Main functions: catalogue and prices

Chapters 03–07 list the implemented functions of the product, grouped by area of work and numbered F1–F27. Every function is described according to the same pattern: the conditions under which it can be performed, the preparatory actions, the resources (the approximate duration of the configuration or of the operation), the sequence of actions, the result and the closing actions. The steps are summarised; the full description of each screen, with screenshots, is found in the chapter of the User guide indicated for each function.

A condition common to all the functions in the panel: an active user account, with permissions on the respective area (F24). Where nothing else is stated, no preparatory actions are required, and changes are applied on save, without a restart or a separate publication.

F1. Building the product catalogue

Conditions. Permissions on the Products area.

Preparatory actions. The list of products and categories, the catalogue images (4:3 ratio, 1200 × 900 px recommended) and the presentation texts in the languages of the website.

Resources. Approximately 5–10 minutes for a category and 15–30 minutes for a product sheet, without the price calculator (F2).

Sequence of actions.

1. In Shop → Products the categories are created: name (translatable), the address segment, the parent category (for subcategories), the short description, the display mode of the products, the image, the SEO data and the filters; the Is Active toggle publishes or hides the category without deleting it.
2. In the desired category, Add Product is pressed and the General tab is filled in: name and address, subtitle, internal code (SKU), the categories, the type, the labels (for example TOP, NEW), the limit of pieces per customer, the display of the calculator, the artwork requirements (F5) and, optionally, the design exceptions from the global style.
3. The catalogue images are uploaded (Images: main image, hover image, icon, dual variant) together with the gallery of the product page (Photo Gallery).
4. The texts of the page are written (Content), per language: the blocks before and after the calculator, the text under the image, the main description and the technical characteristics.
5. The SEO data of the product is filled in (SEO): title, description, keywords, canonical address, indexing, the H1 heading; the platform can propose these texts automatically, based on the content of the product, for checking and correction.
6. The price calculator is configured (F2) and the product is activated.
7. The order of the categories is set; the Categories entry of the menu is filled in from them automatically.

Result. The website shows the Categories page (with the image and the number of products of each category), the product lists with an indicative "from" price and the page of each product, with its gallery, its calculator and its texts. A product is visible only if it is active, has at least one active category and a configured calculator.

Closing actions. Checking the pages on the website and regenerating the sitemap (F20). Details: Product categories, The product sheet.

F2. Configuring the price calculator of a product

Conditions. The reference books used by the product are filled in (F3); the timeframe templates exist (F4); permissions on Products.

Preparatory actions. The print shop's price formula for the respective product: the materials and operations used, the quantity steps, the coefficients, the formats offered, the sheet layout.

Resources. Approximately 30–90 minutes for one product, depending on the number of physical parts and operations.

Sequence of actions.

1. In the product sheet, in the Calculation tab, the basic modules are defined: Dimensions / Orientation — the formats offered to the customer (fixed or with a free size within an interval), the unit of measurement, the orientation; Quantity / Production Timeframe — the quantity steps or the free entry of the quantity (minimum, maximum, step), the minimum order price, the display of the price per piece, the production timeframes chosen among the templates, each with its own price coefficient.
2. The parts are described — the physical parts of the product (for example the cover and the inner block of a brochure), each with the mapping of the product format onto the sheet of the part.
3. For each part, the printing module is configured (the machine from the reference book of operations, the paper from the reference book of materials, the number of sides 4+0 or 4+4, calculation by quantity steps or by size, coefficients per variant) together with the finishing modules (lamination, guillotine cutting, creasing and folding, assembly and the other additional operations), with the variants offered to the customer, including the "without this operation" variant; for page blocks, the Multipage module.
4. What the customer sees is established: for each module, the display on the website, the title of the step and the grouping of the options; the order of the steps by dragging the modules; text modules for additional questions; the labels are translated into the languages of the website.
5. Each module is saved with Apply Changes, then the page with Save Changes; the preview of the calculator shows exactly what the customer will see.

Result. On the product page the customer chooses, step by step, the format, the quantity, the printing and finishing options and the timeframe, while the total price, the price per piece, the VAT (according to the configured mode) and the Ready by date are recalculated on every change. The same calculation engine is used by the calculator in the panel (F12) and by the server when the order is registered, so that the price cannot be modified from the browser.

Closing actions. Checking a few combinations in the preview. A module whose Apply Changes button is coloured has unsaved changes — the most frequent cause of a price that does not change on the website. Details: Price calculation.

F3. Maintaining the reference books (Reference Book)

Conditions. Permissions on Reference Book.

Preparatory actions. The current price list of the print shop: the price of materials per sheet, square metre or piece, with the sheet dimensions and the weight; the price of operations per quantity step or per area, with the machine.

Resources. Approximately 1–2 minutes for an item entered manually; import from a file for large lists.

Sequence of actions.

1. In Content → Reference Book the group is chosen: Materials (paper, lamination, rigid substrates and others), Operations (printing on machines, laser), Additional Operations (assembly, creasing, folding, guillotine and plotter cutting, lamination, foil stamping, varnishing, perforation, die cutting, corner rounding and the rest of the finishing operations), Components (springs, eyelets, foils, stretcher bars) or Items (products and semi-finished goods with their own price).
2. The items are organised into groups and are added manually or imported from a file; every item has an internal name and public names per language, prices per quantity step, the unit of measurement, the sheet dimensions and the weight (materials), the machine (operations) and, optionally, a description and an image that the customer sees in the calculator.
3. The item is switched on (ON) or off (OFF); an item that is switched off can no longer be chosen in new calculators, but the products that use it keep their calculation.

Result. Products compose their price from these items (F2); a price changed in the reference book propagates to all the products that use it, and on the website the customer sees the public name, the description and the image of the chosen item. The reference books can be exported to a file.

Closing actions. An item used by products is switched off, not deleted; replacing it in the products is done at the next price revision. Details: The reference guide.

F4. Configuring the production calendar and the production timeframes

Conditions. Permissions on Settings.

Preparatory actions. The working schedule of the production (working days, holidays), the timeframes offered to customers (standard, urgent) and the time of day until which an order can enter production on the same day.

Resources. Approximately 10–15 minutes.

Sequence of actions.

1. In Settings → Production → Production calendar the working days are ticked and the non-working days are added (holidays, stocktaking, collective leave).
2. In Production timeframes, templates are created with an internal name and public translations, the type of duration (calendar days, working days or hours), the duration, the cut-off time by which the artwork must be accepted and the order paid for the countdown to start "today" (which can also be shown to the customer) and the active state.
3. The templates are chosen in the calculator of each product (F2), with a price coefficient for the fast timeframes.

Result. The calculator and the cart display the Ready by date; the order page displays the Planned readiness, the working days remaining or the delay. The date promised to the customer is not recalculated after the artwork is accepted and the order is paid; changes to the calendar and to the timeframes apply only to future orders.

Closing actions. None are required. Details: Production: calendar and timeframes.

F5. Defining the artwork requirements at product level

Conditions. Permissions on Products.

Preparatory actions. The print requirements of the print shop for the respective product (bleed, resolution, colour space, accepted file formats), possibly as a PDF document.

Resources. Approximately 5 minutes for one product.

Sequence of actions.

1. In the General tab of the product, the Layout Setting is chosen: the artwork is not required, is optional or is mandatory.
2. Optionally, the Instructions file (print specs) is uploaded, which the customer can download from the product page before preparing the artwork.
3. For products cut to a contour or for labels on a roll, the frame of the crop lines and the safe area can be hidden from the artwork preview.
4. The rules of the automatic check — the file formats accepted with and without checking, the tolerance of the dimensions relative to the format, in millimetres, and the other rules — are defined in check presets associated with the products.

Result. In the cart, for the products that require artwork, the customer is given the upload field — one slot for each side in double-sided printing — and the file is checked automatically on upload (F9). With mandatory artwork, the order cannot be completed without a file; the file upload module of the calculator only collects additional files and does not replace the artwork.

Closing actions. None are required. Details: The product sheet.