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How do I Use ShopSite?

Because ShopSite runs on your Web server, you don't have to download or install anything on your local computer; you just need Web access and a browser. ShopSite is sold by a variety of ShopSite Hosting Partners who can install your store on your Web server. When they install your store, they will send you the login information you need to start using ShopSite.

After ShopSite is installed on your Web server, you can begin creating your store. To do this, you will need to know how to perform these tasks:

1. Logging In to Your ShopSite Back Office
2. Setting Up a New Store With the ShopSite Wizard
3. Navigating Around Your ShopSite Back Office
4. Switching Between Basic and Advanced Editing

Logging In to Your ShopSite Back Office

When your ShopSite store was installed, your hosting provider or sales representative should have provided you with the back office URL, account ID, and password you need. Have this information ready, then follow these steps:

1. Open your preferred Web browser.
2. Enter your back office URL in the browser Address bar, then click Go or hit [Enter]. This will cause an authentication window to appear.
3. Enter your ShopSite account ID in the User name: box.
4. Enter your account password in the Password: box.
5. If you are the only person who uses this computer, you may want to check the box to Remember my password.
6. Click OK. If you entered the correct username and password, your ShopSite back office will load.

If this is the first time you've logged in, you will be taken to the ShopSite Setup Wizard, which will guide you through the process of setting up your store. Once you have completed the wizard, you will be taken to the ShopSite start screen.

Setting Up a New Store With the ShopSite Wizard

The first time you log in to your new ShopSite store, you will be taken to the main Wizard screen, which guides you through the essential steps of setting up a new store. You can also return to the Wizard any time later by going to the Utilities screen and clicking the Wizard button.

The Wizard includes only the essential features to get a store online. There are many other ShopSite features you will have access to after you complete the wizard, and there's nothing in the wizard that you can't change later.

Note: Many of the steps of the wizard involve tasks that are discussed in later topics of this tutorial. Because this tutorial covers topics both relevant to the wizard and general store management, you may want to complete the tutorial before you actually begin setting up your store.

If you have any questions about a screen in the wizard, click the (question mark) icon in the navigation bar at the top of the screen. This will open the online help for that wizard screen in a new browser window.

1. If you haven't already, Log in to your ShopSite back office.
2. Start the Wizard. If you haven't previously completed the wizard, you should be taken directly to the wizard starting screen. If not, click Utilities, then Wizard to start the wizard.
3. Select the language and currency format you want to use in your store from the pull-down menus, then click Next.
4. Select which wizard path you want to follow. You will be guided through different steps based off the path you select:
   • Select I want to create a new store if you don't already have a Web site and want to create your entire site, including the product catalog and shopping cart, with ShopSite.
   • Select I want to add product pages to an existing site if you do already have a Web site, but want to add a product catalog and shopping cart to it.
   • Select I want to add order buttons to my existing site if you already have a product catalog on your site, and want to add order buttons and a shopping cart.
5. Click Next. The steps that follow in the wizard depend on the path you chose.

A detailed explanation of the rest of the wizard is available in the ShopSite Wizard Online Help and won't be repeated in this tutorial. When you finish the wizard, you will be taken to your store's back office starting screen.

Continue to Navigating Around Your ShopSite Back Office >