My switch from MM4 to MM5

[gomblue]

Hello,

I've been using Miva since 2001. I've moved from MM3 to MM4, and now I plan on moving from MM4 to MM5.

I have several questions, and I will try to keep them to this one thread: "My switch from MM4 to MM5."

Questions:

1) Is this the best feature list for me to review:
http://smallbusiness.miva.com/produc...5/key_mm5.html

2) Is there a good (possibly a third party) FAQ relating to the switch from MM4 to MM5?

I will list the modules that I have used in the next post.

Thank you!

[gomblue]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

Modules owned and used:

Copernicus
CBS - Search Engine Tracker
CBS - Search Friendly Links

Denning
Additional Screens
ELM 2

L.M.Williams
OpenUI Extension (Post Office Box not allowed in Ship To:)
OpenUI Extension (Remove Other State/Prov)

mikeWorks
Order Status Manager
Redirect Static Account & Checkout links
Search Manager

ModStop
Attribute Price Display
Category Columns OUIX
Enhanced Attribute Display
FlatFile Attribute Import/Export
Move Continue OUIX
No Price OUIX
No Weight OUIX

NetBlazon
NetBlazon's Checkout Button Label

Sebenza
Fatal Error Plus!
Printable Invoice

Weiland
Addendum
Attribute Prompt vs Code
EZ Batch Report


Modules owned but not used:

Denning
Additional Product Fields Manager & Import/Export

mikeWorks
Category Page Templates
Product Page Templates
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[gomblue]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

I am looking to replace an old module (Enhanced Attribute Display from ModStop) with one that works in MM5.

It allows for images of attribute options to be displayed to the right of the drop down list. Example:

http://tinyurl.com/2ue8yj

This is a description from ModStop/SB21:

"images defined for select box options may be displayed to the right of the select box using Java Script images swaps, so as the customer changes select options the corresponding images for each option change."

Does anyone have any suggestions for alternative modules that work in MM5?

[gomblue]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

Re:
http://extranet.miva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8803
http://extranet.miva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8369


How can insiders on this forum reassure end users about the future of MM?

I am starting to look at other options for shopping carts (I've already purchased the software for one cart which will allow me to tinker with it and compare it against MM.)

[gomblue]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

Given our list of modules that we are currently using:

Can anyone recommend better modules that we should use instead of those we are currently using?

Thank you

[gomblue]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

I've found MM5 replacement modules for the following four modules that are not yet available in MM5 format:

Search Manager (Super Search with Extra Product Fields v5 - Latu - as long as it will search names of attribute options)
Attriburte Price Display (Categories in Basket Screen - Weiland)
FlatFile Attribute Import/Export (Attribute import and export - Weiland)
Printable Invoice (Printable Invoice v5 - Latu)


The following thread about Essential Modules is a good thread, but it only lists modules from two developers. It would be great if that list could be expanded by end user input.

http://extranet.miva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8618

[gomblue]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

I know this is a long list of questions. I'd appreciate any help I can get.

1) I think we will purchase Kayako for improved customer service and its integrated knowledgebase. X-Cart announced recently that "(they were) publishing login.share integration X-Cart&Kayako. Has this been done with MM5? I assume this means that our customers could share logins with Miva and Kayako to avoid setting up logins for each system.

2) From other posts, it sounds like Stone Edge would be a good improvement, although I don't understand exactly what it would do for our business. Which of things on this list can be accomplished with Stone Edge?

3) We would like a system that can be integrated with something like Microsoft RMS POS software in the future. We currently do not use POS software. Is there software that would allow integration between MM and RMS? Is Stone Edge POS just as powerful as RMS?

4) We could use some sort of web based phone order manager. The biggest issue is that we need functionality that will support the fact that we have many more skus in the brick and mortar store than we have online. How do we efficiently take orders by phone when there is no database for the instore skus that customers will want to order during the phone order process. Also, with phone orders, we will want to be able to type in the actual freight charge, instead of using an alternative method for freight charges online.

5) For six years now, we've accumulated email addresses from customers, but we more or less have never used them for any purpose. Is there recommended software that we should use if we begin to send out marketing emails? We've got our complete orders.dat files. It would be nice to be able to send out emails based on our historical records of products ordered by the customer.

6) I am an accountant, so it would be nice to have the ability to do detailed analysis based on the mySQL database and web user logs (we currently use Urchin for that). Any suggestions there?

7) Are there any module developers to avoid based on their poor support?

8) When we move toward a POS system, we will want to treat attributes/options as seperate skus. Is this possible now with MM5?

9) We will want to add referral information to batch reports, flat file, and may merchant-notification emails. Info to include 1) repeat customer? 2) original referral site 3) search term 4) pay-per-click? 5) total order value

10) Has any info been release about MM6?

11) A guru from WebmasterWorld stresses that customers should be able to enter zip code on every page so that freight expense will show up on every page. Any suggestions?

12) Best image manager software for product pages. Including zooms, rotating images, etc..

13) Need to improve our privacy policy so that it will conform to standards.

14) How to keep checkout process speedy for customer

15) Is it possible to use the standard batch report like this: 1) run the report with prices and 2) run the report without prices. I have EZ Batch, but it would be nice to do this with the Standard Batch.


Hackersafe seems like a cool idea, but it seems like a rip-off. We'd pay more to hackersafe than we would to our web host. It might be that we are underpaying our web host!

[gomblue]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

"That is all I have to say about that." (Forest Gump)

[Leanne]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

I think you've overwhelmed us, here :)

Many of the modules you listed aren't needed in mm5 because of the greater control you have over all page templates. If you haven't already, take a look at the MM5 demo stores, particularly the admin.

You'll find a fairly comprehensive list of MM5 modules here:
http://mivacentral.com/mm5.mv

Your Stone Edge/POS questions would really be best answered by Stone Edge.

[gomblue]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

I'd greatly appreciate it if I can get some good advice on post #3 and #4 of this thread.

Post #7 is important to me as well, but I can try to get those questions answered either one at a time here or somewhere else.

Thank you

[Leanne]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

#3 can be done using Sebenza's product page templates, which give you full control over the product page template, including the attribute layout.

[gomblue]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

Thank you Leanne.

I've printed off the pdf file on that module.

Will I need to create the javascript code myself?

[Leanne]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

Yes, although that shouldn't be too difficult, and you should be able to use your existing site as a guide.

[gomblue]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

Thank you Leanne.

What's your take on this question:

http://extranet.miva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8803
http://extranet.miva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8369


How can insiders on this forum reassure end users about the future of MM?

I am starting to look at other options for shopping carts (I've already purchased the software for one cart which will allow me to tinker with it and compare it against MM.)

[Brandon MUS]

Re: My switch from MM4 to MM5

"Insiders" are really just going off of rumors. I've heard 3 different people say that Miva Small Business has been sold, but no one can step up and really provide facts. It is my opinion that Miva being sold would be a good thing. Any company that is showing interested in keeping MM5 alive is bound to do better than what Miva is currently doing.