Store flows

WebSphere Commerce Accelerator allows you to configure certain features in published stores. That is, you can select which features you want to display in your store.

Important: Currently the WebSphere Commerce Accelerator only supports configuring the following features:

These features are only available for configuration in stores that are based on the consumer direct or B2B direct sample stores and hosted stores (in the hosting model and demand chain model) that are created using the Store Creation wizard.

In the Configure flows pages in the Stores menu in WebSphere Commerce Accelerator you select whether you want to enable the specified feature in your store, or disable it.

Enabling or disabling determines which features will be displayed in your store's JSP files.

The JSP files in the sample stores ToolTech and FashionFlow include customized tags (<flow:ifEnabled> and <flow:ifDisabled>) that WebSphere Commerce Accelerator uses to enable or disable the selected features in your store. The <flow:ifEnabled> tags enclose the portion of the JSP files that are applicable only when the specified feature is enabled. The <flow:ifDisabled> tags enclose the portion of the JSP files that are applicable only when the specified feature is disabled.

After selecting to enable or disable the feature, you have two options: Apply or Apply Permanently.

If you choose Apply, WebSphere Commerce Accelerator  uses the appropriate tags (for example, <flow:ifEnabled> if you chose to include the feature) to display that feature in the store. The tags remain in place and the JSP files are not changed.

However, if you choose Apply Permanently, WebSphere Commerce Accelerator  removes the portion of the JSP file that you are not using. That is, if you select the feature, then Apply Permanently, WebSphere Commerce Accelerator  leaves the portion of the JSP file that is enclosed within the <flow:ifEnabled> tags, but removes the portion of the JSP file that is enclosed within the <flow:ifDisabled> tags. Both the <flow:ifEnabled>and <flow:ifDisabled> tags are then removed.

Important: Once you choose Apply Permanently, you can no longer enable or disable those features within your store. As a result, it is recommended, that you create copies of the JSP files of the store that you are about to configure. The JSP files are located in the following directory:

WAS_installdir/installedApps/WC_Enterprise_App_instance_name.ear /wcstores.war/storedir

The consumer direct and B2B direct store archives also include extra XML files that WebSphere Commerce Accelerator uses during the configuration process. Do not remove these files from the store archives or change them in any way, or the configuration features may be lost.

Important: The custom tags (<flow:ifEnabled> and <flow:ifDisabled>) and XML files added to the sample stores consumer direct and B2B direct are not meant to be used in stores not based on these two samples. The tags and XML files should not be copied or recreated in other stores or store archives.