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Online Help |
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Miva Merchant is made up of a set of modules. Each module is a separate file (filename.mvc), and each provides certain functionality.
Let's look at the concepts involved when working with modules. Once we have a clearer understanding of what modules are and what they do, we will discuss how to work with them.
You can visualize modules as being something like the components that make up a car. A car has tires and wheels, an engine, seats, an electrical system, a heater, a radio, controls on the dashboard, paint and trim, and so on. When you buy a car, it includes standard versions of these things, designed to meet the expectations of most drivers. It is designed to be reliable and safe, and easy to use.
Some drivers will want to do things differently though. One might like to replace the standard radio with a more powerful audio system, while another wants to replace the standard seats with racing seats. Drivers can also add entirely new things to their car, like extra gauges, a hitch for towing, or cool graphic decals.
Some car parts provide several features at once. For example, a steering wheel assembly steers the car, but it may also include the horn button, radio controls, windshield wiper controls, and cruise control switches.
There are companies that cater to the needs of these drivers, supplying everything from specially-designed transmissions to horns that play tunes. With products from these third party businesses, a driver can customize their car for racing, for shows, for pulling trailers or for just about anything they like.
In most cases, these after-market parts are designed specifically to fit a certain model of car. You can't put a roof rack from one brand of car onto another brand of car. Models change from year to year, too. Most of the parts from a 1990's car probably won't work on a newer car of the same model.
Miva Merchant, like a car, is designed to be reliable and safe, yet easy to use. The standard modules provide the functionality needed for most online stores. You can drive it off the showroom floor and use it right away.
Like the car with an engine, wheels, and seats, Miva Merchant is made up of modules — for inventory, orders, shipping, payment, and so on. Each component that makes up the store interface is a module too, including the category tree, basket, and navigation bar.
Unlike a car, which comes with only one radio, for example, Miva Merchant includes collections of modules for certain tasks like shipping or taxes. You can choose to use whatever ones work best for your business. If your needs change, you can change which ones you use.
Some businesses customize their stores. Some will want specialized versions of existing features, while others may add entirely new functionality. Just as you might replace the stock wheels on your car, you can replace the stock modules in Miva Merchant. You can also add entirely new modules.
Third party developers create and sell these after–market modules. Many also do custom development work when a business needs a feature that isn't already available.
Like after–market parts for a car, third party modules are specifically designed to work with Miva Merchant. Just as most parts designed for last year's model won't bolt onto your new car, most modules designed for earlier versions of Miva Merchant cannot be used with Miva Merchant 5.
Just like the pieces of a car make up bigger systems, like the drivetrain, interior, and electrical systems, modules in Miva Merchant make up the systems of the store. Some handle importing or exporting data, others display products or categories. Some provide very focused functionality and others offer combinations of features.
Component modules create distinct pieces of the store interface — what the shopper sees. Other modules control what options are available in the administration interface. Modules are responsible for the wizards you use to set up your store.
To see all the modules available in your domain, from the left navigation area of the administration interface near the top, click Modules. The list, which may be several screens long, shows all the modules. To see just the modules of one type, select that type from the Features list and click Go.
To see the details about any module, including the provider (the software development company that created the module) and the name of the file, click the Edit button associated with the module.