MM5.5 Features List

[RayYates]

I expect the final list of features / fixes is in flux; but could you post an MM5.5 Features List?

It would spark discussion and could provide valuable feedback as to what users and developers consider priority.

Food for thought.

[Rick Wilson]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

Beyond what's already been posted?

[RayYates]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

Sorry I guess I missed that listing. I don't monitor the forum every day. Could you point me in that direction please.

[Rick Wilson]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

Ray,

Sorry for not including that in my original post, that's what I get for answering so quickly this morning. :D

http://extranet.miva.com/forums/show...9&postcount=12

In addition to this, we'll be posting the prioritized feature list to the Developers Forum in the near future so they can guide their module development around our roadmap.

If you have specific questions, feel free to email me.

[RayYates]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

Features I would most like see built into SMT.
At least basic language constructs.

&mvt:system:varname;
 
<mvt:assign name="varname_string" value="expression" />
<mvt:assign name="varname" index="expression" membername="name" value="expression" />
<mvt:assign name="{ varname_by_reference }" expr="expression" />
 
<mvt:do name="mod_expression" name="varname" value="FunctionName(paramList)" />
 
<mvt:eval expr="expression" />
 
<mvt:call action="url_expression" method="post|get" fields="list_expression" /> 
 
<mvt:while expr="expression">
<mvt:whilestop />
</mvt:while>

In the above list expression refers to any Mivascript expression that you could place between "{ }" including ALL of the built in Empressa/Mivascript functions.

The entire Mivascript language does not need to be added to SMT; but often an entire module is overkill. These constructs would go a LONG way toward letting site developers impliment simple features requested by clients that are not covered by any module.

[amegb]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

On the main conference_2008 page, there's a statement:
" ... With the launch of Miva Merchant 5.5 and it’s new SEO friendly features, ..."

We are converting to mm5 and need to determine whether to go with one of the 3rd party solutions or, should we wait for 5.5. Does anyone have any insight into what 5.5 is planning to offer w.r.t "SEO friendly features"?

Also, if we go with a 3rd party solution, what are the chances that the 5.5 features will conflict with (or maybe duplicate) the 3rd party solution ?

[William Davis]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

On the main conference_2008 page, there's a statement:
" ... With the launch of Miva Merchant 5.5 and it’s new SEO friendly features, ..."

We are converting to mm5 and need to determine whether to go with one of the 3rd party solutions or, should we wait for 5.5. Does anyone have any insight into what 5.5 is planning to offer w.r.t "SEO friendly features"?

Also, if we go with a 3rd party solution, what are the chances that the 5.5 features will conflict with (or maybe duplicate) the 3rd party solution ?

We want to start working on a new store too. How long before 5.5 is out -we have the same concerns above?

[Rick Wilson]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

Miva Merchant 5.5 will be released on February 28th at the Miva Merchant Conference.

[amegb]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for the comprehensive font of knowledge which has just been passed on. Maybe someone else can top it?

[William Davis]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

Miva Merchant 5.5 will be released on February 28th at the Miva Merchant Conference.

I have no doubt it will be great -but I don't think we can wait 3 to 4 months.

We are going with a hosted solution. If we go with a 3rd party solution, what are the chances that the 5.5 features will conflict with (or maybe duplicate) the 3rd party solution?

Finally, the Dreamweaver "interface" is that available with the current version. If so, what version of Dreamweaver do I need to purchase?

[Rick Wilson]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

A couple of different items:

1. The Dreamweaver functionality should work with any recent version of Dreamweaver and will be introduced at the conference.

2. The SEO functionality we're going to be adding is as follows (while the plan is for this to make it at the conference, it is possible this will slip past the conference):

• Shorter url's

• Static url's

• Site map creation

• Creation of a static SEO friendly front page

• Meta tags for product categories

• Meta tags for product pages

• Eliminate unneeded whitespace in the code

[William Davis]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

A couple of different items:

1. The Dreamweaver functionality should work with any recent version of Dreamweaver and will be introduced at the conference.

2. The SEO functionality we're going to be adding is as follows (while the plan is for this to make it at the conference, it is possible this will slip past the conference):

• Shorter url's

• Static url's

• Site map creation

• Creation of a static SEO friendly front page

• Meta tags for product categories

• Meta tags for product pages

• Eliminate unneeded whitespace in the code

That sounds FANTASTIC!!! Even if you can't pull it off by February, you guys are seriously focused on the right track -congratulations.

Back to the immediate matter at hand. Unfortunately we can't wait until February to open a store. As to Dreamweaver, will work with the current version? Finally, if we go with MM5 store for now with 3rd party SEO solutions, what are the chances that the 5.5 features will conflict? We will be using a hosted solution with Hostasaurus -great folks being doing business with them for years.

[Rick Wilson]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

Dreamweaver 8 and CS3 should have no problems whatsoever (I would assume even Dreamweaver 6 and 7 would be fine, but certainly haven't tested it).

As for MM5.5 features being duplicate to 3rd party features, I can say about that of the 40 some odd features we're looking to add only about 10 are duplicated in the after market right now. In addition to remediating the obvious feature deficiencies, like soft goods, there's a heavy focus on making the admin much more functional, additional sorting methods, efficient click patterns and better import/export.

More importantly than potential overlap, is to note that there's nothing in 5.5 that would break an existing module. We're not changing the existing API's (any API work would be to add new API's for not currently existing features). So the WORST CASE scenario is that you have duplicate functionality and you would have to choose which feature to deploy and which to turn off.

[amegb]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

Thanks Rick for the additional information -- it has provided added clarity to our planning process. My apologies for the earlier sarcasm :)

[Red Flare]

Re: MM5.5 Features List

Just thought about a feature that would be great to have:

Mass update headers and footers in categories.