Database Administration Screens

Here are some general help topics for clients using our Admin screens to maintain a database in our ecommerce applications.

See also Updating Access database from Excel worksheet

A – DATABASE

1. It's a Microsoft Access database on which any kind of searches can be performed.
2. It's on the server in a separate folder, it cannot be accessed except through the web pages, or by an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program with your password and login name.
3. Download it to your hard disk to update it, (can be updated from an Excel file from your suppliers - but take a backup before so updating), or
4. Update it online with the Admin screens.

B – TABLES

The database comprises tables which are related to each other by one or other field in each table. Some table examples:

1. Categories –
2. Brands –
3. Sub-categories –
4. Products – Products, descriptions, prices, links, image filenames.
5. Postage – Rates and delivery charges
6. Packing – Amounts to be added to standard postage rates

Relationships: The fields in in a table that relate to another table need to be in that other table spelled exactly the same. i.e. On the home page is a list of brands. If the brand in a product is not in the list or spelled differently, then it won't be found from that list of brands.

C – EDITING

PRODUCTS, BRANDS, CATEGORIES have screens for:

Add New.

• To set up a new PRODUCT for an existing CATEGORY and BRAND just enter details in the products table. Genders, Brands and Families will be "drop-down" choices.
• If a new product is for a new brand or category, then create these first.

Edit / Delete

• Choose the item from the BROWSE screen and click EDIT
• On the EDIT screen is also a "Delete" button.
• In the EDIT screen you can alter any fields.
• While in the EDIT screen for an item you can Crtl Z to reverse any typing.
• There is no UNDO function once you have hit the UPDATE or DELETE buttons.

TIPS

• in categories or product names don't include & or " or '. They are programming symbols. Using and and the character ` is OK. (Top left of keyboard).
• In long descriptions use HTML codes <P> for paragraphs or <BR> for line breaks.
  Use <ul> for bullet lists use <UL> followed by <LI> for each line, and close the list with </UL>. (<OL> for numbered lists).
  Use <B> for bold </B> and <U> for underlined </U>
• Open the website in a separate browser window to refresh to see your updates.

POSTAGE / PACKING

Charges can be changed here. If you want to change the basis of delivery charges, say by weight or dollar value or other formula, then we need to make a program change.

If Australia Post rates are used, these can be downloaded from www.austpost.com.au. You can convert them into a CSV or Excel file to import into your postage table

D – WEBSITE

Always return to website to check any changes.

E – EMAILED ORDERS

Customer orders display product fields selected by you from this database.

F – IMAGES

Thumbnail images are usually shown on web pages at a fixed width in pixels, so that they look tidy. If you have loaded an image with large white borders, that image will appear smaller than other images on the same page which have been cropped to show just the product.

Be aware that Jpeg images degrade each time you edit and save them. Best strategy is to keep an unedited copy of each image that you can go back to.

G – SUPPORT

Please call Platypus Websites (02) 4959 7741, or email [email protected] for answers to any questions, or to advise of anything which is unclear about the database.

Tuesday, 26th May 2015
Newcastle, Australia