This is where you add your categories and products to the catalog. There are several things you can do, but first, you need to create a category. In the middle window of the page, you will see a folder listing. Each folder is a category. These folders are clickable, so that you can navigate into the categories, to see products in those categories and possible subcategories.

Each category has 3 main options, Edit, Delete, and Move. Each option is fairly straightforward. Below, the edit options are explained in the Adding a New Category section.

In the main categories/products window, to add a new category, click the New Category button. When you click the New Category button, the New Category right column will appear. The following fields need to be filled out:

• Category Name :: Enter the name of your new category. If you have multiple languages enabled, you will see a field corresponding to each language.

• Category Image :: Enter the local path to your image or hit the browse button to locate the image on your computer. A common mistake is to pre-upload the images to the server. Do not do this, or the image will not be added.

• Sort Order :: This is how you control the display order of your categories. Enter a number here.

After you have entered in the appropriate information click the Save button. Your new category has been added. To add a subcategory, click on a main category, and then click the New Category button.

To add a new product, click the New Product button. Add the required info and you are on your way to populating your catalog. The following fields will need to be filled out:

• Product Status :: Mark whether this is in or out of stock.
• Date available :: Select the date this product will be available.
• Products Manufacturer :: Select the products manufacturer from the dropdown list if you are using manufacturers.
• Products Name :: Enter the product name. There will be a field for each language you have enabled in your store.
• Products Description :: Enter the description of your product. You can use HTML in this field which allows you to be very flexible in how you create your product pages. You can add images to the description, tables, hyperlinks, just about all HTML (I have not fully tested all tags, so experiment with this).
• Products Quantity :: If you are using inventory/stock tracking, enter how many are in stock.
• Products Model :: Enter the model or catalog number of your product.
• Products Image :: Enter the path to the image on your local computer, or click the browse button to look for it. This image will be uploaded to the server when you complete this process.

• Products URL :: If you have a link to the products manufacturers website, or other link with more product info, you can add that link here.
• Products Price :: Set the products price here.
• Tax Class :: Set whether the item is taxable or not.
• Products Weight :: Set the weight of the product. Do not leave this blank unless it is a download. If you leave it blank, your shipping modules will not work correctly on checkout.
• Preview :: Click this button to preview your product. On the next page, you click the Insert button to enter the new product into the database.

To quickly navigate through your categories, there is a search box and a Go To box located in this section, on the far right, just below the page header. Use these to make your editing easier.

This area of the catalog configuration is where you customize the attributes of your products. If you need to have different sizes, options, colors, and have different prices for each option, you have the ability to set this here.

When you first look at the Products Attributes section, it can look a bit complicated. The base osCommerce installation includes sample data, including pre set attributes. You should study how these attributes are constructed. Then, it is suggested that you create a sample product, and your own attributes to see how the different options function.

On the main attributes page, you will see 3 sections, Product Options, Option Values, and Products Attributes. Below, each section is described to help you begin setting up your products attributes.

• Product Options :: This section is where you create the options that you will need available for your products. This can be whatever you need, size, color, model, version, or whatever else you need. Creating options is very easy, just type the name of the option in the text box and click the 'insert' button. This creates a master options list, but does not assign values to those options. That is done in the next step.

• Option Values :: This section is the place to actually assign values to your options. This is a simple process as well. You will see a dropdown box with the options you created. Select the option you want from the dropdown, then type the value you want to assign in the text box next to it, and click 'insert.' That creates a value that is assigned to that particular option. Repeat this for all values that you will need.

• Products Attributes :: This section is where you actually assign the options that you have created, to your products. You will see a series of dropdown boxes. The first box contains all your products in your store. Select the product that you would like to set attributes for. The next box contains all the options that you have set, so select the option you want to add to the product. Then, in the next dropdown, select the value that you want to assign to the option. The next box is not a dropdown, but a text box. Enter the monetary value of the option, and in the final box, place a + or a - sign. This value determines whether osCommerce will add or subtract the value of the attribute from the base product cost. Finally, click the insert button, and the attribute will be assigned to the product.

This section is the place to set up manufacturers details for your products. If you do not want to use manufacturers information in your store, just remove all the definitions from this area. All the options in this area are described below.

• Insert :: To add a new manufacturer to your store, click this button and you will see all the options available in the right column, 'New Manufacturer' box.
• Manufacturers Name :: Add the name of the new manufacturer here.
• Manufacturers Image :: Enter the path to the image you want to use for the manufacturer, or click the browse button to locate the image. Make sure the path points to the image on your home computer. osCommerce will find it and upload it to your server to the correct location.
• Manufacturers URL :: The link to the manufacturers web site, this will add a link to your catalog on the manufacturers page.
• Save :: Click this button to add the manufacturer to your catalog.

To change an existing manufacturer, click the one you want to change, then in the right column, click the edit button. All the above options will appear for you to edit. Click 'Save“ when you are done.

To delete an existing manufacturer, click the one you want to delete, and click the 'Delete' button. The 'Delete Manufacturer' option box will open in the right column. Follow the instructions there.

This is where you edit or delete reviews. The interface is the same as the rest of the admin. Select the review you want to edit or delete, then click the 'Edit' or 'Delete' buttons in the right column. Specials

This section is where you add items on 'Special' and set the properties for those items. The 'Specials' interface is the standard admin interface with the added option of an 'On/Off' button. If you click the green icon, the special is active. If you click the red icon , the special is inactive. This is nice so you can re-use specials and turn them on or off when you need to. The options for specials are below:

• New Product :: This is the button you use to add a new item on special. It will take you to the 'Add New Special' page. This page is easy to use, just follow the instructions.

If you click on a special, you will get the option to edit or delete it in the right column. Products Expected

This section will list any products with a future date of availability. You have the option on this page to edit any product that is listed here. If you do not have any products that have a future date of availability, this section will be empty.

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