How to Create a Virtual Catalog

For the latest version of Commerce Server 2007 Help, see the Microsoft Web site.

This topic describes how to create a virtual catalog.

To start the Create New Virtual Catalog Wizard

  1. Click Start, point to Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 , and then click Catalog Manager.

  2. In Commerce Server Catalog Manager, in the Views pane, click Catalogs.

  3. In the Catalogs pane, select the base catalog on which you want to build your virtual catalog, and then in the Task pane, click Create a New Virtual Catalog.

  4. On the Welcome to the Create New Virtual Catalog Wizard page, click Next.

To specify the virtual catalog properties

  1. On the VirtualCatalog Properties page, do the following:

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    To do this

    Catalog Name

    Type a name for the virtual catalog.

    This name must be unique. The name cannot match the name of any existing catalog in the Catalog System.

    Start Date

    Type the start date for the catalog.

    This date does not have any effect on the Web site. However, if you exchange catalogs with a trading partner, this date lets the trading partner know the first date the catalog is valid.

    End Date

    Type the end date for the catalog.

    Your trading partners use this date to determine the last date the catalog is valid. By default, the end date will be the current date plus three months.

    Currency

    Select a currency for the virtual catalog from the drop-down list.

    The default is the U.S. dollar.

    Weight Measure

    Type the unit of weight measure for the products in the virtual catalog. For example, kilograms (kg).

    Materialize

    Select to materialize the virtual catalog.

    A materialized virtual catalog has the performance of a base catalog for all search and browse operations, but you edit it as a virtual catalog. We recommend that you materialize all aggregated virtual catalogs for improved performance.

  2. Click Next.

To specify the virtual catalog custom properties

  1. On the Catalog Custom Properties page, do the following.

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    Property Name

    View the property name of a custom property.

    You cannot edit this box.

    Display Name

    View the display name of a custom property.

    You cannot edit this box.

    Value

    Type a value for the custom property.

  2. Click Next.

To add the supported catalog languages

  1. On the Catalog Languages page, click Add to open the Language Chooser dialog box.

  2. In the Language Chooser dialog box, select the language(s) for the catalog, and then click OK.

  3. On the Catalog Languages page, do the following:

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    To do this

    Default Language

    Select the language that will appear when you open the catalog to view or edit the catalog from the drop-down list.

    ms915788.alert_note(en-US,CS.70).gifNote:
    You cannot remove the default language from the catalog.

    Reporting Language

    Select the language that will appear on reports from the drop-down list.

    You specify the language from the catalog that you use to populate the Data Warehouse.

  4. Click Next.

To confirm the virtual catalog properties and complete the Create New Virtual Catalog Wizard

  1. On the VirtualCatalog Summary page, review the virtual catalog properties. To change any of the virtual catalog property values, click Back. To create the new virtual catalog, click Create.

  2. On the Completing the New Virtual Catalog Wizard page, to add items (products, product variants, categories, or a base catalog) to the virtual catalog, click Add products to the virtual catalog on close.

    OR

    On the Completing the New Virtual Catalog Wizard page, click Finish to close the Create New Virtual Catalog Wizard without adding any items.

    Note

    You can add products, product variants, categories, or base catalogs later by using the Add Existing Items to the Virtual Catalog Wizard.

See Also

Other Resources

What is a Virtual Catalog?

How to Create a Virtual Catalog

How to Create Pricing Rules

How to Edit Virtual Catalogs

Managing Tasks Common to All Business Management Applications

How to Add a Category to a Virtual Catalog