Deploying Catalog for a client

[Perfect Eye]

We are a web agency building an ecommerce site for a client. We are not in a position to buy developer currently, so are customising Catalog for the customer, then giving them full control over the software and site.

We wish to design the site for the customer using catalog, but then give the package to the client, once built. Is this easy to do, or is it something anyone has had trouble with previously? Would we install the program here, register the details of the client with it, build the site, then install it later at the clients premises (deleting our own copy)?

Thankyou in advance, David

[Toby B]

Hi David,

Would we install the program here, register the details of the client with it, build the site, then install it later at the clients premises (deleting our own copy)?

That's perfectly correct

[Perfect Eye]

Would we publish the site, and then uninstall software from our machines? When installing on our clients machine would they be able to retrieve and start working with the site online?

The logistics confuse me a little bit.

[Toby B]

Either you or your client can publish the site. It's probably best for you to publish it first so you can makes sure it uploads correctly and it takes order ok.

Once it's all hunkey dory just create a snapshot and import it in your clients PC. They can then take full control.

[Perfect Eye]

Thanks for the feedback.

One last thing, if our client asks us to make a minor change or two over the year is it possible to do so using Catalog?

If we kept Actinic installed on our system could they "turn the shop off" their end, do a snap shot and send us the snap shot, we then make the changes on our copy of Actinic, and then send the updated snapshot back to them, at which point they refresh the site and turn orders on again???? In effect, we're only using actinic to make design changes, not operate the shop in anyway or deal with orders.

Or can we make any graphical changes using ftp? As the images are up on the server we could get them, alter them, and put the new image back up?

(Of course, Developer would eliminate all of this, but currently with only the 1 client using Actinic we cant buy it just yet, but we will in time)

[Nadeem]

Hi David

This can be done, you will need to have their licence key, to register a new site within Catalog.

For them, they will need to suspend ordering, which is done via "View | Business Settings | Ordering". Here untick "Allowed" and tick "Suspended". Then your client would export a snapshot and pass it to you.

Or can we make any graphical changes using ftp? As the images are up on the server we could get them, alter them, and put the new image back up?

This can be achieved, however when the client update the site from their end, because they the original images within their site1, then it will replace the images on their website. So you would need to email the images to the client and get them to save it in their site1 folder.

Kind Regards