Using the Generic Properties Dialog Box
A generic resource, which can be implemented simply by adding appropriate rows to certain tables within the Administration database, has the following characteristics:
The configuration data for a generic resource can be changed using the Generic Resource dialog box in Commerce Server Manager. This dialog box presents a generic interface through which the configuration values of a generic resource can be changed. This eliminates the need to develop a user interface for configuring a new resource.
The configuration data is maintained within this database, and consequently, it is automatically packaged for deployment by Commerce Server Site Packager.
The configuration data can also be accessed and altered programmatically using the Commerce Server administration objects GlobalConfig, SiteConfig, and SiteConfigReadOnly.
This level of integration involves the least development effort, consisting of adding the rows to appropriate tables in the Administration database. For more information about how to add these rows, see Adding a Resource.