About the online help

Information categories

The online help is organized into the following categories:

Topics
Presents the online help information organized  into getting started, conceptual, task, and reference.
Glossary
Contains definitions for the key WebSphere Commerce terms.
Technical Library
Provides links to WebSphere Commerce Technical Library pages where you can download additional and updated documentation.
Search
Launches the WebSphere Commerce online help search window.

Information types or views

The Topics view of the online help shows the information for all WebSphere Commerce components, organized by type of information:

Getting Started
Introduces the product, and provides information about the key user roles that would typically use WebSphere Commerce for setting up and operating an online business. The getting started information also provides suggested education material for the product.
Concepts
Provides background information on terms, constructs, or frameworks. These topics answer the question, "What is...?"
Tasks
Provides procedural information that answers the question, "How do I...?"
Reference
Includes low level information useful for understanding WebSphere Commerce architecture and for customization.

Context-sensitive help

Context-sensitive help is available on any WebSphere Commerce user interface page. For help with a page within the WebSphere Commerce Accelerator, Administration Console, or Store Services, click Help near the top right corner of the page. For help with a page within the Configuration Manager, click Help at the bottom right of the page.

Related information

Each online help file also contains one or more links to related information within the online help. Related information can be related concepts, tasks, or reference files. These links are suggested topics for additional learning and are applicable to the current topic. 

Conventions

The online help uses these images to denote information that is specific to particular operating systems:

AIXiSeriesLinuxSun Solaris Operating EnvironmentWindows

The online help uses these images to indicate information specific to an edition:

The WebSphere Commerce Accelerator in the WebSphere Commerce Business Edition operates in two modes depending on the type of store being administered:

Business to consumer indicates information applicable when a store with business-to-consumer (B2C) features is selected in the WebSphere Commerce Accelerator.
Business to business indicates information applicable when a store with business-to-business (B2B) features is selected in the WebSphere Commerce Accelerator. For the Professional Edition, only stores with B2C features are supported.

File paths

WAS_installdir represents the following default installation path for WebSphere Application Server:

AIX /usr/WebSphere/AppServer/
iSeries /QIBM/ProdData/WebAS5/Base/WAS_instancename/
Linux /opt/WebSphere/AppServer/
Sun Solaris Operating Environment /opt/WebSphere/AppServer/
Windowsdrive:\Program_Files\WebSphere\AppServer\

WAS_userdir represents the following default installation path for WebSphere Application Server:

AIX /usr/WebSphere/AppServer/
iSeries /QIBM/UserData/WebAS5/Base/WAS_instancename/installedApps/
Linux /opt/WebSphere/AppServer/
Sun Solaris Operating Environment /opt/WebSphere/AppServer/
Windowsdrive:\Program_Files\WebSphere\AppServer\

WCStudio_installdir represents the following default installation path for WebSphere Commerce Studio:

WindowsC:\WebSphere\CommerceStudio55

Contacting IBM

Please let us know about any errors or omissions in this online help, or in our books. Send your comments by using the Reader Comment form at the following URL: http://www.ibm.com/software/commerce/rcf.html