Walkthrough: Channel Configuration Feature

The Channel Configuration feature enables you to configure multiple catalogs for different channels. A channel is a business term that refers to a specific medium to reach, engage, and sell to a specific customer base. It is a combination of presenting content to a specific customer base, subject to specific business rules. For example, you can configure a channel and catalog for your Web site and a channel and catalog for mobile devices, such as an Internet-capable cell phone.

The Channel Configuration feature provides a graphical user interface in SharePoint that displays a list of all configured channel names and a list of all configured catalog names. You use this interface to select the channel and the catalog(s) that you want for that channel.

Note

You use the Channel Configuration interface to select only those catalogs that you want to appear on the specified Web site. Note that the example catalog that ships with the Solution Storefront is not intended for display on your site; you should not select it for display in the Channel Configuration interface.

The Channel Configuration page contains two default items:

  • Channel. Use this drop-down list to select the channel to use. Developers use the Commerce Foundation to configure the channels that display in the Channel drop-down list.

  • Catalog. Use this to select the catalog(s) you want to use with the channel. Depending on the channel you select, the catalogs displayed in the Catalog list change. The catalog(s) you select from this list, will be displayed on the site.

You can extend the channel configuration options by creating a custom content type in SharePoint or update the ChannelConfigurationContentType content type used in this list. This process lets you support data types other than "string", "Channel", and "Catalogs" (which are the default types). Channel and Catalogs are mandatory fields. By default, all fields are set to empty values. For more information about extending the Channel Configuration feature, see Commerce Foundation Channel Configuration.

This walkthrough provides the following procedures to help you activate the Channel Configuration feature and then select the channel and catalog(s) to use on your site.

  • Activating the Channel Configuration Feature

  • Sectecting a Channel and Calatogs

Prerequisites

The user must have administrator privileges.

Activating the Channel Configuration Feature

To activate the Channel Configuration feature

  1. On the SharePoint 2010 Web site, click Site Actions, and then click Site Settings.

  2. On the Site Settings page, in the Site Actions list, click Manage Site Features.

  3. On the Features page, in the Name section, under Commerce Server Channel Configuration, click Activate to active the Channel Configuration feature.

Selecting a Channel and Calatogs

To select the channel and catalog(s)

  1. On the SharePoint 2010 Web site, expand Commerce Actions, select the management tab and then click Channel Configuration.

  2. On the Configuration View page, click the Channel Configuration drop-down list.

  3. Click Edit Item.

  4. Select the channel and then select the Catalog(s) that you want to use on that channel.

  5. Click OK.

See Also

Other Resources

Developing with SharePoint Commerce Services

Developing with Marketing Web Parts