What's New

  • Article

This section describes new and noteworthy information about content updates that have been added since the initial publication of Commerce Server 2002 Help.

This section contains:

  • New Topics in Commerce Server 2002 Help
  • Updated Topics in Commerce Server 2002 Help

New Topics in Commerce Server 2002 Help

This section lists topics that have been added since the initial publication of Commerce Server 2002 Help.

November 5th 2003 New Topics

April 15th 2003 New Topics

October 1st 2002 New Topics

July 1st 2002 New Topics

November 5th 2003 New Topics

On November 5th 2003, new topics were added to Commerce Server Help in the following areas:

Topic Description
Service Pack 2 Enhancements for Catalogs Describes enhancements that are included in Commerce Server 2002 Service Pack 2.
Service Pack 2 Changes for Sitelets Explains changes you need to make to the sitelets so you can use them after installing Commerce Server 2002 Service Pack 2.
Rebuilding Catalogs Provides sample code for rebuilding a specific virtual catalog and for rebuilding all of your virtual catalogs.
Error message 404 appears when accessing the Profile Definition Designer Explains what to do if you receive this error message.
CSOLEDB provider converts the GUID value incorrectly Explains what to do if you encounter this problem.

April 15th 2003 New Topics

On April 15th 2003, new topics were added to Commerce Server Help in the following areas:

  • New overview topics
  • New security-related topic
  • New topics for site developers

New overview topics

Topic Description
Comparing Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition Features Describes the Business Analysis features in Enterprise Edition.
Comparing Commerce Server 2000 and 2002 Features Lists the features in Commerce Server 2000 and 2002.
Topic Description
Solution Sites AuthFiles Folder: Remove Directory Explains that you must remove the AuthFiles directory or remove the permissions from the directory if you do not intent to use AuthFilter.

New topics for site developers

Topic Description
Creating Pipeline Components Using C# Explains how to create a pipeline component using C#.
Renaming the Retail2002 Site Explains how to change the name of the Retail2002 site.

Ee825268.note(en-US,CS.20).gif Important

  • We recommend that you do not develop a production-quality site based on the Retail2002 Site. We recommend that you use the Commerce Server 2002 Starter Site to develop a production quality site. You can download the Starter Site from https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37800.
Changing the Status of an Order Explains how to change the status of an order programmatically.
Performance Problem for the OrderGroup Object Explains what to do when there is a long delay (25-30 seconds) in the OrderGroup.SaveAsOrder method, or other OrderGroup methods.

October 1st 2002 New Topics

On October 1st 2002, new topics were added to Commerce Server Help in the following areas:

  • New security-related topic
  • New topic for system administrators
  • New topics for site developers
Topic Description
Using Strong Passwords Describes why you should use strong passwords and how to create them.

New topic for system administrators

Topic Description
Temporary catalog XML files are not removed from the ProductCatalogs directory Explains how to prevent your disk from filling up with temporary catalog XML input files.

New topics for site developers

Topic Description
DictionaryXMLTransformsFreeThreaded Describes the DictionaryXMLTransformsFreeThreaded object.
BusinessDataAdmin2FreeThreaded Describes the BusinessDataAdmin2FreeThreaded object.

July 1st 2002 New Topics

On July 1st 2002, new topics were added to Commerce Server Help in the following areas:

  • New security-related topics
  • New topics for system administrators
  • New topics for site developers
Topic Description
Archiving Your IIS Log Files Explains how to move your log files from your Web servers to a more secure location.
Securing BDRefresh.asp, RefreshApp.asp, and Opt-Out.asp Explains how to secure BDRefresh.asp, RefreshApp.asp, and Opt-Out.asp.
Securing Your IIS Log File Folder Explains how to secure access to your Internet Information Services (IIS) log file directory.
Securing Your Pipeline Logging Folder Explains how to secure the folder that contains the pipeline logging files.

New topics for system administrators

Topic Description
Archiving Your IIS Log Files Explains how to back up and archive these files.
Enabling Self Registration for the Supplier Solution Site Explains how to configure the Site Registration Options property so that guest users can self-register.
Error Messages Lists and describes some of the common Commerce Server 2002 error messages.

New topics for site developers

Topic Description
Code to Get and Set Multi-valued Profile Properties A new code sample that shows how to get and set multi-valued profile properties.
Code to Retrieve Custom Attributes on Profile Properties A new code sample that describes how to retrieve custom attributes on a profile property.
Logging Site Exceptions to the NT Event Log Provides sample code for logging site exceptions to the NT event log.
Task and Object Mapping from COM to .NET Lists the COM objects needed to complete common tasks, and their .NET equivalents.

Updated Topics in Commerce Server 2002

This section lists topics that have been updated since the initial publication of Commerce Server 2002 Help.

This section contains:

  • July 8th 2005 Updated Topics
  • November 5th 2003 Updated Topics
  • April 15th 2003 Updated Topics
  • October 1st 2002 Updated Topics
  • July 1st 2002 Updated Topics

July 8th 2005 Updated Topics

On July 8th 2005, topics were updated in the following areas:

  • Security-related topics
  • Topics for system administrators
  • Topics for Business Desk users
  • Topics for site developers
Topic Description
Permissions Required to Run DTS Tasks Added information about how to map a login name to the dbo in Query Analyzer.
List Manager Service Account Revised procedures about how to map the dbo user in the Data Warehouse database for the List Manager Service.
Important Security Notes Added a note about the AuthFiles directory being a security risk.

Topics for system administrators

Topic Description
Configuring the App Default Config Resource Clarified information about the Site privacy options.
Embedding a Profile Definition in the Profiles Resource Revised procedures about how to embed a profile definition.
Best Practices for the Data Warehouse Added information about setting the Page file for large-scale data.
Running the Web Server Log Import DTS Task Added information about creating Commerce Server reports at the VRoot level.
Profiling System Error Messages Added error message information regarding the Profile service limitation of 255 columns in the UserObject table.
Running the Updatefulltextcatalogs Script Added information about running the Updatefulltextcatalogs script on the same computer that is hosting SQL Server.
Unpacking a Site on a Local Web Server Added information about how to unpack an application to the root of the Web site.
Commerce Server 2002 Installation Guide Added IIS configuration requirements.

Updated silent installation command line options.

Topics for Business Desk users

Topic Descriptions
Embedding a Profile Definition Added procedures about adding custom attributes when you embed a profile definition.

Topics for site developers

Topic Description
https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37800. We recommend that you do not develop a production-quality site based on the Retail2002 Site. We recommend that you use the Commerce Server 2002 Starter Site to develop a production quality site.
Using Current Product Prices vs Original Product Prices Added information about the OriginalPrice property of a product.
https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=45203 Added the link to the "Troubleshooting Commerce Server Pipelines" whitepaper.
Creating Pipeline Components Using C# Added procedures about how to implement the Pipeline interfaces.
AuthManager.IsAuthenticated Method (PIA) Added information about when the expiration timestamp starts.
OrderGroup Class (PIA)

OrderGroupManager Class (PIA)

 Corrected the assembly name for the OrderGroup and OrderGroupManager class to Microsoft.CommerceServer.Interop.Orders.Requisition.dll.

November 5th 2003 Updated Topics

On November 5th 2003, the following topics were updated:

Topic Description
.NET Class Reference On each Base Class Library (BCL) reference pages, included the inheritance hierarchy.
ProfileContext.GetProfile (String, String) Method (BCL) Explains that the GetProfile method returns a null reference when the profile does not exist.
DTSPostImport.ProcessType In the “Remarks” section, includes corrected information about the ProcessingType property.
CachingEnabled Explains the default for the CachingEnabled property, and lists the items that are cached.
OrderForm Explains how to write a filter so your site validates all input before inserting it into an OrderForm.
Best Practices for Running the Web Server Log Import DTS Task Explains how to import a Web log file out of sequence (for example, you missed a day and found out a week later).
Accessing the Analysis Server Over HTTPS Explains that you must open TCP port 2725 in the corporate firewall.

Explains that you must install Msolap.asp on the same computer that is running Analysis Services.
Running the Profile Data Import DTS Task Explains that strings that are stored as a global unique identifier (GUID), such as user_id, must begin and end with curly brackets “{” and “}”.
Running the Transaction Data Import DTS Task Explains that strings that are stored as a global unique identifier (GUID), such as address_id, must begin and end with curly brackets “{” and “}”.
Using Profiles in a Web Farm Scenario Explains that the Profiling System does cache the lookup of address profiles.

April 15th 2003 Updated Topics

On April 15th 2003, topics were updated in the following areas:

Topics for Business Desk users

Topic Description
Buyer Browse to Purchase Explains the Buyer Browse to Purchase report.

Topics for system administrators

Topic Description
Opening Firewall Ports Explains which ports to open in your firewall.
Data Warehouse Deployment Best Practices Explains how to set Page file size to 4GB per volume for large-scale data.
Data Warehouse Import Best Practices Explains that you must run the Configuration Synchronization DTS task and the Report Preparation DTS task, regardless of which other import DTS tasks you choose to run.
Securing the SiteConfigReadOnly Object Explains how to secure the SiteConfigReadOnly object. Steps were previously incorrect.

Topics for site developers

Topic Description
.NET Class Reference In each of the appropriate topics in this section, added which classes are sealed.
Debugging Pipeline Components Explains two methods for debugging pipeline components.
Using the Scriptor Component Includes a JScript sample.
LRUCache Includes more information under “Remarks” about the size of the cache.
IProfileService2::Initialize Method

ProfileService.Initialize Method

 Includes more information about the size of the Profile cache.
Code to Perform a Search of a Catalog Includes troubleshooting information.
XML Elements Includes documentation for the PayloadID element.
CacheManager Explains a security issue if you are deploying CacheManager in a site that is configured to impersonate users.

October 1st 2002 Updated Topics

On October 1st 2002, topics were updated in the following areas:

  • Corrections to security-related topics
  • Security-related topics
  • Topics for Business Desk users
  • Topic for system administrators
  • Topics for site developers

The following topics contained documentation errors relating to security issues that were published in the July 1st 2002 update. These topics have been corrected in the October 1st 2002 update.

Topic Description
Securing the Product Catalog Database The documentation referenced a script that assigns runtime users who visit your Web site the appropriate level of access to your catalogs. The script does not add the appropriate access.

Update: The incorrect reference was removed and the correct script will be made available in Commerce Server Service Pack 2.

The tables that are set by the security script contained incorrect stored procedures.

Update: The tables have been updated to include the correct stored procedures.
Securing BDRefresh.asp, RefreshApp.asp, and Opt-Out.asp The documentation required that the BDRefresh.asp, RefreshApp.asp, and Opt-Out.asp files be configured for Windows Authentication for the Commerce Server Solution Sites.

Update: The BDRefresh.asp, RefreshApp.asp, and Opt-Out.asp files are now required to configure anonymous access for the Commerce Server Solution Sites.
Topic Description
Best Practices for Security
  • Explains in detail how to configure settings for accounts using the CatalogReader security role.
  • Explains how to set an owner password and a user password when saving a Model Builder DTS task.
  • Explains how to configure IIS to disallow access to files with a .PCF extension.
  • Explains how to configure Event Logs to support Rolling Event Logs.
Securing Service Accounts Explains how to set access security on Commerce Server services after installing Commerce Server Service Pack 1.
Scripting DTS Tasks Improves security for the scripting samples.

Topics for Business Desk users

Topic Descriptions
Designing a Catalog Describes how to extract data from a catalog for use in a printed catalog.
Adding Custom Catalog Attributes and Property Attributes Explains how to add a catalog unit of weight measure.

Topic for system administrators

Topic Description
Step 3: Modifying the Pre-Snapshot.sql Script Explains how to remove the IDENTITY fields in the tables, adjust the TIMESTAMP fields, and adjust a constraint statement.

This is an additional step for the overall procedure for replicating catalog content.

Topics for site developers

Topic Description
ListManager.CreateFromSQL Method

ListManager.ExportToSQL Method

ListManager.CreateFromSQL Method (PIA)

ListManager.ExportToSQL Method (PIA)

 Includes new information for Commerce Server 2002 Service Pack 1.
OrderGroupSearchOptions.FetchOrderFormInformation Property (BCL)

OrderGroupSearchOptions.Columns Property (BCL)

CatalogSearchOptions.PropertiesToReturn Property (BCL)

SampleRegionalTax

 Includes new code samples.

July 1st 2002 Updated Topics

On July 1st 2002, topics were updated in the following areas:

  • Security-related topics
  • Topics for system administrators
  • Topics for Business Desk users
  • Topics for site developers
Topic Description
Additional Information about Security Added a reference to several security audit firms.
Authenticating Users in a Web Farm Added information about the code in the Login.asp page if you are using Windows Authentication mode.
Deploying Commerce Server Using Windows Authentication Added a table that lists the permissions to grant or deny access in the MSCS_Admin tables. Added the required accounts for the database roles.
Using SQL Authentication Notes the security risks and steps you must take to secure your site using SQL Authentication.
Using Windows Authentication in a Distributed Deployment Clarified the information about deploying a remote SQL Server using Windows Authentication.
Deploying a Secure Site Explains how to deploy a sample secure 10-computer site.

Topics for system administrators

Topic Description
Authenticating Users in a Web Farm Clarified the steps required to authenticate users in a Web farm.
Best Practices for Using Site Packager Added best practices that ensure the secure packaging and unpacking of sites.
Changing the administrative password disconnects the Business Desk client Provides a solution for the errors you encounter when you change the Commerce Server administrative password on the server.
Configuring the App Default Config Resource Explains how to configure the App Default Config resource so that guest users can purchase products through the Web site.
Editing RefreshApp.asp In the "Commerce Server 2002 Upgrade Guide," added a procedure to edit RefreshApp.asp so that the site caches work properly.
Exchange 2000 Outlook Web Access Basic Authentication Clarified the steps needed to integrate Commerce Server with Outlook Web Access (OWA).
Installing Commerce Server 2002 Resources as Clustered Resources Added information about hosting and moving cluster groups.
Login.asp Code for the Retail Solution Site Updated the Login.asp code for the Retail Solution Site to work with Windows 2000 security fixes.
Login.asp Code for the Supplier Solution Site Updated the Login.asp code for the Supplier Solution Site to work with Windows 2000 security fixes.
Restarting IIS and Commerce Server Services Added information about restarting IIS and Commerce Server services using the IISreset command. Added a warning that the net start command does not always start dependent services.
Unpacking process fails when using a renamed application Provides a solution for an unpacking failure.

Topics for Business Desk users

Topic Descriptions
Adding Custom Catalog Attributes and Property Attributes Added information about adding unit of weight measures to your catalogs.
Advertising Reports Changed the report terminology for advertising reports to be more understandable (and correct).
Catalog Name and Size Restrictions Added information about user-defined properties and catalog attributes to this section.
Securing BDRefresh.asp, RefreshApp.asp, and Opt-Out.asp Added procedures to secure these files.
Securing Business Desk Modules Added information to specify that NTFS permissions should not be used on these files; you should use the Business Desk security module only to secure Business Desk modules. Also explains how to reset the ACEs on these files.

Topics for site developers

Topic Description
About the Direct Mailer Pipeline Added statement that the Direct Mailer pipeline does not support generating a pipeline log file.
Address Profile Schema

UserObject Profile Schema

 Added a description of the Commerce Server GUID format.
application Tag Corrected the debugLevel attribute name. This was incorrectly marked as mode earlier.
AsyncRpt2 Changed the progID.
Auction Component

Auction Sitelet

 Added instructions for building the Auction component to use the Auction sitelet.
catalog Tag

CatalogContext.SetJoinTable (String, String, String, CatalogJoinType) Method (BCL)

 Clarified how to perform joins using the joinTable tag and the SetJoinTable method.
CatalogManager.SetJoinTable

CatalogManager.SetJoinTable (PIA)

 Remarked that you cannot set multiple join keys for a given source field.
Code to Create and Set Profile Properties Added security note for code sample.
Code to Invoke a Pipeline Added a security note.
Code to Search for an Order and Display Line Item Information Updated the code sample to authenticate users before displaying order information.
Commerce Server .NET Application Framework Tutorial Updated steps and code samples for improved functionality and user experience.
CSFLoadAdvertismentsCSFLoadDiscounts Added configuration values and a procedure for modifying the default SQL query.
Deploying Catalogs Added a procedure to use the CatalogCleanup.vbs script to delete temporary tables from the MSCS_CatalogScratch database in order to increase performance.
Deploying the International Retail Site (Retail2002) This topic stated that the Business Analytics System did not support the Retail2002 site. After further testing this statement was proven false; the Business Analytics System does in fact support the Retail2002 Site. The incorrect statement was removed from this topic.

Ee825268.note(en-US,CS.20).gif Important

  • We recommend that you do not develop a production-quality site based on the Retail2002 Site. We recommend that you use the Commerce Server 2002 Starter Site to develop a production quality site. You can download the Starter Site from https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=37800.
Developer Tools Removed mention of the AddModuleToConfig.vbs file.
DTSLogImport.VLogFileInfo Property Corrected code sample to use | separated values instead of comma separated values.
Enabling Passport Clarified how to enable the Passport sign-out function.
ExpressionStore.GetExprName

ExpressionStore.GetExprName (PIA)

 Clarified return values and error messages.
Generating Public and Private Keys Added line in the code sample.
GlobalConfig

GlobalConfig2

GlobalConfig (PIA)

GlobalConfig2 (PIA)

 Described the relationship between the GlobalConfig objects and IIS 6.0.
Lifecycle of a Request of a Targeted Advertisement Added information on the context dictionaries that the Advertising pipeline uses.
OLE DB Provider Error Messages for Data Warehouse and Analysis Combined all Data Warehouse and Analysis error messages into one table on one page for improved searching.
OrderGroup.SaveAsBasket Method (PIA)

OrderGroup.SaveAsOrder Method (PIA)

OrderGroup.SaveAsTemplate Method (PIA)

 Added new material to the remarks section for these topics.
Passport Integration Features Clarified the relationship between Passport and running a Web site in cookieless mode.
payment.asp Added a code sample to enable guest users to purchase items using a purchase order.
Pipeline Log Files Added statement that the Direct Mailer pipeline does not support generating a pipeline log file.
Profiles Programming Workflow Removed duplicate content from the Profiles Programming Workflow topic.
ProfileCollection.Item Corrected a property description.
ProfileContext Expanded the description of constructors.
ProfilePropertyCollection.CopyTo Modified the Remarks about always throwing an exception.
ProfilePropertyGroupCollection.Count Improved a property description.
ProfileService.Initialize Method Changed code sample to use integrated security.
ProfileService.Initialize Method (PIA) Changed code sample to use integrated security.
Programming Best Practices for Catalogs Described how to set the fulltextsearchable property on a multilingual text property.
Reporting on a Custom Commerce Event Updated the code sample to authenticate users before displaying order information.
RequiredItemAdjustCy, RequiredItemAdjust Added this reference page for a previously undocumented component.
Retail2002B2B\B2BAdaptors Folder Changed the name of the adaptors to match with the code.
Setting up the International Retail Site

Setting up the International Retail Site with Visual Studio.NET

 Added warnings and clarified the setup procedures.
Setting Up the Pipeline and Cache Updated the code sample to use integrated security.
ShippingDiscountAdjust Clarified free shipping discounts.
Summary of Required Steps in Building a New Commerce Server Business Desk Module Removed mention of the AddModuleToConfig.vbs file.
Using the Pipeline Component Registration Tool Updated this procedure.

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