Gotcha Tweaks for "Option 1"

[lesliekirk]

Since the documents refer to the Multi-Domain option that lets you use a branch instead of an Additional Store as "Option1" - I'll use it too. Has anybody put together a checklist of "gotchas" that need to be tended to? I ask this question because the first thing that has caught my eye is that &mvt:global:domain:name; goes exactly to that - the main domain of the Option 1 configuration. Is there a token that should be used instead of it?

While trying to figure this one out, I started wondering if there are other things that need to be tweaked (that have popped up while working with the Option 1 configuration). That's what made me think first we should have a Multi-Domain sub-forum and now a "gothca" list.

[Nick]

lesliekirk That value is going to be a global value with the multi domain branch options. All global data is going to be assigned to both domains .. ie Price Groups would be accessible with both domains as are the settings in Domain Settings which are available in the g.domain array.

Side note that entity is not used anywhere in the current Shadows framework so using a fresh install on the new branch will get you started in a good place.

[lesliekirk]

lesliekirk

Side note that entity is not used anywhere in the current Shadows framework so using a fresh install on the new branch will get you started in a good place.

The site has a lot of custom work that was done in another framework. The storeowner wants to preserve all of that custom work to use in the "Option 1" configuration. So for this store - it's a gotcha.

[Nick]

lesliekirk Also, note that the Template Search and Replace module will update that value in the new branch, with just a few clicks.

[lesliekirk]

lesliekirk Also, note that the Template Search and Replace module will update that value in the new branch, with just a few clicks.

Good to know that the Template Search and Replace module will work for this Multi-Domain branch template.

I may have overlooked or missed this - how do I get the Option 1 Store Name to display in the &mvt:store:name; tag? Will this be another find-and-replace task?

[SidFeyDesigns]

I semi recently went through some of these Multi-Domain gotchas but this was specific to a store using a heavily modified version of the Suivant theme. This was also set up using Option 1. I'm not entirely sure if this will help your specific case but I thought it might be helpful to share.

My workaround for some of the global variables was to give them their own unique variables and use the Template Serach and replace to update where needed which was a huge time and headache saver.

I used these in the global HTML profile to keep them all in one place and ensure they were declared at the top of every page template.

<mvt:comment>Set Theme File Path to Domain Two branch specific directory</mvt:comment>
<mvt:assign name="g.theme_path" value="'b17/themes/suivant'" />
<mvt:comment>Global DomainTwo.com Variables</mvt:comment>
<mvt:assign name="g.DT:domain:name" value="'www.DomainTwo.com'" />
<mvt:assign name="g.DT:store:name" value="'Domain Two" />

Then searched for &mvt:global:domain:name; and &mvt:global:store:name; and replaced with &mvt:global:DT:domain:name; and &mvt:global:DT:store:name;

Also, via FTP access I added a directory folder in the branch specific directory for images that are only used on the 2nd domain (b17/graphics/). I'm not sure if this was the correct way to do this but it helped with some conflicts I was having between the 2 domains when working in the 2nd domain's branch.

I also added this to the htaccess file to handle the two different sets of robots.txt, fav.ico, and sitemap.xml files that all live in the root folder/primary directory of the server. These rewrites were placed after the Miva Merchant URI Managment rules.

# rewrite robots_dt.txt for DomainTwo.com
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(.*)?DomainTwo(\.com)
RewriteRule ^robots\.txt$ robots_dt.txt [L,NS]

# rewrite favicon_dt.ico for DomainTwo.com
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(.*)?DomainTwo(\.com)
RewriteRule ^favicon\.ico$ favicon_dt.ico [L,NS]

# redirect robots_dt.txt for DomainOne.com
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(.*)?DomainOne(\.com)
RewriteRule ^robots_dt.txt$ https://www.DomainOne.com/robots.txt [R=301,L,NE,NC]

# redirect favicon_dt.ico for DomainOne.com
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(.*)?DomainOne(\.com)
RewriteRule ^favicon_dt.ico$ https://www.DomainOne.com/favicon.ico [R=301,L,NE,NC]

# redirect sitemap_dt.xml for DomainOne.com
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(.*)?DomainOne(\.com)
RewriteRule ^sitemap_dt.xml$ https://www.DomainOne.com/sitemap.xml [R=301,L,NE,NC]

# redirect sitemap.xml for DomainTwo.com
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(.*)?DomainTwo(\.com)
RewriteRule ^sitemap.xml$ https://www.DomainTwo.com/sitemap_dt.xml [R=301,L,NE,NC]

There may be some other gotchas I'm forgetting but these were the bigger ones I remember dealing with.

Hope this helps.

[lesliekirk]

Hi Nick,

I truly appreciate these tips. The store I am working with is also using a very heavily modified version of the Suivant theme. Consideration was given to using the Additional Store route, but without clear-cut answers regarding module licenses, we are attempting this approach. We may be swapping "stories".

[Rick Wilson]

I'm not currently aware of any modules that charge for additional store licenses (of course I might not know), but just FYI.

[lesliekirk]

I'm not currently aware of any modules that charge for additional store licenses (of course I might not know), but just FYI.

Thanks Rick Wilson . I did reach out to support, and they have been helpful. The store I am currently working with has a number of old and obsolete modules that are actively being used. It is also using Suivant ReadyTheme. There have been a number of other developers who have created quite a bit of custom coding, along with making baby steps to get away from the obsolete, unsupported modules. It took quite a bit of work to get the site off Power Search and using the native search.

Things get complicated because the store owner wants the second store to be able to use all the custom coding that the first store heavily relies on.

Here's a list of active in use modules from the store:

ADS ImageXtra	Advanced Development Solutions, Inc.
ADS Tell a Friend	Advanced Development Solutions, Inc.
ADS Gallery	Advanced Development Solutions, Inc.
GoDataFeed	GoDataFeed
latu's - Printable Invoice	latu.net
Card Magic	Magic Metal Productions (http://TheMagicM.com)
Yardage calculator	Magic Metal Productions (http://TheMagicM.com)
Shipping Insurance from Route™	[email protected]
Nerd Boy Test Order	Nerd Boy Inc
Scot's Mailing List Merchant 5 Module	Scot Ranney
Clone Attribute Templates	Scot's Miva Scripts
Batch Report - Additional Checkout Data	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Point Redemption Manager Import	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Product Reviews Import	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Additional Checkout Data Pro	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Basket Product Fields	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Editable Basket Attributes	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Ultimate Gift Certificates	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Customer Invoice	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Points Redemption Manager	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Ultimate Wish Lists	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Ultimate Product Reviews and Ratings	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Sample Manager	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Suggested Products	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
Ultimate Order Status	Sebenza (sebenza.com)
UPSŪ Custom Integration	VikingCoders.com
Import for UPSŪ Custom Integration	VikingCoders.com
Export Attributes and Options to Flat File	Weiland
Attribute and Option Import From Flat File	Weiland
Miscellaneous Fee Import From Flat File	Weiland
Product Volume Pricing Import	Weiland
Export Volume Pricing to Flat File	Weiland
Business to Business Sales Tax Exemption	Weiland
CIM Minimum and Maximum Quantity	Weiland
Coupon Redemption	Weiland
Coupon Utility	Weiland
External Product Purchase	Weiland
Follow-on Contact	Weiland
Miscellaneous Fee	Weiland
Size Pricing	Weiland
Sort Shipping Plus Free Shipping Option	Weiland
Minimum or Subtotal Shipping by State Zone	Weiland
Minimum or Subtotal Shipping by World Zone	Weiland
Emporium Plus Tool Kit	Weiland
eMediaSales Tax Data Service	www.emediasales.com

I am trying to get a handle on what can be replaced, but some of these are core to the business.