Packaging Other Data
A resource that has a custom user interface and stores its configuration data somewhere other than the Administration database has the following characteristics:
The configuration data is stored somewhere other than the Commerce Server Administration database, such as the system registry, an initialization (.ini) file, or perhaps in a different database.
In order to use Commerce Server Site Packager, new resources that are integrated at this level must include a Component Object Model (COM) object that implements the IPuP interface.
The configuration data must be administered using a custom Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in extension. This is because the configuration data is not stored in the Administration database, so it is not possible to use the Generic Resource dialog box.
Because the configuration data is not stored in the Administration database, it cannot be accessed and altered programmatically using the Commerce Server administration objects GlobalConfig, SiteConfig, and SiteConfigReadOnly. For more information about these objects, see GlobalConfig Object, SiteConfig Object, and SiteConfigReadOnly Object, respectively. You must develop some other solution for programmatic access to the configuration data.
It is possible to provide a mixed solution, where some relatively simple configuration data is stored in the Administration database, allowing access through the Commerce Server administration objects, and where other more complex data is stored in other databases or facilities. Many of the resources included with Commerce Server work this way.
This section provides additional details about implementing the IPuP interface, allowing the resource to pack it own data for deployment.
This section contains:
Exporting Data to the Package. Provides additional details about the process of exporting data into a site package using Commerce Server Site Packager.
Importing Data from the Package. Provides additional details about the process of importing data from a site package.
Using the GenericPuP Object. Provides information about a general-purpose object that implements the IPuP interface, which can be used in certain circumstances.