• The customer can easily add products to a virtual "shopping basket" that is automatically assigned as they enter the store.

• Depending on your wizard selection, purchasing options include adding multiple products to the basket at one time (such as wholesale or low dollar items), adding a single item to the basket from a page that displays multiple products on one page, and ordering from a single product detail page.

• Many options (such as size, color or accessory) can be added to a product on the same page as the order button. The option(s) can be a chargeable accessory or just a preference choice.

• Built-in page navigation can be turned on to let the customer browse left and right like turning pages in a catalog. Use custom images and arrows to personalize each company’s navigation bar.

• With hundreds of different browsers being used, the database tracking system will store any user's browser information and its ability to accept a secure connection. If the system doesn't recognize a browser, then it will prompt the user with an option to checkout via secure or non-secure, the information is stored for future use.

• If browser support is recognized, the checkout will automatically go secure if your server is running SSL enabled.

• Any item in the shopping basket can be removed or changed at any time. It also keeps a running total of your contents. At checkout quantities may be changed and total dollar amount recalculated.

• The basket can be completely emptied at once, or individual items can be selected for removal.

• Return shopping to the last place you were at any time.

• Each store has a custom checkout basket with six payment options already included: Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Discover, fax-in, call back.

• Intuitive shopping cart functions.

• A built-in credit card feature will run a standard check-sum on the card number entered by the customer, notifying them of an invalid number sequence. This also reduces fake orders. Works on all credit cards listed.

• CyberCash support for real time credit card authorization. Simple installation of the CyberCash server software and a supporting merchant account allows credit card transactions to be completed and funds will be authorized immediately.

• New shoppers enter billing and optional shipping information. This information is stored in the database so the customer doesn't have to enter everything again during future checkouts. User information is stored for seven days.

• After the customer has registered their information, they are prompted to select a shipping method. This is shown on the order as a separate line item.

• Any applicable sales tax (based on shipping location) is shown and applied to the order as a separate line item.

• The customer can include a message with the order for special handling instructions or text for a card if gift wrapping was selected.

• A printable invoice is generated for credit card orders. A fax-in request will generate an invoice suitable for faxing including verbiage for credit card information and signature along with the order details.

• After an order is placed, the storeowner can be notified by an automatic response email or *fax A web browser over a secure link is used to retrieve the new (*Requires fax-gateway software that is available separately)

Company Global Settings:

• Complete online web browser administration.

• Sample Stores (and Mall in multiple store version) are included.

• Copy store feature reduces development time.

• Add your company information for use with invoices and automatic email and fax order notification.

• The Styles feature will allow you to personalize your web pages with custom navigation bars, logos, arrows, Colors, and more that can be used in multiple places throughout your store. This also works well for copyright notices, address blocks, etc.

• A custom color picker is included to allow the merchant to match color themes and products.

• Add your own font style that will be used throughout all the dynamic pages.

• Set up custom background and page colors for your dynamic site using the quick Java picker or manual entries.

• Changes to a live site may be viewed and approved before changes to the live site are made.

Auxiliary Web Pages:

• There are three types of web pages you can create in addition to your product pages. Default home page, a default directory page, or a general custom page for some auxiliary purpose. There is no limit to the number of auxiliary web pages that can be used.

• A web page consists of three large open fields for your custom html page. You can substitute one of the fields to output one of the available wizards.

• HTML source code is automatically displayed for a reference to the auxiliary pages you create.

Product Inventory Structure:

• The inventory structure is very flexible. It begins with the top category level, which expands down to another level of groups. The products are then categorized by these group names. A product can have up to two pages of additional detail.

• The top category level is used for every size store. Only in a catalog system or large site would you typically use more than a single category. Multiple categories can be set up to navigate like a book or be output by wizard on a separate single directory page. You can attach an image to each category.

• Each category leads to the groups which then lead to the products. The group pages have many wizards and options available such as 2, 3, and 4 column table formats, line item displays with images and descriptions optional, and the ability to purchase from multiple items being displayed on one page. You can attach an image to each group.

• Each product can have a full page of custom html and a second image with additional wizards and page formatting options. If a product needs yet another page of detail, this can also be easily added with a third image and additional page formatting options.

• Product fields available: Name, Price, Retail, Unit, Part No, Weight, Taxable, Sorting, and up to three images and descriptions for each.

• Each product can have up to three levels of customized options. Each level of options can have multiple product options that can be attached to any product in a store. The options can be with or without a price or weight.

• Groups of products or individual products can be changed and previewed prior to changing the online version. They may also be taken off line to allow for grouped revisions.

• While editing pages, all changes can be previewed and accepted or canceled without affecting the live online version until they are finalized.

Shipping:

• Six types of shipping calculations are available: flat fee that is applied to each order, flat fee and/or a weight fee, matrix pricing based on weight, matrix pricing based on the order total, a percentage of the order total, or included in product price (none).

• International shipping options may also be designated.

• Customize your own shipping methods and rates. (Federal Express, UPS, Postal, etc.).

Taxes:

• Select from any state and assign a custom tax rate that will be applied to any order being shipped to that selected state.

• Automatically calculates tax based on shipping location.

• Shipping charges can be taxable. (Optional)

Check Orders:

• Conveniently check and print your new invoiced orders online. Details billing and shipping information, customer email, payment method, card information if used, and a detailed order invoice. View orders within a span of time or archive for future reference.

• Integrated with the online administration for each storefront, Replybuilder comes with a default guest book form template. Customize completely with your own HTML and images.

• If you know how to make forms, go ahead and create as many new field names as you need to design custom reservation forms, information request forms, site submission forms, etc. Endless possibilities to custom form creation...

• Attach a custom automatic email response for any submission form within Replybuilder. Impress guests with an automatic email Thank You message immediately after they sign your guest book or confirm a reservation...

• There is built-in support for a storefront wanting to maintain the identity of their own registered domain name. The administrator can easily set up a store to appear that the entire dynamic site is under that particular domain.

• Only when the checkout asks for a secure page does the domain name switch to the actual SSL certificate owner.

• Each store can have its own domain name and SSL certificate. All or some of the stores can also share a single SSL certificate.

• Discounts may be offered at the product, group, or category level.

• Discounts may be based on dollar amount (Get 25% off on orders over $100.00 or Buy three get one free!) or as a percentage (Holiday special 30% off!).

• The "Power Search" form allows the customer to search from a particular store or use all companies available. Uses multiple keywords, finds products updated within a selected time frame, and within a certain price range. Returns only as many products as the customer requests. It searches on the product title, short description, and standard detail description.

• The "What's New" page displays products updated within a certain time period specified by the customer. The page automatically outputs the product name with a link, price, the company name with a link, and the last updated date.

• Generates logs readable by popular server report programs such as WebTrends, which is Included in the Toolbox version and is also available separately.

• Sales totals within a specified date range.

• Customer statistics within a specified date range.

• Displays browser types being used.

• Option to view raw log file data.

• The security module protects every administration page. Each time a page is accessed, it checks the validity of the current user. If the criterion doesn’t match, then a forced login screen will appear if the user's last logon time is more than 10 minutes.

• The Security Manager keeps every user of the system in a searchable database. There are users and user groups that can be created for limited merchant administration access.

• There are two levels of administration access available: top-level access to all companies or store-level access to only a particular company. A user only needs to be attached to the Administrator's group for top-level access.

• Store-level access to a particular company gives all rights except the company administration screen used for setting global default templates, shipping type, domain name setup, and store activation.

• Only one user group can be assigned to each store, but multiple users’ with unique passwords can be created and attached to the store's user group.

• Whether you're creating a home page or a product detail page, wizards are used throughout the administration system. With each wizard selection comes an array of page formatting options that you can select from./li>

• For each wizard you can selectively turn on or off headers, footers, top of the page navigation, bottom of the page navigation, default guest book, and auto centering. Some wizards have additional page options available; these will only appear when that wizard is selected.

• Wizards can initially be set globally for each level accordingly or changed individually per page.

• Each store can have its own set of customizable wizard templates.

• For a dramatic increase in speed and performance, have your SQL administrator upsize the provided Microsoft Access 7.0 databases. This can be done per store group to allow each group to use Access or SQL.

• We recommend using SQL if your expected database size will exceed 20,000 products or if the site is expected to have high traffic.

• One of the greatest hidden features is the development platform of Allaire's ColdFusion. A powerful, yet simple web application development (WAD) language that is specific to database ODBC and web connection.

• AbleCommerce Builder includes over 220 customizable Allaire ColdFusion cfm template files for handling storefronts, users, security, and auxiliary items.

• Full API (Microsoft, Netscape and O'Riley web servers) support means faster performance.

• Online documentation is available from the main administration screen. This includes a help button that takes you to the documentation for the area you are in, a getting started document, information on the wizards, CyberCash and others.

• Included with AbleCommerce Builder are seven Microsoft Access 7.0 databases for handling storefronts, users, security, and auxiliary items. The program has over 220 customizable Allaire ColdFusion cfm template files.