MultiSite Module Support Thread

[Ray303]

- Same currency.
- Multisite is not compatible with multi languages but will be in the next version (released tomorrow)
- I think that different taxes should be compatible but I never tried to be honest.
- You can use different shipping modules for each site
- You can use different payment module for each site
- You can change anything that is in the configuration section of the admin section (including the company information).

If by "business rule" you mean payment methods, tax/shipping, currency and company information, I would say that

About the new version:
- it will also allow to desactivate the cat_filter for some sites (and then allow all the categories to be display).
It will also allow to specify a different CATEGORIES_ROOT.

Hi guys,
Gerome and one or two others have mentioned that you can use a different payment module for each site, which makes sense for independent stores. I'm just not sure how to set that up. Do I just create a folder with my template name in /includes/languages/english/modules/payment and edit the settings. I know the Modules > Payment admin interface will allow you to adjust settings, but I am guessing that has to be done by manually editing the files for each template. Any tips or advice on how to manage this would be greatly appreciated.

[balihr]

@Ray303: You can control almost all zencart features, but you'll have to do it manually. You'll have to edit the appropriate _config files in your includes/config_sites folder.
In other words, if you want your site1 NOT use storepickup module you'll have to edit your shop1.com_config.php and add the following line:

define('MODULE_SHIPPING_STOREPICKUP_STATUS','false'); //Enable Store Pickup Shipping

By adding that line, your shop1 will not use storepickup module. You can do that for almost any other module/feature you have installed, you'll just have to use the appropriate command...
Note that you're NOT changing any template files whatsoever. ALL modules/features are controlled from the _config.php file! Have fun!

[Ray303]

Thank you balihr! I will familiarize myself with the settings and flags in the _config file. Since I am mainly focused on the payment module customization for each store, I wanted to confirm that placing the payment module php files in /includes/languages/english/modules/payment/mytemplate effectively tells the multi-store module which payment module to use. Ex: if one store is using Authorize.net and another store is using First Data. Am I on the right track?

Thanks again,
Ray

[balihr]

Actually, no. Payment modules, just like all other modules, are NOT located in your languages directory! If you work with files in the language directory, you only affect language files. But the module files are still available to zencart in includes/modules directory... And that directory doesn't care about templates...

[Ray303]

Thanks again balihr! If everything runs through one payment module, his would seem to contradict the statement, "You can use different payment module for each site" that Gerome and one or two others have said in this thread. (ex: post#169) I guess I was thinking that the template override applies the unique payment module settings for each store. The setup instrucitons also reference the

I think I am just not clear on how the multi-store module supports this feature. Does the _config.php file actually let you enter settings like the merchant ID and gateway information? I did see settings related to which payment modules are activated, but not the more detailed settings related to the merchant account.

Sorry I am a little slow on this one! If the multi-store module is used for several independent businesses, it would make sense that each would have separate payment module settings and you would want people to see the correct store name on their credit card statements.

Thanks so much for your insight on this!

[Louis]

Ray303,

Let's see if I can make any sense of this. This module allows you to run various front-ends whilst controlling everything from one backoffice. To enable you to have different futures for different sites the module introduced the "site-config" files. ANYTHING contained within Zen-Cart can be controlled using the appropriate config file.

Step 1. Setup all the payment gateways (and everything else you require on your sites) using the main site backoffice.

Step 2. Now setup each config file with the parameters of the functions you DO NOT want to have active for that site. NOTE: All functions installed will be active across all the front-ends unless you specifically switch them off. The example Balihr gave in his previous post DISABLES the store pickup option for the site into which config file you added this line.

define('MODULE_SHIPPING_STOREPICKUP_STATUS','false'); //Enable Store Pickup Shipping 

There is a mod available that will show you all the variables used by zencart. Let me scratch around and I will post the details here.

[Ray303]

Thanks Louis! Your comments made me realize that I have to complete the install process of each payment module before the specific defines will show up on the list that you can pull up using Tools> Multisite Tools > Display Configuration I should have realized that right off the bat, but I am still a bit clueless on the inner workings of Zen Cart.

I installed Authorize.net as a test and the defines magically appeared on the list. These do look like the specifics for each unique merchant account such as MODULE_PAYMENT_AUTHORIZENET_LOGIN, MODULE_PAYMENT_AUTHORIZENET_TXNKEY, and so on. I *think* I have everything I need now.

I will try setting these in the _config.php files for each store and see how it goes! Exciting stuff! I think it will work! Thanks again to balihr as well! I will post again to confirm if it worked or if there are additional caveats.