Feature Pack 8: The Madisons store is deprecated. Most features demonstrated in the Madisons store are available in the Aurora store.

Madisons starter store functions

The Madisons starter store enables you to customize the functions of your store. You can enable or disable any of the features as your store requires.
Note: The name of the Madisons starter store archive depends on the Feature Pack level that is installed:
  • WebSphere Commerce Version 7.0.0.0Madisons.sar
  • Introduced in Feature Pack 1Madisons-FEP.sar
When you publish the Madisons starter store, many optional features are enabled by default. For example, there is a field on the User Registration page that asks customers to specify their gender. If you do not want this field to be displayed in your store, you can remove it. If you publish the Madisons starter store enhancement feature, more store functions are available. In general, you can change the following aspects of the store flow:
  1. Review the Site flow and interactions in the Madisons starter store diagram.
  2. Review the available configuration options.
  3. To change the settings:
Important: Changes to store pages are only applied to the Madisons starter store when you enable or disable store functions. For example, disabling the promotion code entry field store function results in the field being removed from Madisons starter store pages, but not removed from mobile starter store pages.

Customer interactions

Select the Web 2.0 features that customers can use in your store.
Feature Description When to use Implications Enabled by default
Product Quick Info Display product details in the Product Quick information pop-up window. When you want to display an additional presentation of the product information without leaving the current page and navigating to the product details page. None Yes
Ajax shopping cart Add items to the shopping cart without leaving the current page. When you want the customer to remain on the current page after you add an item to the order. None Yes
Ajax checkout Automatically apply changes that are made to the shopping cart. When you want changes to be automatically applied to the order, for example, updating the quantity, without using an update button. None Yes
Ajax My Account Automatically apply changes that are made on the My Account page. When you want a partial page refresh for the account pages, instead of refreshing the entire page after changes or selections are made. None Yes
Product drag-and-drop Add items to the shopping cart or compare zone by using the mouse.
Note: This feature is automatically disabled if the mini shopping cart and compare zone features are disabled.
 When you want to enable customers to drag-and-drop items into the mini current order zone, or the compare zone, instead of selecting the option for each item. None Yes

Registration

Select optional fields to display on the Registration and Change Personal Information pages.

Feature Description When to use Implications Enabled by default
Preferred currency Registered customers can select the price's displayed currency. Customers can purchase merchandise in more than one currency. Ensure that currency exchange rates are set for all supported currencies in the store. Use one of the following methods to set exchange rates:
  • Add entries in the CURCONVERT table.
  • Enter the product prices in all supported currencies.
 Yes
Preferred language Registered customers can select the store's displayed language. The store is available in more than one language. Ensure that product descriptions and names are entered for each supported language in the store. Yes
Gender Registered customers can submit their gender in the Registration and Change Personal Information pages. The store uses marketing campaigns that target customers based on gender. Ensure that the store creates marketing campaigns. Yes
Send me information about store specials Send promotional email to customers. You must configure your email accounts and activities by using WebSphere Commerce Accelerator to send promotional email to customers. The store uses promotional email campaigns. Configure your email accounts and activities to send an email to customers. Yes
Mobile phone number and SMS notifications opt-in Registered customers can submit their mobile phone number and opt-in for SMS notifications about order status and promotions in the store. The store supports SMS order status notifications and marketing messages. Ensure that the store creates marketing campaigns. Yes
Require new users to provide age information. Registered customers can submit their age information when they submit their personal information. The form options are:
  • Date of Birth (default)
  • Age
 The store uses either Date of Birth or Age to specify customer age information, but not both. The store uses marketing campaigns that target customers based on age. Ensure that the store creates marketing campaigns. Yes

Catalog

Select order-related features available to customers in your store.
Feature Description When to use Implications Enabled by default
Search in the store Customers can search the store's catalog. The store catalog is large enough that searching the catalog based on keywords provides useful search results. None Yes
Product comparison Side-by-side comparing of up to four products by using the compare zone. When you want a compare feature in the store so that customers can compare products with similar attributes.
Feature Pack 5Note: Display of multiple values for the same attribute in a catalog entry is enabled by default.
 Ensure that the store has enough items with similar attributes. Yes
Display inventory availability The product display pages can show the inventory availability next to the product. The product display pages can show the inventory availability next to the product. None Yes
Product rankings Displays product rankings in the store, such as best sellers or top browsed products. When you want to promote popular products in the storefront. Ensure that the Marketing activities are set up for product rankings. No
Browsing history Displays the customer's browsing history in the storefront, for example, on selected catalog pages and My Account. When you want to promote recently browsed products in the storefront. None No
Category subscriptions Enables customers to subscribe to categories and subcategories that interest them. When you want to promote specific categories to customers. Ensure that the Marketing activities are set up for category subscriptions. No
Search-based navigation Enables enhanced search capabilities in the storefront such as spelling correction, automatic search term suggestions, search term highlighting, wildcard searching, and facets in search results. When you want to enable enhanced and targeted search capabilities in the storefront. Ensure that your WebSphere Commerce search index structure is built and its data populated.
Note:
  • Search-based navigation is enabled by default after you publish the Madisons enhancements store archive.
  • Feature Pack 4 or laterSearch-based navigation must be enabled for Smart phone and tablet starter stores to function correctly.
 No

Orders

Select order-related features available to customers in your store.
Feature Description When to use Implications Enabled by default
Quick order Enter SKUs to add items to the shopping cart. When customers are likely to know the SKU numbers of the items that they want to order. For example, if the store sends out paper catalogs, the customer can enter the SKU number (as printed in the catalog) in the quick order form. Customers should know the SKU numbers in advance. No
Wish list Customers can maintain, and optionally email, a single wish list. The store enables every registered customer to keep one list as their wish list. None Yes
Mini shopping cart Display shopping cart items and the shopping cart subtotal in the store header. When you want customers to see the order total in the header of the store. None Yes
Order status tracking Customers can track the status of their orders. For example, a customer can see when an order is awaiting approval, processed, or scheduled to be processed. The store updates the order status during payment authorization, capture, and fulfillment. If the store does not update the order status, ensure that you disable this field. The value that is displayed in this field might provide misleading information to customers when the order status is not updated. Yes

Checkout

Select checkout features available to customers in your store.
Feature Description When to use Implications Enabled by default
Quick checkout Registered customers can complete an order by using information that is predefined in a quick checkout profile. When you want customers to complete a checkout flow by simply entering SKUs on a single page. Ensure that you inform customers that they must know the SKUs of the products they want to purchase. Yes
Multiple shipments Customers can choose multiple shipments for an order. The multiple shipments option is enabled in the store. If this option is disabled, customers can ship an order to only a single address, using a single shipping method. Yes
Future shipping date Customers can specify a future shipping date for items in an order. Enables customers to request a shipping date. None Yes
Shipping instructions Customers can provide special shipping instructions for items in an order. Enables customers to request special shipping instructions with their order. None Yes
Promotion code entry field Customers can enter a promotion code on the checkout pages. The store uses promotions. None Yes
Promotion choice of free gift field Enables a pop-up window that enables customers to choose from a list of free gift options. The store uses the free gift promotion. None Yes
Punch-out payment Enables a payment model where a third-party payment service provider processes payments for orders. When you want to offer alternative payment methods in the checkout flow. You must have an account setup with a third-party payment service provider No

Analytics

Select analytics features to use for your store.
Feature Description When to use Implications Enabled by default
Enable analytics integration Enables the analytics tags that exist in the store JSP pages, such as the <cm:pageview /> tag. When you want to send analytics data to IBM Digital Analytics, formerly known as Coremetrics Analytics. You must have an account that is set up with IBM Digital Analytics. No
Enable IBM Product Recommendations integration Enables a set of e-Marketing Spots that support the display of dynamic recommendations on store pages for IBM Product Recommendations, formerly known as Coremetrics Intelligent Offer. This check box is selectable only after you select Enable analytics integration. When you want to display dynamic recommendations from IBM Product Recommendations in e-Marketing Spots. You must have an account that is set up with IBM Digital Analytics and subscribe to IBM Product Recommendations. No

Store Locator

Select cross-channel functionality available to customers in your store.
Feature Description When to use Implications Enabled by default
Store Locator Enables the following cross-channel shopping features:
  • Store locator
  • Stock locator
  • Buy online, pick up in-store
  • Buy online, ship to store
  • Reserve online, pay in-store
 When you want customers to find a store location or to purchase items and have the option to ship them to the store. Store location data must be entered in the database. Yes

Coshopping

Feature Description When to use Implications Enabled by default
Enable coshopping in the store Enables two shoppers to explore a store, view products, and chat about products synchronously. When you want customers to share their browsing experience in the storefront. Coshopping must be enabled, and the customers must be using the same storefront (either web or mobile). No

Subscriptions and Recurring Orders

Feature Description When to use Implications Enabled by default
Enable subscriptions and recurring orders in the store Allows customers to purchase subscription products and create recurring orders. When you want customers to set up buying patterns for particular products or orders. Subscriptions and Recurring Orders must be enabled. Yes