on "Create Attribute". If you selected radio button, dropdown list, or multiselect
list as the attribute type, this will take you to the window shown below.
From this window you will add possible values to choose from for your attribute. To add a new value, type the identifier of
the value in the "Value" field (could be a number or a name), then the value's sort order (an integer that specifies the
order the values will be displayed; increasing order) and click on "Add Value". Once you are done adding values, if you would
like to add more attributes to this category you can click on "Add Another Attribute" on the left hand side of the window and
if you are finished with the attributes for this category you can click on "Finished".
If the attribute you created was not one of the three discussed above, then clicking after clicking on "Create Attribute" you
can either add another attribute or click on the "Finished" button at the bottom of the window.
This will take you to a window that confirms that the marketplace category has been created. Click on "Marketplace (High Volume)"
to return to the main administration menu.
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The next option in "Marketplace Administration" is "Administrate Marketplace Categories", which if you click on will take you to the window shown below.
Administrate Marketplace Categories
This window shows a list of all the different marketplace categories you have added so far. For each category, there is a
integer "ID" (used with custom tags), "Name", "Parent Category" and "Active". If a category is active, it will be shown
with a highlighted check-mark  and if it is not active with a highlighted x-mark  . To switch between these two states,
click on the darkened of the two symbols. If you would like to change the details of a category, click on the "Edit" button
to the right of the listing and you will be directed to the window shown below.
From with window you can change the category name, the descriptions, and the parent category. When you make any changes to these
values, don't forget to click "Save Changes"!!! Below this the attributes for this category are listed. The "Attribute"
column is the name of the attribute. Also shown are the "Attribute Type" and a small text field for the sort order. If you change
the value for any of the sort orders, be sure to click on the appropriate "Update" button before you do anything else.
If this attribute is radio button, dropdown list, or multiselect list, then below (and indented) this attribute is the list of
possible values. The sort order for each of these values is editable, but if you change them, be sure to be sure to click on
the appropriate "Update" button before you do anything else. Also, if you would like to add another possible value to this
attribute click on the "Add Value" to the far right of the attribute. This will display the pop-up window shown below.
In this pop-up window, just choose the name and sort order of the new value and click on "Add Value". When you are finished
editing this marketplace category, click on "Marketplace Category Admin" to return to "Administrate Marketplace
Categories". If you click on the "Layout" button to the right of the category listing, you will be directed to the window shown
below.
From this window you can select how marketplace items will be displayed in this category. The different layouts are for the
most part self explanatory (note: some of these are custom layouts made for specific customers of ours). Once you have
selected your new layout, don't forget to click "Update Layout"!!! When you have updated your layout, click on
"Marketplace Category Admin" to return to "Administrate Marketplace Categories". If you click on "Settings"
to the right of the category listing, you will be taken to the window shown bellow.
The first area of display settings is the "General Configuration". "Limit number of media per item" is the max number of media
items such as images that can be uploaded for each marketplace ad. "Start with Search Form" will, when this category is selected
by a user, start them at the search page instead of the listing page. "Enable Saved Search" allows users that are logged in to
save a search that they made for their own reference later. "Custom Formatting" specifies whether you want to use the
default settings for the "Custom Formatting" section of this form. If you choose "No" for this, you must fill out that section of
the form. "Allow Email" specifies whether or not you would like the e-mail address of the submitter of this add to be displayed
in the ad.
The second area of the form is "Custom Formatting" (only to be filled out if you chose "No" for "Custom Formatting". If you
would like the same display settings for this category as another one you have previously created, you can select the display
setting from the "Copy display settings from another category" pull-down list, go to the bottom of the page and click submit. If
you want to create a new set of display settings then leave the pull-down list set to "Do not copy settings". "Show List
Descriptions" specifies whether you would like the marketplace ad descriptions shown when the ads in this category are listed.
"Show Category Description" specifies whether you would like the description for this category to appear when you list ads in
this category. "Hide Mini Navigation" allows you to hide the "Display All | Search Form | Submit" that appears at the top
of a category listing. "Show Submission Link" specifies whether you want users to be able to submit to this marketplace category.
"Auto Expiry" allows you to specify when ads in this category will expire.
"Column N" [N = 1..10] allows you to specify which information item to show in that column when you are listing the ads in
this category (only the first and tenth can show images). "Column N Header" [N = 1..10] allows you to specify the name shown
at the top of the columns you just chose. Each of these column headers have an associated "Width", which should be a percent
of the row you would like this column to occupy (all widths should add up to 100%).
When you have finished specifying all the fields in this form, don't forget to click "Submit"!!! If at any point you
wish to start this form over, you can click on the "Reset" button at the bottom of the window to clear all the fields. Once
you have submitted you changes, click on "Marketplace Category Admin" to return to "Administrate Marketplace Categories".
Finally, if you would like to remove a category, click on the "Delete" button to the far right of the category. Note that
when you do this all ads in that category will be orphaned. This means that they won't be accessible from the front end
until they are put into a different category (both categories must have the exact same attributes in the same order, so this is not
recommended). Click on "Marketplace (High Volume)" to return to the main marketplace menu.
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The next option we will explore in "Marketplace Administration" is "Submit and Upload Marketplace Ads". Click on it to be taken to the window shown
below.
Submit and Upload Marketplace Ads
In this window you are shown a list of the current marketplace categories you can submit to. Click on the one you would like
to post to and you will be taken to the window shown below.
From this window you can submit new marketplace ads to be displayed on your site. The first thing you have
to do is enter in the e-mail and password of a submitter account. If you don't have one already then you will have to
create one.
Next, you have to fill in all the attributes that you created during the category creation process. Next you have to fill in
the "Description", which is the body of the marketplace ad and should include all important information that was not included
in one of the ad attributes.
Finally, if you are familiar with HTML you can select "Yes" for the "Allow HTML" option. This allows you
to enter HTML code in this page’s text fields. If you don't want to put in HTML then select "No" and your
text will be properly formatted.
When you are finished entering the ad information, click next. If you have allowed media to be uploaded for this marketplace
category, then you will be taken to the window shown below.
From this window you can add images either from your hard drive, or, if you have it, the media library module. To add an image
from your hard drive, click on "Browse" and a file chooser will pop-up and let you choose an image. When you have selected an
image file, click "Open" and then fill in the "Alt Text" field. If you would like to add an image from the media library, click
on "Browse Media Library" instead and follow the same steps. When you have finished adding media (or reached the media limit for
this category), you can click on "Preview" to open a pop-up window that shows you how the ad will look on the front end of your
site. If you like the way an add looks, click on the "Finished" button and you will be taken to a submission confirmation window.
Click on "Marketplace (High Volume)" to return to the main marketplace menu.
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The next option in "Marketplace (High Volume) Administration" is "Administrate Marketplace Ads", which if you click on will direct you to the window shown below.
Administrate Marketplace Ads
The first options on this page are a series of pull-down lists that allow you to specify, by "Approval Status", "Results per
Page", "Expiry Date" and "Category", which marketplace ads are shown in the list. Bellow this there is a list of marketplace
ads that meet the specification you have made above. The columns are "ID", which is the integer ID of that ad, "Submitter" of
the ad and the "Status" of the ad. If the ad is approved then a highlighted checkmark is shown, if it is rejected then a
highlighted x-mark is shown and if it's pending approval then a highlighted question mark  is shown.
To switch approval status between these three values, click on one of the two darkened symbols. Keep in mind that only approved
ads will appear on the front end of your site. If you would like to change an ad, click on the "Edit" button to the right of
the listing and you will be taken to the window shown below.
From this window you can change the details of this ad that you entered when you created it. You can also add an expiry date
(after which the ad will not be displayed on the front end of your site) if you have not already entered one. If you are not
at your media limit for this category, you can also add other pictures. If you make any changes to the alt text of the images
that are already uploaded, be sure to click "Update"!!!! Once you have finished making changes to the details of this
marketplace ad, don't forget to click "Save Changes"!!! You can also "Preview" and "Delete" the ad you are viewing by
click on the appropriate button at the bottom of the window. Once you have submitted your changes to this ad, click on "Admin
Items" to return to "Administrate Marketplace Ads"
Finally, in this window, if you want to remove one of the ads displayed, you can do so by clicking the appropriate "Delete"
button to the far right of the marketplace ad listing. When you are finished administrating ads, click on "Marketplace
(High Volume)" to return to the main marketplace menu.
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The next option in "Marketplace Administration" is "Administrate Pages".
Administrate Pages
The idea behind this window is to make changes to the format of the marketplace pages. If you need to make any changes, click
on the appropriate "Edit" button, which will take you to the window shown below.
The two options (page name and title image) are for naming your page and you should choose one of them.
If you prefer to have an image for the title instead of the text for the page, you can click on the "Browse"
button and choose an image from your hard drive.
Note that a title image replaces the "Page Name" in the page content, but not on the window title.
Next you need to type your "Meta tags".
What is a Meta Tag?
"Area Content" is the next option. This is the basic text that appears in the page you have selected.
Finally, if you are familiar with HTML you can select "Yes" for the "Allow HTML" option. This allows you
to enter HTML code in this page’s text fields. If you don't want to put in HTML then select "No" and your
text will be properly formatted.
When you entered all your information, don't forget to click submit!!!!!
Once you are done changing the page setup you can either click on "Page List" to edit the page setup of the other pages
in this module or you can click on "Marketplace (High Volume)" to return to the marketplace administration menu. The last
option in "Marketplace Administration" is "Custom Tag Information".
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The last option is "Custom Tag Information". Click on it and you will be directed to the window
shown below.
Custom Tag Information
Here you will find a list of custom tags that pertain to this module.
What is a Custom Tag?
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