Answer a series of questions about your server on this site.  Our installer generates a script customized to your specs.

Upload that script to your server, run it from your browser, and verify your information. The script automatically creates, installs, and configures your catalog’s behavior, appearance, and other various options.  At this point, EDatCat is installed and fully functional on your server.  All you have to do is customize it!  That's it!

Runs on both Unix and Windows servers.

Program will run from your cgi-bin or from any HTML directory you specify.

EDatCat is configured entirely through the browser....you will never once even look at the Perl code.  All of your base settings, preferences, and configurations are done via the admin section.  Configuration of your store takes about 10 minutes.

Configuration options range from setting the merchant email address to setting the number of days carts and wishlists are available.  All in all, there are about 50 configuration options.

Option to use Euro or American dates

Complete browser-based administration of product data.

Create categories and subcategories....up to 7 levels supported.  Provide a description, name, optional image, and even a custom template for each category...or use the single default template and adjust it to fit your design.

Create and define your data fields– any number of fields is supported and EDatCat comes with default fields already set. Choose from dynamically created text boxes, comments boxes, drop-down lists, check boxes, radio buttons, or upload fields. Define the values for each of: check boxes, drop-down lists, radio buttons, and the supported file formats and sizes for your uploads.

Entire inventory is searchable.  Price range searches supported as well as searches on any combination of data fields.   Any/All keyword options also supported.

Retail and Wholesale pricing supported.   Special "Shortcuts" allow the user to see their price- even including an additional discount.  Retail customers see only retail prices...same with wholesale customers.  Or, you can allow everyone to see all prices...it's totally up to you.

Default relational database supports up to 50,000 items.  The database utilizes the DBM modules in place on your server.   Data is stored in DBM files.

Temporarily disable out-of-stock items without removing them from the database.  Also, mark items as back-orderd, on order, or in-stock.  Optionally auto-remove the add to cart button when an item is out of stock.

Enter items one at a time simply by filling out a form, selecting an image, and clicking a button or import entire catalogs to your database from any tab or comma delimited text file.  Data entry is easy enough for the novice and offers enough power for the advanced user.

Export all of your data or select items to a tab or comma delimited text file.

Improved import and export routines.

You have COMPLETE control over your catalog’s content!  Your online catalog will be designed according to your specific needs.  Use the default templates to present your product information, specify a separate template for each product, or run your entire catalog from static HTML pages...it's totally up to you.

Purge expired shopping carts through the admin.

Improved product indexing.

Specify unlimited product options for each item.

Options can add to price, replace price, include quantity break, or include no additional charge at all.

Text input options supported so customers can supply text for certain options that may require it.

Product option that is a one-time fee not mult by quantity

Product upload field option-customer can upload files.

Quantity field support for adding multiple quantities of a single item at once.

Build a custom form that allows customers to select multiple items at once and add them to their shopping cart...perfect for merchants offering gift baskets, pc's, etc.

EDatCat's catalog templates are comprised of the mainpage, category/subcategory, listpage, and detail.  These templates allow you to completely control the appearance and behavior of your catalog.

Present a category list and featured items on the mainpage, featured items, introductory text and graphics on the category pages with links to product listings, and then a "more info" page on each product.

Customize all error messages, provide a test mode for developers

Tableize all messages. Could easily create a multilingual site.

Offer "Featured items" for the entire store or for individual categories.  Featured items are assigned via the online admin interface.

Provide cross-referenced products...when a customer views a toothebrush, EDatCat can suggest that they also check out the toothpaste!

Products can be listed in multiple categories

Automatic inventory quantity-on-hand and update

Provide links to additional information on other pages...or even in a popup window.

Customers can add items to their "Wish List" and view them later from their account area.  Items can be moved from the shopping cart to wish list and vice versa.

Supports purchase and download of soft goods, such as MP3 files or software.

Mark down individual items, entire categories, or the entire store.

Discounts can be percentage-based or fixed-amount.

Complete browser-based administration.

EDatCat supports SSL on your own server, and will link to remote payment gateways such as Authorizenet, Card Service International, VeriSign, PayPal, CyberCash, etc.  EDatCat will automatically interface with AuthorizeNet.

Improved payment processing interface, streamlined local SSL payment process.

Select your payment methods: COD, Credit card by phone, secure online transaction, check by mail, etc...unlimited options for payment methods.

Ability to add to cart multiple items and quantities and options with one button click.

"Rapid Check-out" for return customers.  EDatCat automatically fills in their billing/shipping information.

Option to login at checkout or to just enter info-- option to save account info or not save it.

Change user--new login function.  Logout function-new function. 

Option to login at checkout or to just enter info-- option to save account info or not save it.

"What's new" and "10 most popular items" functions.

Program automatically assigns an invoice # to each order and automatically creates a customer ID for each customer.

Separate billing & shipping information.

Built-in credit card verifier.

Automatically calculates tax, shipping, handling charges, setup fees, product options, discounts, quantity breaks, and whatever else has been specified about each product.

Can show foreign currency and dollar conversions....US-Euro, etc.

Upon successful completion of order, order is added to database so the customer can return to view their order status.

Prints receipt/confirmation page upon completion of order and emails notices to merchant and customer. Option to send all order info-including CC info in one email.  Option to store complete order info (including cc) on SSL server- merchant can download rather than receive by email.

Merchant can update order status from the admin section.

Supports foreign currency symbols.

Supply a foreign currency multiplier and EDatCat will display US prices and Euro prices.....or Canadian, or German, or English, etc....this multiplier can be used to convert your currency amount to any other currency amount in the world.

Second exchange rate and shortcut, similar to Euro

Includes US State table...supply tax amount for each state applicable.

Supports VAT tax.

Program interfaces in real-time with UPS for calculating EXACT shipping costs based on destination, weight, size, etc.  It will even tell you which items to put in which boxes if you do desire!

Fed Ex shipping (coming soon)

Free shipping flag in product record

You may also choose to charge by per-item fee, fixed base fee, or percentage of order total or a combination of the all of the above. 

Provide unique handling fee and/or setup fee for each product.

Create custom freight tables to fit your needs.

Supports shipment tracking with UPS tracking number from customer account area.

Orders are sent to the merchant via email.  Customers also receive a copy by email.   Customize the receipt that is automatically emailed to your customers upon purchase and the receipt that is emailed to the merchant.

PGP Support.

SendMail/BlatMail compatible. Also includes a built-in mail system if neither Blatmail or Sendmail are present on your server.

Orders can also be saved on the server and exported by the merchant into a tab or comma delimited text file.

View order reports from the admin area.  Search orders within a given time frame or by a particular status (pending, completed, etc).

Each customer has their own account, which they can modify at any time with their username and password.   They can choose to be automatically logged in each time they visit.  All can receive a personal greeting each time they login!

Allow your customers to login and view their wish list, order histories, shipping profile, track orders, view order status, etc. 

Specify customers as "retail" or "wholesale".

Import/Export customer data to/from your computer in tab or comma delimited text files.

Manage a customer Email list– send messages to your entire customer base at once!

Account maintenance-add,remove and edit all fields

Customer file-be able to add user fields.

Update customer's order status by selecting from a drop down list.

Customers can login and view their order status.   If UPS is being used, then the customer can track their order directly from your site!

Order status list and search

One of EDatCat's most powerful features is the TOTALLY customizeable appearance.  It would be redundant to list all of the customization options here, so let's suffice it to say that you control every aspect of every page in your web site.  Just for fun, here's a few examples...

All templates are full page, html documents with include capability.   Use file shortcut to include headers, footers, or anything else. Still have an option to use old-style templates for compatiblilty.   (old-style- Headers, footers, head tags, and body tags are all stored in text files- this makes it easy for you to update your entire site quickly and easily).

By using our unique "Shortcuts" and "Functions", you can easily create high-powered templates and pages by customizing the existing EDatCat templates.

You can customize the template for the "View More Information" page a viewer sees when they click on an item in your catalog. By plugging in the data codes, you can create any look you desire.

Customize templates for each screen for view cart/cart, customer accounts, wish list, order history, order tracking, etc.  We're not talking simple headers and footers here...you decide where and how every item on every page is displayed- even the order total, tax, shipping options, items in shopping cart, etc.

Choose how many records you would like to be displayed on each page and how the items are sorted.

Let the script print a welcome message for each registered customer- you customize the message!

In addition to default display template, you can provide additional static pages containing product info.  EDatCat will link to these pages automatically.

EDatCat supports foreign languages through customization of the templates.  Optional currency value customization is offered as well.

Revamped default templates

Fully custimizable category lists, category trees, dropdown lists, and category navbar.

Enhanced listing capabilities-multi column output, customizable search results navbar.

Customizable "Related Items" template.

Abiltity to put shopping cart into test mode, enabling detailed error messages during testing and customizable messages when not in test mode.

EDatCat is upgrades by clicking a link in the admin area...updates to the software are automatically installed.