The ability to make mulitple products out on one for size, color or other speicifications, is a great feature of Prestashop, but on small display trick is missing. Prestashop’s default template (v1.1) includes the automatic resizing of multiple images for a product. It also allows the administrator / editor to specify one of the product images for each combination. As a result, the front end display of the product will let the combination select box interact with the mbig image display : here we explain how to modify the product template to let the thumbnail click act onthe combination choice.

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Well you’ve finally decided you’re going to switch to Magento for building ecommerce website. While new versions of Magento coming up regularly make the learning curve easier to climb, be prepared for at least a few days before you can use magento’s features to its best. This article explains the few tricks and tips that will start you off with variations on the basic design of magento’s default installation.

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Prestashop is an amazing example of very specific features that benefit large audiences : the new version 1.1 is still in beta stage but the image mapping feature is really impressive.  The objective  described in the products section of prestashop admin manager,  allows the administrator to select portions of a category image, link areas to a specific product,  all this stuff is linked to the products database, in a process that saves thousands of repetitive work  : “When a customer hovers over the image with the mouse, a pop-up appears displaying a brief description of the product. The customer can then click to open the product’s full product page. To achieve this, please define the ‘mapping zone’ that, when hovered over, will display the pop-up. Left-click with your mouse to draw the four-sided mapping zone, then release. Then, begin typing the name of the associated product. A list of products appears. Click the appropriate product, then click OK. Repeat these steps for each mapping zone you wish to create. When you have finished mapping zones, click Save Image Map.” The interface uses the jquery imgareaslect plugin and the result below proves that Rich Application Interface is not any more for the rich only.

Javascript libraries

While EXTJS 3.0 is on the way with a roadmap setting deadlines for early 2009, Jquery continues its path on the way to serious lightweight alternative to the massive EXT : JX extension for Jquery includes the viewport paradigm on which relies every EXT JS application.

Web based interfaces

In spite of huge progress and impressive use of ease, Jquery is not there yet : for the development of applications many developers have chosen the exhaustivity of EXT JS. Have a look at google code hosted project in development : ecartcommerce, CMS jimw, both ext js and zend framework based. In the world of content management systems, mysource is making the news with a new video that demonstrates inline editing, and other exciting Rich Application features.

Promotions are always a result of  complex  marketing strategies : making them real on ecommerce involves either analytic programmation, or default product features : most ecommerce application come with product promotions schema, based on percentage or price reduction. In Magento, complex rules can be implemented from within the interface, that cover a wide variety of busines cases : based on shopping cart total, shipping method, product / attribute combination, or product characteristics, Magento offers various promotion modes, such as percentage of the original price, fixed reduction, fixed destination price… Well done Magento for this new implentation of a generic feature that will answer a lot of business needs.

Opensource ecommerce is going fast forward. After the might Magento, I have had the pleasure to test drive - and install in production environment - Prsetashop, a simpler alternative, that serves ecommerce with a nice ajax animated shopping cart and various interesting features.

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