Migrating to AbleCommerce 7

Version: AbleCommerce 5.x Asp.Net and CFMX

Applies to: Upgrading to AbleCommerce 7 Asp.Net

Last Modified Date:  11/13/2008

 

DETAILS

Migrating to AbleCommerce 7

The purpose of this document is to help guide you through the steps of upgrading from AbleCommerce 5.  It is not intended to explain, in detail, how to modify AbleCommerce 7 so that it matches your current store.  The DataPort Utility can only transfer your database objects, such as categories, products, orders, users, etc., to AbleCommerce 7.  To change the "look and feel" of your new store, we recommend choosing one of the 15 built-in themes and then following instructions in the Customization Guide to change the color, style, logo, header, footer, etc.  

Important:  You should read through this entire document before beginning.  The more familiar you are with the tasks involved will ultimately speed up the process of upgrading your store to version 7.0.  Keep in mind that some features have significantly changed, so after importing, you will need to make some further adjustments.

Integrations that use Order ID:  The DataPort utility that is compatible with AbleCommerce version 7.0 will NOT import Order ID's, only the Order Number.  We have been informed that there are some third-party integrations, such as AbleCRM, which utilize the Order ID field.  As such, if you require both Order Number and Order ID, you will need to wait until the DataPort utility is released for AbleCommerce 7.1.   

 

Pre-Import Tasks

  • You will need a new AbleCommerce 7 store installed to a temporary website.  Make sure that you un-check the "Sample Data" option during installation.  

    • During installation, create an admin (superuser) using an email that does NOT already exist in AbleCommerce 5.5 store.  Make sure that you login to the AbleCommerce store via the DataPort with this user.

    • After installation, do not setup your email server settings prior to importing.

    • If you plan to go live immediately after importing, you may want to spend some time customizing your store first.

  • Try to make sure all your orders are fulfilled before exporting.  Once the export process is completed, any orders placed at your live site will need to be manually entered after importing.  You may wish to temporarily shut down your live site until the upgrade has been completed.

  • While importing from AbleCommerce 5.x to AbleCommerce 7, the countries are not imported. So, if you have manually created or changed countries in version 5, you should manually match them to ones created in version 7.  If you do not, then you may encounter errors while importing user addresses.

  • Although we have made every effort to ensure that AbleCommerce 5.5 store data imports properly, it is impossible to account for "dirty data".  This is something that can happen to a database that has gone through previous upgrades, customization, or has ever had manual data manipulation.  If you are concerned that your database may be problematic, you should go through a test run first.

 

Export and Import Process

  1. You will need to export your AbleCommerce 5.x store first.  This requires installation of a separate client tool which will allow you to create an XML file that will be used in the next step.  For download and installation instructions, please see Client Tools for AbleCommerce.     

  2. After you have an XML export file in hand, follow the instructions to install and use the DataPort Utility.  The utility has many features, but this document explains the process of using the Upload 5.5 Store feature specifically.

NOTE:  Although the Client Tools are designed to export AbleCommerce 3.x, 4.x, and 5.x stores, the import to AbleCommerce 7.0 has only been tested thoroughly using the latest version of AbleCommerce 5.5 SR3a, build 1346.  If you have an older version of AbleCommerce, you may want to test the import before continuing.   

 

Customizing Your Store

After the data transfer, login to your new AbleCommerce 7 store and select your default Store Theme, default Display Pages, and update your logo.

  • Upload your logo from the Website > Logo and Images menu.

  • Set your default store themes and display pages from the Website > Themes and Display Pages menu.

You can finish customizing your store later.  This is described in detail in the Customization Guide.  

 

TIP:  The default home page of AbleCommerce 7 includes a Featured Products display.  You can go to the product editing page and check the Featured box for some products.  This will instantly populate the blank space on the home page with some product information.

 

Product Images

For AbleCommerce 5.x stores, the images are located in the /store/images/ folder. In AbleCommerce 7, the images need to be copied to the /Assets/images/ folder.

If you have created sub-folders beneath the primary /images/ folder, simply replicate the same directory structure for your images.

 

Configure Your Store

AbleCommerce 7 offers some new features through the Configure menu.  You should take some time to review the available settings for your store.  In particular, the Configure > Store menu has some new global settings that you should be aware of.

The following items are configurations that must take place after importing:

Currencies

A new AbleCommerce 7 store will automatically include the default USD currency.  If you have multiple currencies, then you should add them to the Configure > Currencies menu and use the new automated exchange rate feature.  For each additional currency you add, your customer will be able to select his/her choice of currency to display for all prices in your store.

Payment Gateways

If you have a live payment gateway, you will need to configure it for AbleCommerce 7.  Make sure to assign the gateway to your imported payment methods.  You can do this from the Configure > Payments > Gateways menu.

Shipping Zones

AbleCommerce 7 uses a new feature called Shipping Zones.  This would be equivalent to the "Ships To" country for a shipping method in AbleCommerce 5.  Since a Shipping Zone can now be more granular, you might want to review your imported shipping zones and determine if you want to expand your shipping options.  You can do this from the Configure > Shipping > Zones menu.

Shipping Gateways

The configuration of shipping gateways has changed significantly.  If you have previously setup a shipping gateway such as UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc., then you will need to configure the gateway in AbleCommerce 7.  You can do this from the Configure > Shipping > Integrated Carriers menu.

Taxes on Shipping

If your AbleCommerce 5 store had taxes applied to shipping charges, you will need to make an adjustment in AbleCommerce 7.  For each shipping method, you will need to select the applicable tax code.

Warehouses

A new AbleCommerce 7 store will automatically include a default warehouse.  If you have multiple warehouses, they will be imported and the product association will be retained.  You can safely remove the default warehouse if you wish.  This is found under Configure > Shipping > Warehouses.

Email

You will need to enter your email settings.  Go to Configure > Email > Settings.  Enter the SMTP server information as well as the default address for any new email templates or subscriptions (mailing list).

All of your existing email templates use different syntax and will not work in the new store.  During creation of the new AbleCommerce 7 store, the Basic Data import option will automatically create all the new email templates which can be customized as needed.  You can do this from the Configure > Email > Templates menu.  For each email, you will need to update the FROM address.  

Order Statuses

The Order Statuses differ between versions so you should review the Configure > Order Statuses menu after importing.  For your convenience, the new AbleCommerce 7 order statuses have been imported along with your 5.5 statuses.  You will probably need to make adjustments and possibly even delete the older statuses, if you wish.

TIP:  Before exporting, you may want to rename your AbleCommerce 5 order statuses to something like "Completed (old)".  This will allow you to easily differentiate between the old and new order statuses after import, as some order status names will be the same.  Keep in mind that the old order statuses will not have any triggers associated to them.  

The table below shows the default order statuses in both versions.  The last column shows the default triggers that you can use to modify your existing AbleCommerce 5 order statuses, or simply switch to the new ones.

Default Order Statuses
in version 5

Default Order Statuses
in version 7

Triggers available
in version 7

New

Payment Pending

Order Placed

Paid Full

Shipment Pending

Order Paid

Paid Partial

n/a

Payment Captured Partial
Order Paid Partial

Shipped

n/a

Order Shipped

Shipped Partial

n/a

Order Shipped Partial

Completed

Completed

Order Shipped
Order Paid No Shipments

Cancelled

Cancelled

Order Cancelled

n/a

Fraud

 

n/a

Problem

Payment Authorization Failed
Payment Capture Failed

If you delete an order status, you will have the opportunity to re-assign the orders with this status to the new one.

Order Statuses can be customized to fit your business model.  For more information, please see the Order Statuses for AbleCommerce 7.  

 

ROOT folder

After import, you may see a new category called "ROOT" from the Catalog > Browse page.  If this should happen, you will need to move any products, webpages, or links within this category to another category.  This happens because in older versions of AbleCommerce 5, you could add catalog objects at the root level.  In the later version of AbleCommerce 5 and also in version 7, all objects in the catalog must reside within a category.

 

User Names

In earlier versions of AbleCommerce, the username field was not required to be an email address.  In version 7, the username field must be an email address, however, to retain backwards compatibility, there are still separate fields in the database for email and username.  Upon import, if you have usernames that are not email addresses, everything will still work as before.  If a user attempts to checkout with a non-email username, the program will prompt him or her to enter a valid username (email) before continuing checkout.  Also, when an existing user record is updated, the program validates the username and will prompt for an email address instead.  

 

User Groups for Administration

All AbleCommerce 5.5 user groups will import and members will be associated to those groups, with the exception of the users who are members of the "Admin" group.  The User Groups for administration have significantly changed in AbleCommerce 7, so the permissions that may have existed on your imported groups will need to be added accordingly.  This is done from the People > User Groups page.

First, you will need to search on any user that was previously part of the AbleCommerce 5.5 "Admin" group and associate them to one of the new admin groups, either "Super Users" or "Admins".  Next, you should review the permissions for each one of the built-in roles and assign any existing groups with applicable permissions.    

TIP:  It might be a good time to review users that have had access to the administration of your store.

Built-in roles for the AbleCommerce 7 Admin groups:

Super User - This user can do anything including view audit logs and assign admin permissions.  When you install AbleCommerce 7, the user you create will be a member of this group.  (Required for PABP)

Admins - Members of this group can do everything a Super Admin can do except for accessing other Admin user profiles, assigning Admin permissions to anyone else, and viewing of certain security features like the audit log, encryption keys, and database string.

Jr. Admin - Members of this group can do everything an Admin user can do except for access the Security menus, edit any other Admin user, or change any User Group permissions.

Order Admins - Members of this group can work with orders and nothing else.

Report Admins - Members of this group can view reports and nothing else

Catalog Admins - Members of this group can work with the catalog and nothing else.

Website Admins - Members of this group can modify website settings, scriptlets, aspx pages and nothing else.

 

Digital Goods

The digital goods feature is found under Catalog > Digital Goods.  In AbleCommerce 7, you can now manage and search your existing digital goods files with ease.  Additionally, you will be able to quickly access the products assigned to each digital good file.  There have been some changes in version 7 that simplify the configuration of a digital good.  The following list explains required changes if you sell digital goods.  

Location of Digital Files

The files for digital goods are located in the /esd/1/ folder for each respective store number.  You will need to copy them to the  /App_Data/DigitalGoods/ folder.

If you have created sub-folders beneath the primary /esd/1/ folder, simply replicate the same directory structure for your files.

Email Notifications

For each digital good file imported, you will need to assign an "Activation Email" and "Fulfillment Email" as needed.  AbleCommerce 7 includes default emails for this purpose.  Any email from version 5 will not work in version 7.

File Names

The names for your digital goods cannot be longer than 100 characters or the import will skip those instead of truncating the name.  You can manually adjust the file names before import.

Validation and Fulfillment Policies

In AbleCommerce 5.5, the implementation of validation and fulfillment policies can be performed on multiple store events.  While in AbleCommerce 7, the feature has been simplified so there are activation or fulfillment modes.  Although an attempt was made during import to properly map your existing validation and fulfillment policies, these should be reviewed and modified as needed after import.

New Download Policies:

    • Manual Activation - download of file is not available until manually activated.

    • Activate Immediately - download of file is available immediately have an order is placed.

    • Activate on Full Payment - download of file is available only when order is paid if full.

New Serial Key Policies:

    • Automatic - If using a Serial Key Provider, you can choose this option to automatically distribute a key with purchase.

    • Manual - Fulfillment of license keys is done manually.

Serial Key Provider

Since both AbleCommerce 5 and version 7 can have custom serial key providers, it is not possible to map them.  If you are using the default serial key provider, your digital goods will automatically be mapped properly.  If you have a custom serial key provider, you will need to edit those digital goods and select the correct Serial Key Provider option.

If you had previously associated any license keys to these digital goods, they will be imported properly.

 

Kit Changes

Kit component display styles have changed slightly.  The table below shows how the component displays are imported.  You can manage your kits from the Catalog > Find Kits menu.

Kit component display styles, before and after import:

Kit Components available
in version 5

Kit Components available
in version 7

Hidden

Included - Hidden (unchanged)

n/a

Included - Shown (new)

Select

Drop Down (unchanged)

Multiple Select (deprecated)

Check Box

Checkbox

Check Box (unchanged)

Radio

Radio Button (unchanged)

 

Note the "Multiple Select" display style is deprecated and converted to a "Check Box" style in version 7.

 

Product Changes

Custom Fields

Product Custom Fields are imported as Product Templates.  If you have created custom fields for products, these will be imported and found under Catalog > Product Templates.  In AbleCommerce 7, you can now create a single product template and apply it to many products.  During import, each product's custom fields are checked so that unique product templates are  created and assigned to all the products that they were previously a part of.  

Products with Variable Price

Variable priced gift certificates or products will need to be enabled with an option instead of using a special display page.  For these products, check the Variable Price option from the product page.

Inventory

In AbleCommerce 7, the Reserve Stock* feature was removed.  During import, the inventory levels have been adjusted to match the Available inventory number shown in AbleCommerce 5.  The following example shows how inventory adjustments are made between versions.

Inventory example, before and after import:

Inventory Levels in version 5

Inventory Levels in version 7

In Stock

100

In Stock

80

Reserve Stock

20

n/a

--

Reorder Level

10

Low Stock

10

Available

80

n/a

--

 

* The Reserve Stock feature, in version 5, was intended to allow a merchant to manually adjust inventory levels for items that were paid, but not shipped yet.  In version 7.0, you will have more control over inventory settings.  Using Order Statuses, you can have inventory levels adjusted with payment or shipment.

 

Value Discounts

For any discounts created in AbleCommerce 5 that have "Value" as discount type, you will need to manually change them to discount type "Total Price of Line Item" after import into version 7.

 

Gift Certificates

In AbleCommerce 7, Gift Certificates have their own management interface located under Manage > Gift Certificates.  After importing gift certificates, they will appear in the Digital Goods section as well as the new Gift Certificate management area.  You can delete any Gift Certificates found under Catalog > Digital Goods > Manage Digital Goods section.

 

Affiliates

During the import process, you will have the option of preserving the Affiliate ID.  If you are using the Affiliates, you should do this.  However, if you have existing affiliate links, they may become invalid because some pages may not be available with the same names.  For example, if you have an affiliate link like:

http://my.ablecommerce.store.com/stores/1/index.aspx?AFID=1

The page "index.aspx" will not be available in version 7.  It is also possible that the path or other pages are going to be unavailable as well.  The best solution we can find is to notify your affiliates and let them know that your store has been upgraded and they should make sure the affiliate links are still working.