shopping cart software

Config_DidYouMean_Enable

This variable will activate an added function for your customers searching your store. If they mis-spell a word, this variable activates a “Did You Mean” search result.

Config_SearchRefinement_EnableOnCategoryPage
By default, when you setup the Search refinement system, it will only display on the Search results page on your storefront. Enabling this variable will also activate the Search Refinement to display on ALL category pages.

Config_SearchRefinement_EnableSearchQtyOnCategoryPage
Turning this variable on will display how many results the search found on ALL Category pages rather than only on the Search results page.

Config_SearchRefinement_ShowDropdowns
By default your Search Refinement will display in LINKS. To change to a dropdown display, enable this variable.

Config_SearchRefinement_ShowInMasterTemplate
If you will be coding to display the Search Refinement elsewhere in your template, you will want to turn this variable on to HIDE the built in links or dropdowns for the Search Refinement. (For Advanced Merchants only)

Turning on the Search Refinement System:

This first step to activating the Volusion Search Refinement system is to turn on this capability within your store's Admin Page:

• Log into your Volusion store's Admin Page and click on the Settings tab and click on the Config Variables link in the menu bar.
• Enable the Config_Enable_SearchRefinement variable to activate the system.
• Make sure to save changes.
  

Configuring a “By Manufacturer” Filter:

Now that the Search Refinement function is active, you will need to create a filter category in order to put this feature to use. One of the more common ways merchants may use this feature is to create a category that will allow customers to filter products based on manufacturers.

You can follow the steps below to create and use a "By Manufacturer" filter for use with Search Refinement.

Building Assigned Filter Sub-Categories

• In your store's Categories / Subcategories page, click on the ADD button.
• Leave the parent ID at the default "(0) MAIN CATEGORY".
  
• Enter "Manufacturer" into the Category Name field.
  
• In the Category Visible field, select the "By Manufacturer (filter category)" option.
• Click on the Advanced heading in the page to expand the category's advanced settings.
  
• Check the Filter Category option within this portion of the page.
• Click the Save button to create the category.
  
• Finally, the Rebuild Search Index notification should appear near the top of the page. Click on the Rebuild button.
• This will index your newly created filter category within your store and allow it to be correctly displayed in your storefront. Assigning Manufacturers to Products Once you have created your store's "By Manufacturer" filter, you must then assign a "Manufacturer" value to your store's products in order to use this filter. Here's how:
  

Once you're finished with these steps, visitors to your site will have access to a link menu near the top of your search pages that will allow them to sort the products listed on the category page by the different entries in the Manufacturer field within your products' settings. You can use the config variables mentioned earlier to set the display mode to a dropdown rather than links or even turn on the refinement for category pages.

Configuring a “By Price” Filter:

Similar to the "By Manufacturer" filter, you can also set up your Volusion store to provide use the Search Refinement function to allow customers to sort products based on price.

Here's what you need to do:

Building the By Price Filter

• In your store's Categories / Subcategories page, click on the ADD button.
• Leave the parent ID at the default "(0) MAIN CATEGORY".

• Enter "Price" into the Category Name field.
  
• In the Category Visible field, select the "By Price (filter category)" option.
• Click on the Advanced heading in the page to expand the category's advanced settings.
  
• Check the Filter Category option within this portion of the page.
• Click the Save button to create the category.
  
• Finally, the Rebuild Search Index notification should appear near the top of the page. Click on the Rebuild button.
• This will index your newly created filter category within your store and allow it to be correctly displayed in your storefront.
  

 Once these steps are complete, your customers can visit your store's Search Results pages (and category pages if you enable them), and sort the products listed on each by their prices.

Please Note: The pricing options that can be chosen from the filter category drop-down menu in this case are set to represent default price ranges (e.g. $0-$30, $30-$300, $300-$500, etc.). These values cannot be changed however, you can create a custom filter category that allows you to define specific price ranges or any other type of filter you may need. See the next section for more details.

Configuring a Custom Filter:

You can create your own, custom filter category (referred to as an Assigned Filter). Take the "By Price" filter example above. If you wish to use this filter but need to reassign the default price ranges it provides using your own, custom ranges, you can create an Assigned Filter to do this. You can even create an Assigned Filter to apply to your own custom category information. Here's how:

Building an Assigned Filter

• In your store's Categories / Subcategories page, click on the Add button.
• Leave the parent ID at the default "(0) MAIN CATEGORY".
• Enter your custom name for the filter into the Category Name field.
  
• For example, if you wish to allow customers to filter products based on film genre (e.g. Action, Adventure, Romance, and Comedy), simply enter "Genre" into the field.
  
• In the Category Visible field, select an option corresponding to a nav menu level that is inactive in your store (e.g. Nav Menu 8).
• Click on the Advanced heading in the page to expand the category's advanced settings.
  
• Check the Filter Category option within this portion of the page.
• Click the Save button to create the category.
  
• Finally, the Rebuild Search Index notification should appear near the top of the page. Click on the Rebuild button.
  
• This will index your newly created filter category within your store and allow it to be correctly displayed in your storefront.
  

Building Assigned Filter Sub-Categories

Now that you've created the initial filter, you will need to create the different categories that can be filtered. This is done by creating additional categories and assigning them to your main, filter category as sub-categories:

• In your store's Categories / Subcategories page, click on the Add button.

• Set the Parent ID to the custom filter category you just got done making. For example, if you made a Filter Category for Genre, set the Parent ID to that category.
  
• Enter your custom name for the category into the Category Name field. (For example, if you filter category applies to film genres, you can assign a sub category names like "Action", "Romance", or "Comedy")
  
• In the Category Visible field, The Parent Categories visible status will be auto assigned.(e.g. Nav Menu 8).
• Click the Save button to create the category.
  
• Finally, the Rebuild Search Index notification should appear near the top of the page. Click on the Rebuild button.
  
• Finally, edit your products and assign them to this sub-category as needed. Repeat this process until you have all of your products assigned to your Assigned Filter's sub categories.
  

Once this is complete, you will have a custom filter you customers can sort your products by within the category pages of your online store.

Please Note: The Search Refinement feature provided by Volusion is a very useful way to customize your online store while providing your customers additional tools to make it easier for them to find the products they want. Do keep in mind however that the use of custom Assigned Filters within your store can be resource intensive for some stores - particularly in the case of using a large number of custom filters and/or custom filters with many sub-categories applied to them. Resource requirements will vary depending on your Volusion store plan.