Instructions

Program Instructions
This document provides brief instructions on how to use this XLEcom program. Detailed Help and Instructions are integrated throughout the program. Each feature and button within the program has it's own guide to help you through the development process. It is recommended that you print out these Instruction for reference at a later time.

Note: More detailed information and instructions can be found in the Forum section titled "Helpful Information".

Section 1 - First Things First

  • Using This Program - First Things First
  • Demonstration Sample Data
  • Standard and Inventory Type Sample Stores included with the Program

Section 2 - Program Instructions

  • This is a Spreadsheet Program
  • Shareware Version
  • XLEcom Ecommerce Web Site Development Flow Chart
  • How to Use the XLEcom Program
  • Directory File Folder Structure
  • External File Preparation
  • Web Site Publishing
  • Web Site Layout Options
  • Product Ad Properties
  • Store Modules
  • Importing and Converting data from an established Ecommerce web site

Section 1 - First Things First

Using This Program - First Things First
This XLEcom program uses your internet web browser for both previewing HTML pages and for viewing the final Published web site. For efficient visibility usage of this program, it is suggested that you do not run Microsoft Excel and your internet web browser in a maximized window mode. You should run both Microsoft Excel and your internet web browser in windows sized to provide a good view of the content.  Optimally, it would be best to have both Microsoft Excel and your internet web browser windows positioned side-by-side.

The reason for this is that this XLEcom program uses your internet web browser for both previewing HTML pages and for viewing the final Published web site. Throughout the design process of your web site, you will be previewing your designed pages within your internet web browser. It is much easier to make changes to your web site and view the changes in your internet web browser while both windows are displayed on the screen at the same time

Demonstration Sample Data
It is highly recommended that you first experiment with the demonstration sample data provided within the program before you begin creating your own Ecommerce web site. By experimenting with this sample data you will quickly learn the program's capabilities and how to use it efficiently. You should also review the published demonstration web site so that you will understand how it functions and how you can customize it for your needs. After you are familiar with the program you can remove the demonstration sample data using the Utilities function on the Product Design sheet.

At a first glance this program may seem a little overwhelming due the number of the features, controls, and settings offered within this program. Most of these features, controls, and settings do not have to be changed from the default state thus minimizing the time needed to develop your web site(s). A majority of them are provided so that you can customize the look and feel of the web site(s). Read the Quick and Simple Setup instructions below to easily get started today.

Standard and Inventory Type Sample Stores included with the Program
This program is initially loaded with data for a Standard demonstration ecommerce store called DemoStore Online. This demonstration store features electronic consumer products. There is also another version of this demonstration store supplied with this program that supports Inventory control. This Inventory sample store is located in the \Modules\DemoStore directory and the file name is "DemoStore with Inventory mm-dd-yyy.xls" where mm-dd-yyyy is the date when the file was created.

The only difference between the Standard and Inventory stores is that the Inventory store utilizes formulas within the Product Database. The User fields within the Product Database contain Inventory, Cost, Markup, and formulas to calculate Profit, the sale price (Our Price), and the You Save amount. The Publish Ad field also utilizes a formula to determine if the product should or should not be publish. If the Inventory is zero (0) then a formula in the Publish Ad field returns FALSE meaning that the product will not be published. Based on the Inventory values, the Stock Note field values also change. Keep in mind that this is an example of what can be achieve by utilizing formulas within the Product Database. You can enter any type of formulas you want in order to achieve a desired result.

You have two options for importing the Inventory store. You can either import the data directly into this program via the Utilities function or via the Store Modules function. If you choose to use the Store Module option, all the file assets associated with this store such as the products images and support documents will also be imported into this program. Since both the Standard and Inventory stores utilize the same file assets, products, and categories, you can use Utilities function method of import.

Note: This particular Inventory sample store was setup to utilize Hyperlink only type Add-to-Cart Button without any Options. This is because all five (5) of the User fields within the Database are used for the Inventory values and functions. If you import this Inventory Sample store into the program, you must first do the following after you import the data prior to doing anything else. (1) Uncheck all five (5) Option check boxes above the User fields on the Database sheet. (2) Uncheck the Publish Ad, Profit, Stock Note, and Our Price (Required) check boxes within the Save Ad "Overrides" function dialog box on the Product Design sheet. (3) Make sure the "Force use of HTML Form type Add-to-Cart buttons for all Product Ads" check box is unchecked.

Section 2 - Program Instructions

This is a Spreadsheet Program
Although Excel can publish spreadsheets in HTML / XML format, this program does not use any of Excel's built-in HTML functions. This program generates all the HTML required for your web site based on conditions defined by the user. The final web pages generated by this program are composed of purely HTML and JavaScript and therefore are compatible with all Internet Web Browsers available today.

Since this is a spreadsheet program, please do not edit or change the spreadsheets. The spreadsheets have been protected in order to allow this program to function properly. There are user specified areas on the sheets designated for data entry.

This program contains a total of eight (8) user worksheets including the Introduction and this Instructions worksheet. Six (6) of these worksheets are used for the creation of your Ecommerce web site. Each worksheet contains a navigation menu across the top of the sheet which allows you navigate back and forth between worksheets. You can also use the sheet tabs across the bottom the screen to navigate between worksheets.

Table of Contents

  • Shareware Version
  • XLEcom Ecommerce Web Site Development Flow Chart
  • How to Use the XLEcom Program
  • Directory File Folder Structure
  • External File Preparation
  • Web Site Publishing
  • Web Site Layout Options
  • Product Ad Properties
  • Store Modules
  • Importing and Converting data from an established Ecommerce web site

Shareware Version

Since this Shareware program is intended for evaluation use, the following modifications will be made to the Published HTML web pages and to the Home Page Design Preview. These modifications only affect the Shareware Version of this program. Once this program is registered, no modification will occur and this and all other registration prompts will never appear again.

All prices shown on the Published HTML web pages and to the Home Page Design Preview will be modified slightly from the actual values contained within the product database. The actual values within the product database will not be changed. This way you can republish the web pages using the actual values from the product database if you later decide to purchase and register the program. Also, a branding statement will be added to the bottom of each published Product Ad.

The intent of releasing this program as Shareware is for people to evaluate it on a demonstration basis. If you like this program, please purchase and register it. Thank you.

XLEcom Ecommerce Web Site Development Flow Chart

Below is the XLEcom Ecommerce Website Development Flow Chart and a brief explaination on the function of each of the six (6) worksheets.

Product Design sheet - Product Ad Design User Interface
The Ad Design form on the Product Design sheet is provided as a simple user interface for designing and managing the all the products ads within the Database. Once you are familiar with the ad design process, you can directly manage the products ads within the Database without having to use the Ad Design form.

Database sheet - Product Ad Database
The Database sheet contains all the information for your Product Ads. You can either manage the database directly on this sheet or use the simple Ad Design form on the Product Design sheet to manage it.

Categories sheet - Product Categories
The Categories sheet is used to manage both the main and sub categories product listings for your web site. These category listings will eventually be transformed into the product navigation menu hyperlinks that appear on the left side of the web site. This sheet also contains some of the product ad data items displayed in the drop down scroll boxes you see on the "Product Design" sheet and in the "Ad Design" dialog box.

Site Design sheet - Web Site Design
The Site Design sheet is provide to help you design the look and feel of your web site. It also provides a quick review of some of the site's major properties.

Home Page Design sheet - Design a Home Page with Product Ads
You have the option to publish either of two Home Pages. They are the Home Page with Product Ads (on the "Home Page Design" sheet) or the Home Page without Product Ads (on the "Support Pages" sheet). If you want for example to have specially advertised products on the Home page, then use the Home Page with Product Ads.

Support Pages sheet - Design a non-ad Home page and up to seven (7) additional Support pages
The Support Pages sheet is used for developing a non-ad Home page and up to seven (7) additional Support pages. For example, these pages can include topics such as News, About Us, Sales, Contacts, Support, Policies, and Help. The hyperlinks to these support page links will appear across the top of the web site and are referred to as the Top Navigation menus.

How to Use the XLEcom Program

Quick and Simple Setup
This program was initially setup with data for a Demonstration web site. The quickest and simplest way to get started on your site is to use the Demonstration site as a design template for your web site. To do this, just do the following:

Initially keep the current Demonstration product data in the program. By doing this, you can easily test your site design parameters. Later, you can remove the Demonstration data.
1. Set up the folder paths and input your Shopping Cart account settings ("Product Design" sheet >> "Setup" button).
2. Input your FTP account information ("Site Design" sheet >> "Upload Files" button).
3. Input your Company's general information ("Site Design" sheet >> "Site Setup" button).
4. Choose and / or customize a web site theme  ("Site Design" sheet >> "Site Themes" button).
5. Setup your Ad Design Properties ("Product Design" or "Site Design" sheet >> "Ad Design" button).
6. Create your web site support pages ("Support Pages" sheet).
7. Clear the Demonstration Product Database and Category Data ("Product Design" sheet >> "Utilities" button).
8. Setup your Product Categories ("Categories" sheet).
9. Use the Product Ad Design form to enter your product information into the Database ("Product Design" sheet). Optionally, once you are "completely" familiar with the product data input method and Database structure, you can enter your product data directly into the "Database" sheet.
10. Create your Home Page Ad specials ("Home Page Design" sheet).
11. Run the Database Error Check Utility
12. Publish your web site.
13. Upload your web site to your web server.

General Instructions
Step 1. Set up the directory folder paths and input your account settings
Switch to Product Design sheet and press the Setup button to set up the directory folder paths and input your Shopping Cart account settings. If you used the default installation of this program, then the directory folder paths are already setup. Before you proceed any further, you should login to your shopping cart account and setup your shopping, shipping, and currency settings.

Step 2. Create your Product's Main and Sub Categories
Switch to Categories sheet and enter the Main and Sub Categories menu structure for your products. These categories will be the navigation links to the product pages that will appear on the left site of the web site.

Step 3. Create your Ecommerce Product Ads
Assuming you have already placed all your Product images with the \Assets\images\products folder and all your additional support HTML files in the \Assets\html folder, you are ready to design your Product Ads. Switch to Product Design sheet and create your product Ads using the spreadsheet interface. After the creation of each Ad, press the Save Ad button to store the Ad's data in the Database on the Database sheet. To create a new Ad, press the New Ad button.

Step 4. Design your Support Pages for the web site
This is an optional but important step. The final Ecommerce web site utilizes two different types of web pages. The first type are your Product Ad pages which contains all of your products for sale. The navigation links to these pages will appear on the left site of the web site. The second type of web pages are called the Support Pages. These are the pages where you would include additional information about your company such as the Home Page, Contacts, Support, Help, and so on. The navigation links to these pages will appear along the top of the web site. Switch to Support Pages sheet to create your Support Pages.

Home Page Publishing Options
You have the option to publish either of two Home Pages. They are the Home Page with Product Ads (from the "Home Page Design" sheet) or the Support Page's Home Page (from the "Support Pages" sheet). If you want for example to have specially advertised products on the Home page, then choose the Home Page with Product Ads publish option.

Step 5. Design the look and feel of your web site
Switch to Site Design sheet and use the tools provided to design the look and feel of your web site. The program also includes a variety of preset web site themes for you to choose from and use for your site.

Step 6. Publish your Ecommerce web site to your computer's hard disk
You can publish your web site by pressing the Publish button from either the Site Design, Support Pages, or Home Page Design sheets.

Step 7. Transfer your web site to your web server
Use the built in Upload Files Utility on the Site Design sheet or use any FTP program to transfer your web site to your web server(s).

Directory File Folder Structure

The following explains the directory file folder structure used by the XLEcom Program.
The image below outlines the top level directory folder structure created in the default installation of this XLEcom Program.

The folders indicated by the red colored text in the image below are the user's folders. These are the locations where the user will place their images and support HTML file to be used with the XLEcom Program. The folders indicated by the brown colored text are used for Store Modules. Store Modules are explained in the section below. The rest of the folders already contain the support file assets needed by the program.

Note:
The Program will automatically create the Publish folder if it does not already exist. The Publish folder contains all the files needed for your web site. All folders and files beneath the Publish folder should be uploaded to your web server.

External File Preparation

One of the first things you should do is prepare both your images and the optional Ad Comment Hyperlink popup window support HTML files ahead of time for use in your web site. By preparing these items first, the time required to build your site will be significantly reduced.

Image Preparation - Product Ads, Home Page with Product Ads, and Support Pages
The ideal size of the Product Ad Images is 100 x 100 pixels. The default setting within the XLEcom program is to automatically scale the images to 100 pixels wide in the final HTML pages. You can however change the default size to anything you want. These images are to be placed in the \Assets\images\products folder.

The suggested size of the main image photo used on the Home Page with Product Ads is 176 x 89 pixels. You can however change the image dimensions to any size you want. You can also choose not to display the image if desired. This Home Page image is to be placed in the \Assets\images\themes\photos folder.

The ideal size of the Support Pages Images is 162 x 226 pixels. You can however change the image dimensions to any size. You can also choose not to display these images if desired. These images are to be placed in the \Assets\images\themes\photos folder.

Ad Comment Hyperlink HTML Files
The XLEcom program includes the (6) additional HTML pages for use as Ad Comment Hyperlink popup window support files for the Product ads. The names of these six files are listed below. These are the HTML files you attached to your Product Ads via a Hyperlink for additional information that will appear in a popup window when a user click on the Ad Comment Hyperlink. You should edit these files for your particular needs and also add more files as needed. These Ad Comment Hyperlink HTML files are located in the \Assets\html folder.

• additional_shipping.html
• canceled.html
• free_shipping.html
• manufacturer_rebate.html
• store_rebate.html
• successful.html

Web Site Publishing

Your final published web site will have the following file structure format. All folders and files beneath the Publish folder, indicated within the red box as shown in the image below, should be uploaded to your web server's root directory. The index.html file is the file you open in your web browser to view the web site.

The Web Site Publishing Routine performs the following operations in the order listed below.
Step 1:
The XLEcom program will first generate all the HTML files for the web site and place them into the \Publish\html folder. The last HTML file generated named index.html will be placed in the \Publish root folder. This index.html file is the file you open in your web browser to view the web site. It is also the file that should be place in the root directory of your web server. Note: The publishing routine will overwrite all previously published HTML files which have the same name as the newly generated files.

Step 2: Next, only the support HTML files such as the ones used in the "Ad Comment Hyperlink URL" for the Product Ads will be copied from the \Assets\html folder to the \Publish\html folder.

Step 3: Only the images needed for the product ads, support pages, and web site theme will be copied from the \Assets\images subfolders to the \Publish\images folder.

Step 4: Finally, all the web site image files within the \Assets\images\website subfolder will be copied to the \Publish\images folder.

Step 5 (optional): If you selected to "Copy all HTML file assets (*.*) to the Publish folder", then all the files under the \Assets\html folder will be copied to the \Publish\html folder. This HTML file copying step is performed last, after all the product and framed pages have been generated by this program.

Home Page Publishing Options
You have the option to publish either of two Home Pages. They are the Home Page with Product Ads (from the "Home Page Design" sheet) or the Home Page without Product Ads (from the "Support Pages" sheet). If for example you want to have specially advertised products on the Home page, then choose the Home Page with Product Ads publish option.

Web Site Layout Options

During the Publishing step, you have the option to choose either to create a Framed or Non Framed web site. For a Framed site, each page displayed within the web browser window is actually composed of four (4) individual framed web pages, the top.html, left.html, bottom.html, and body frame page. The index.html page is a mapping page that calls all 4 pages together to create the final page you view in your web browser. The body frame page is the page that changes when a user clicks on any of the page navigation links. The top, left, and bottom frames stay static and do not move as the user scrolls up and down within the web page. A Non Framed web site uses individual pages, in other words, all the content for each page is displayed on that single page. For more information on Framed sites, press the small red question mark icon in the top right corner of the spreadsheet.

Important Program References
All the functions and dialog boxes within the program are referenced to a Framed site regardless if you choose to publish either a Framed or Non Framed web site. Even though these functions and dialog boxes are referenced to a Framed site, the will act the same for a Non Framed site. If you want to create a Non Framed a web site, then use the following related cross references for setting up your site.

Top frame: For a Framed site this would be the the top.html file. For a Non Framed site, this would be equal to the top area section the page.
Left frame: For a Framed site this would be the the left.html file. For a Non Framed site, this would be equal to the left side area section the page.
The Body frame in a Framed site is equal to the center area section of a Non Framed page.
Bottom frame: For a Framed site this would be the the bottom.html file. For a Non Framed site, this would be equal to the bottom area section the page.

Non Framed Site
A Non Framed web site uses individual pages, in other words, all the content for each page is displayed on that single page. For more information on Non Framed and Framed sites, press the small red question mark icon in the top right corner of the spreadsheet.

Framed Site
Description of Framed Pages
Each page displayed within the web browser window is composed of four (4) individual framed web pages. These four individual framed pages contain the following information and is illustrated in the image below:

Top frame: top.html  [Navigation Menus for support pages, Company Name, and Business Slogan]
Left frame: left.html  [Navigation menus for the Product Ad pages, View Cart, and Copyright]
Body frame:  [Area the Product Ad pages (page_xxx.html) and top navigation menu support pages are displayed]
Bottom frame: bottom.html  [Message, i.e. Company Message or Copyright]

Product Ad Properties

The image below outline the Global Product Ad Properties

Store Modules

What are Store Modules
This program has the capability to both Create new Store Modules and to Import pre-configured or previously saved Store Modules into the program.

A pre-configured Store Module would be a complete Ecommerce store already populated with products available to sell online. All you have to do is import a Store module into this program, Publish the web site, and upload the published files to your web server.

XLEcom's Preconfigured Store Modules (XPSM)
The advantages of XLEcom's Pre configured Store Modules (XPSM) is that all products sold on your web site via these XPSM Modules will be fulfilled (dropped shipped) from the supplier / distributor of the products directly to your customers. This way the Ecommerce store owner does not need to maintain an inventory of products to sell or have to deal with the shipping of products to the customers.

For example, if you want to set up an Electronic or Sporting Goods store, all you have to do is download the XPSM Store Module for that particular store, import it into the XLEcom program, Publish the web site, and upload the published files to your web server. In theory, you can have as many different types Ecommerce stores as you desire. You can obtain XLEcom's Pre configured Store Modules (XPSM) at http://www.xlecom.com.

What is contained in a Store Module
A Store Module contains all the necessary information for an ecommerce store. You can import either a pre configured or previously saved Store Module into this program or create an entirely new Store Module.

A Store Module consist of the following three items:
1. An Excel file (xls) which contains both the product database and category data.
2. The product ad images used within the web site.
3. The support HTML, PDF, and other files used within the web site.

The rest of the image assets associated with the web site such as the ad-items, add-to-cart buttons, site themes, and general website images are "common site images". "Common site images" are images that are utilized and available to any web site. Therefore, these "common site images" do not need to be either imported or saved to a Store Module.

Creating a New Store Module
First switch to the Product Design sheet and then press the "Store Modules" button.

Store Modules Location
All newly created, pre configured, or previously saved Store Modules reside in the Modules Folder. If you initially installed this program at C:\Program Files\XLEcom, then the Store Module folder location will be located at C:\Program Files\XLEcom\Modules.

To create a new Store Module, enter in a name for the new Store Module. If for example you enter in "Electronics"  as the name for the new Store Module, then a new subfolder named "Electronics" will be created underneath the main Store Modules folder "Modules". Next, an Excel Store Module file containing all the product and category data named "Electronics mm-dd-yyyy.xls", where mm-dd-yyyy is today's date, will be created. Finally, this Excel file and its associated product images and HTML support files will be saved under the newly created subfolder "Electronics". For example, if you initially installed this program at C:\Program Files\XLEcom, then the new Store Module will be created at: C:\Program Files\XLEcom\Modules\Electronics.

Note: The support HTML files such as the ones used in the "Ad Comment Hyperlink URL" for the Product Ads will be copied from the current html folder to the New Store Module's html folder. If you want to copy all the files under the current html folder to the New Store Module's html folder, then check the box "Copy all HTML file assets (*.*) to the New Store Module folder". Read the Help for more information.

Import Data from a Store Module
Use this utility to import either a preconfigured or previously saved Store Module into this program. Both the Store Module's product database data and category data will be imported into this program. Note: All current product data and category data within this program will be replaced with the newly imported data.

Step 1. Select the Store Module Excel file (xls) to import
Click on the folder icon to select a Store Module Excel file (xls) from the file selection dialog box. By checking the associated check box, you can also have this program automatically detect the File location paths for both the Store Module's product images and HTML support files for Steps 2 and 3.

Step 2. Set the File Location Path to the Store Module's product images folder
Click on the folder icon to select the File Location Path to the Store Module's product images folder. By setting this path location, it will override the original path location for the Product Images folder selected or setup in the original configuration or Setup routine.

Step 3. Set the File Location Path to the Store Module's HTML folder
Click on the folder icon to select the File Location Path to the Store Module's HTML folder. By setting this path location, it will override the original path location for the HTML folder selected or setup in the original configuration or Setup routine.

Explanation
If you installed this XLEcom program at C:\Program Files\XLEcom, then the default path location for the products images asset folder is C:\Program Files\xlecom\Assets\images\products and the default path location for the HTML asset folder is C:\Program Files\xlecom\Assets\html. These are the two locations for both the product ad images and all your support HTML file used in the creation of your web site(s). Note: This program generates all the HTML files you need for a fully functional web site. If you want to include additional HTML, PDF, and other files in the web site, then this is the file location where you should store them. You must select a location even though you do not wish to include other HTML files in the web site.

By setting these paths to the Store Module's location, you will now be retrieving and using both the product ad images and HTML support files from these new locations. For example, if the Store Module you want to import is located at C:\Program Files\xlecom\Modules\Electronics, then the new product images path will be C:\Program Files\xlecom\Modules\Electronics\products and the new HTML path will be C:\Program Files\xlecom\Modules\Electronics\html.

Importing and Converting data from an established Ecommerce web site

If you currently have an established Ecommerce web site but feel that you are paying too much in service and hosting fees, then you can use this program to convert it to a super low cost or free Ecommerce web site. All you need to do is download your current product data and images from your current Ecommerce provider and import it into this program.

Most Ecommerce web sites utilize a product's database which resides on the web server and contains all your product information for your web site. Some of these Ecommerce providers allow you to download your product data from the product database in "comma separated value" (CSV) format. The following instructions will help you import your existing Ecommerce product data into this program.

Step 1. Download both your current product data and images from your current Ecommerce provider.
Download your product data in "comma separated value" (CSV) format or any other format which can be imported into Microsoft Excel. Also, download all your product images if you do not already have them on your computer. Place all your product images in the \Assets\images\products folder. The ideal image size for the thumbnail product ad images is 100 x 100 pixels.

Step 2. Create an import template using the XLEcom program
Open the XLEcom program, switch to the "Product Design" sheet, press the "Utilities" button, and export the current Product Database. It does not matter if the product database already contains data or not. This exported file will be the import template for your product's data. Before you proceed, examine the product database so the you understand the layout.

Step 3. Create a XLEcom Product Database using your downloaded product data
A) Open both the product database file you downloaded from your existing Ecommerce web site and the import template file you created using the XLEcom program in Microsoft Excel.

B) Copy and paste the data from the downloaded file into the XLEcom import file. To do this properly, individually copy and paste the data for the corresponding matching fields one at a time, column by column. All your product's data should start at Row 3 and continue downwards. Do not overwrite the Database Field name in Row 2.

When finished with the copying and pasting, fill in the remaining fields in the XLEcom import file with the appropriate information. Keep in mind that the "You Save" field contains a formula as indicated by the blue colored text. You want to retain this formula for all your product items. Finally, sequence the items (item count) in the first field. If for example you have 100 products, then sequence the items from 1 through 100.

Helpful Notes:
Retaining the original XLEcom formatting

There are two ways to retain the XLEcom formatting.
(1) When pasting the data in the XLEcom import file, it is recommended to use the "Paste Special" command instead of the regular paste command so that the original formatting of the XLEcom import file will be retained.
(2) The best way to retain the XLEcom formatting is to leave the original XLEcom product data for the first item (item 1, row 3) in place and paste your data into the sheet starting at row 4. When finished transferring all your data to the XLEcom import file, just highlight row 3 and use Excel's "Format Painter" command to copy the formats from row 3 downwards to all the other rows that contain your product data. You can also use the copy and "Paste Special >> Formats" option as an alternative to the "Format Painter" command. This option is the better option to use because you can also fill in (copy) any missing data for the remaining fields not within your original download file from the original first item (item 1, row 3) to the rest of your product data. When finished, you can just delete row 3.

Warning: Make sure that the number values from the downloaded file are actual real number values and not text values. Number values in the downloaded file should align to the right side of the cells, text values usually align to the left side of the cells.

Step 4. Import the XLEcom product database file into the XLEcom program.
Open the XLEcom program, switch to the "Product Design" sheet, press the "Utilities" button, and import the XLEcom product database file containing your data.

That's it.