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LiteCommerce ASPE package consists of several inter-related components:
LiteCommerce ASPE administrator uses Control Center as the main tool to perform manipulations on client stores. Using Control Center, the administrator:
| • | defines appropriate access policies, |
| • | installs add-on modules and necessary software updates, |
| • | configures the parameters of the Default Shop (which are later copied to individual client stores as a preset configuration); |
| • | creates, enables and removes client shops; |
| • | updates software license if needed. |
The Default Shop component includes a set of skins, configuration files and database tables which are essentially the same as the corresponding files and data of standalone LiteCommerce installations. Using Control Center, the administrator configures the Default Shop settings by accessing its Administrator Zone.
| Note: | There is no Customer or Partner Zone available at the Default Shop. |
When the administrator creates a new client shop, the files from the Default Shop are copied into the shop's dedicated directory and the default catalog data is copied into its database. Along with the files copied at the time of shop creation, the directory also contains auxiliary files automatically generated and processed by LiteCommerce at run time. Client shops operate like independent LiteCommerce stores with both Administrator Zone and Customer Zone present and Partner Zone is added when the AffiliateSystem add-on module is installed on the shop. Further customization and management of the client shop is performed by the administrator of that shop based on the access policy assigned to the shop. The client shop administrator has full control over product catalog, list of customers and orders, along with the payment, shipping and general settings of the store.
Not all components required for running an online store are located in the store's dedicated directory; the code of the core shopping cart logic, the code of add-on modules and definitions of classes are stored in the centralized Scripting Repository. Utilizing this scheme allows LiteCommerce ASPE system administrator to perform centralized upgrades of the software, liberating individual store administrators from this task and consequently prevents administrators of client stores from performing system critical operations or otherwise accidentally corrupting critical files, providing for enhanced stability of the entire LiteCommerce ASPE system.
The administrator of LiteCommerce ASPE system can further automate the process of creating and removing client shops by configuring and using the Batch Processor command-line utility. This utility can be used as a part of other system management tools.
LiteCommerce ASPE is suitable for integration with both web-based hosting solutions and advanced hosting solutions (with terminal access to the server). To simplify the configuring of these two types of client shops, LiteCommerce ASPE comprises predefined 'web based' and 'advanced' access policies. Using the 'web based' policy for web-based client store hosting plans makes LiteCommerce operate in a way similar to most other remotely hosted shopping cart applications, allowing customization of the look and feel of the store by using integrated Template Editor, Image Editor and CSS Editor. Advanced access policy combined with terminal access to the server enables your clients to customize their stores using WYSIWYG HTML editors of their preference, providing additional means for store customization and management.
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