3.7.9. Full-text search (FTS)
MS SQL has a feature called 'full text search' that significantly improves the performance of text searches across data, especially on very large databases with many records. This feature of MS SQL is installed with the 'advanced services' version, and therefore may not be available on all installations. For this reason, we don't activate it as standard. On smaller sites, the performance different with and without FTS isn't significant. You will probably find it simpler not to use this feature.
But larger sites will get a huge benefit from this; especially when you have tens of thousands of items, or more.
Before attempting to activate this feature, check that your server supports it by expanding your database and looking for the 'full text catalogs' folder, as shown below.
But larger sites will get a huge benefit from this; especially when you have tens of thousands of items, or more.
Before attempting to activate this feature, check that your server supports it by expanding your database and looking for the 'full text catalogs' folder, as shown below.
If the feature is supported, clicking the link within the FTS tab in your Kartris back end will create the required stored procedures and activate the feature. Searches in both the front and back ends of Kartris will use FTS. For this reason, even stores with a relatively small number of products but with a large customer/order database may also decide to use FTS to improve performance of back end searches.
4.1.2. Multiple parent categories
Each category can have any number of parent categories, and you do not have to have the same number of category levels throughout the store. For example, below we see a product whose category can be reached via three navigation routes. One of them has two levels, one three and the other four. A product can also have multiple parent categories.
4.1.3. Mix products and subcategories
A category can at the same time be a parent both to other categories, and products. This provides more flexibility as you can nest general interest products in a category, while still subdividing other items into further subcategories.
4.1.4. Product types
There are several different types of products that can be created within Kartris.
4.1.4.2. Multiple version product
This is suitable for items that tend to have only one degree of variation. For example, ketchup that might come in several different bottle sizes (each with its own SKU / item code), or a book that comes in hardback, paperback and audiobook. Each version can have its own image, as well as the product having images too.
4.1.4.3. Options product
This has a single base version and unlimited options can be applied to it. This is suitable for products with multiple types of variation such as size, style and colour. You can have as many options as required, and these can display as dropdown menus, radio buttons or a checkbox. It is therefore ideal for items such as computers that might be highly configurable, with a choice of hard-disks, processors, operating systems, RAM, and so on.
You can control whether a selection is required for a particular option. So for example, when configuring a computer, the RAM and processor selections would be required (because a computer must have both) but the secondary hard-disk size selection might be optional (if the component was not necessary required).
You can control whether a selection is required for a particular option. So for example, when configuring a computer, the RAM and processor selections would be required (because a computer must have both) but the secondary hard-disk size selection might be optional (if the component was not necessary required).
4.1.4.4. Combinations product
This is similar to an options product, and is created in the same way. But you can choose to create 'combinations'. The system will then create a unique record for each permutation of the options. This allows you to record stock level for each permutation separately, and have a different SKU / item code for each permutation.
The number of permutations will be limited to a few hundred for performance reasons. Remember that you only need to create a combinations product if you are stock tracking or need a unique SKU for each permutation - otherwise use an options product.
The number of permutations will be limited to a few hundred for performance reasons. Remember that you only need to create a combinations product if you are stock tracking or need a unique SKU for each permutation - otherwise use an options product.
4.2.2. Creating a new product
If you are creating an 'options' product, then you will need to create the options first.
Then you can either go to 'Products > Add New Product', or you can click the 'New' link next to the products section in a category view. This will bring up the product editor page.
Then you can either go to 'Products > Add New Product', or you can click the 'New' link next to the products section in a category view. This will bring up the product editor page.
4.2.2.1. Category parent
Each product must belong to at least one category. In such cases, the category that a product belongs to is called its 'parent'. To select a category, enter the name (or part of the name) in the single line text box of the 'category parent' section. A list of matching categories will spring up. Select the appropriate one and hit the 'Add' link next to the box. The category will be added in the box above.
Kartris supports multiple category parents. You can use the same process to add further categories. All the categories that a product belongs to will be listed in the multiple dropdown.
To remove a category from being a parent of this product, simply highlight it in the multiple dropdown list and click the 'Remove selected' link.
These product-category relationships will only be saved when the product is updated/created with the 'Save' button.
Kartris supports multiple category parents. You can use the same process to add further categories. All the categories that a product belongs to will be listed in the multiple dropdown.
To remove a category from being a parent of this product, simply highlight it in the multiple dropdown list and click the 'Remove selected' link.
These product-category relationships will only be saved when the product is updated/created with the 'Save' button.
4.2.2.2. Product type
There are three selectable types of product – single version, multiple version and options product. These are explained further in @4.1.4. Product types.
When you select the product type, some of the dropdown menus immediately below will be enabled or preset to certain values and disabled. This is because certain selections of these only apply to certain product types.
If you are editing an existing product, and find that you are not permitted to change the product type, it is most likely because the product has associated data which is incompatible with the other product types. For example, if you have a multiple-version product, it cannot be changed to a single version or options products without first deleting the extraneous versions.
When you select the product type, some of the dropdown menus immediately below will be enabled or preset to certain values and disabled. This is because certain selections of these only apply to certain product types.
If you are editing an existing product, and find that you are not permitted to change the product type, it is most likely because the product has associated data which is incompatible with the other product types. For example, if you have a multiple-version product, it cannot be changed to a single version or options products without first deleting the extraneous versions.