Resources
A resource is an entity that provides functionality to the applications in a Commerce Server site.
A resource consists of one or more COM objects that are used on the Web pages of an application to access the resource functionality. Resources include properties that are stored in the Administration database. These properties can be accessed and changed by using Commerce Server Manager (and changed programmatically through the Config objects).
There are two types of resources: global resources and site resources. Third parties can develop custom global resources and site resources to work with Commerce Server. For more information, see Integrating Custom Resources.
Global Resources
Global resources are available for use by all sites.
Commerce Server Setup creates some global resources, and others are created when you unpack a site by using Commerce Server Site Packager. Only resources with global-level properties appear in Commerce Server Manager under the Global Resources node. Every site that uses a global resource also uses the properties that you assign to that global resource.
The following table lists and describes the global resources included with Commerce Server.
| Global resource | Description | Installed by |
|---|---|---|
| Commerce Server Direct Mailer (also a Windows 2000 service) | Sends personalized or non-personalized mailings to large groups of recipients. | Commerce Server Setup |
| Predictor (also a Windows 2000 service) | Adds predictive capabilities to your Web site, and builds complex analysis models that you can use to identify population segments and user trends. | Commerce Server Setup |
| Data Warehouse | Imports and manages Web site data from Web log files, Commerce Server databases, and other data sources. | Commerce Server Site Packager |
| CS Authentication | Configures the authentication and identification method for your Commerce Server site. | Commerce Server Site Packager |
| Profiles | Creates data sources for storing profile data, and creates and stores profile definitions and properties. | Commerce Server Site Packager |
Site Resources
Site resources provide functionality to a specific site.
In Commerce Server Manager, global resource pointers and site resources appear under a site. You configure the properties of a site resource at the site level. You configure global resource pointers to point to the global resource at the global level.
A resource can have all of its properties at the site level, or all of its properties at the global level, but it cannot have properties in both places.
The following table lists and describes the site resources included with Commerce Server.
| Site resource | Description |
|---|---|
| App Default Config | Stores properties that you use to configure a site, such as currency locale and symbols, billing and payment options, privacy options, unit of measure for weight, and options for integrating with BizTalk Server. |
| Business Desk Permissions | Connects to the database that stores data such as security identifiers and definitions that are used to secure the Business Desk user interface. |
| Campaigns | Connects to the database that stores data about campaigns (ads, discounts, and direct mail). |
| Product Catalog | Connects to the database that stores catalog schema and product data. |
| Transactions | Connects to the database that stores data for baskets and orders. |
| Transaction Config | Connects to the database that stores data for shipping methods and rates, tax rates, state and region codes, and order status codes. |
Sharing Resources Across Sites
The following table shows whether each resource can be shared across multiple sites.
| Resource | Can be shared |
|---|---|
| App Default Config | No |
| Business Desk Permissions | No |
| Campaigns | No |
| CS Authentication | Yes |
| Data Warehouse | Yes |
| Direct Mailer | Yes |
| Predictor | Yes |
| Product Catalog | No |
| Profiles | Yes |
| Transactions | No |
| Transaction Config | No |
See Also
Integrating a Custom Snap-in Extension
Multiple Sites and One Data Warehouse
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