Getting Started

• QuickStart Guide
• Requirements
• Downloads
• Tutorials
• Hosting

QuickStart Guide

The purpose of this guide is to walk users through the first steps of creating a StoreFront 7 web store. This guide is broken down in to the following sections:

• Download and unzip your StoreFront software
• Choose type of installation
• Choose a host
• Install IIS and the .net framework
• Create your local StoreFront database
• Create a local web store
• Create a remote web store

After you purchase the StoreFront 7 software you receive a fulfillment email that contains information on getting started quickly. Part of this email provides instructions for downloading your software. If you need this email sent again, please contact StoreFront Technical Support at support@storefront.net or 913-489-0898.

1. Download your StoreFront 7 software.
2. Unzip your StoreFront 7 web files to folder you can easily remember and find. Windows XP Users; right click on the zip file and the click "Extract All". We recommend using this folder as a default set of files and not your live site files. Example: C:\StoreFront 7 Default Files

For additional information on these requirements, see Installing IIS, the .NET Framework and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.

Remote Development (Recommended)

If you don’t care to deal with the technical details of IIS, .NET Framework and Microsoft SQL Server, you may choose to develop on a remote server. If you already have an existing website and wish to add e-commerce functionality to it, you can integrate the StoreFront web store files in to your website. Developing remotely has many advantages. A significant advantage is that you can focus on your StoreFront store setup and not have to worry about database backups or other technical details. Another advantage with a remote installation is you'll be able to test aspects of your web store including email, payment processors, etc that you may not be able to test on your local machine.

Before you can install StoreFront 7 to a remote server, you need to make sure that the hosting company has a plan that can support it; see Choose a Host for more information.

Install IIS and the .NET Framework for Local Setup

IIS allows your local machine to emulate a web server and is a requirement for building a local StoreFront web store. This allows you to create and test web pages and web applications locally without having to upload them to a remote web server. Keep in mind that IIS for desktops is different from IIS for servers and does not provide the same functionality as a commercial web server. This means that some functions of your web store -- like mail services and payment processing services -- can't be easily tested with a local setup.

The .NET Framework version 1.1 is a component of the Microsoft Windows® operating system used to build and run Windows-based applications and is required for any computer that will host a StoreFront Store.

Click on the link below to download the Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1 Redistributable Package:

Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1 Redistributable Package

Use the table below to determine if you can install IIS one your computer and if so how:

To install IIS, perform the following steps:

After you've prepared your local machine by installing IIS and the .NET Framework, you will be ready to begin creating your local store.

Create the StoreFront Database for Local Setup

StoreFront 7 is designed specifically for Microsoft SQL Server.

1. Follow the link below to download SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and SQL Server Management Studio Express:

   • http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/express/aa718378.aspx
2. Double click on the setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation of SQL Server 2005 Express Edition and SQL Server Management Studio Express.
3. Open SQL Server Management Studio Express.
4. Click the Connect button on the Connect to Server dialog box (typically you don’t have change any of the default settings)

5. Create a SQL Login to use for your web store.

   • Security folder, select new, click on login.
   • Enter a login name that you want to create. (Note: Do not include spaces in the login name).
   • Click the SQL Server Authentication radio button and enter a password for this login.
   • Uncheck Enforce password policy (Note: You do not want the password set to expire).
   • Click OK.

6. Create a Database for your new web store.

   • Right click on the Databases folder and click on new database.
   • Enter a name for the database. (Note: Do not include spaces in the database name).
   • Click on the box to the right of Owner drop down box.
   • Click on the browse button.
   • Place a check next to the Login name created in Step 5.
   • Click Ok on the Browse for Object dialog box.
   • Click Ok on the Select Database Owner dialog box.
   • Click OK on the New Database dialog box.

7. Create the default StoreFront 7 database table structure.

   • Make sure the database you just finished creating is selected.
   • While holding the control key down and press the O key. (Note: This opens the Open File dialog box).
   • Browse to the folder that contains your the default StoreFront 7 web files. Example: C:\StoreFront 7 Default Files.
   • Open the db folder, select the SF7.sql file and then click open.
   • Press the F5 key. There will a Green circle and a Query Executed Successfully message at the bottom of the management window will the query is finished running.
8. Press the F5 key. There will a Green circle and a Query Executed Successfully message at the bottom of the management window will the query is finished running.

Note: Remember the login, password and database name you just created as you’ll need it later on.

Create a Local Web

Follow the instructions below to create a new web store on your local machine using a SQL Server database. If you are hosting your web store remotely, skip this section and proceed to "Create a Remote Store".

1. Create a new folder under c:\inetpub\wwwroot\. We recommend keeping the name short and do not include spaces as this will become your local store name. Example: C:\inetpub\wwwroot\mySF7store which will become your web store @ http://localhost/mySF7store
2. Copy all of the files extracted in step one to the folder created in step two.

3. Set the IIS/NTFS permission requirements for StoreFront 7:

   • At the root of the site directory the ASPNET user must have Modify permission and the additional permission to "Delete Subfolders and Files".
   • Enable anonymous access and only "basic" authentication the site root folder.
   • Disable anonymous access on the following files and folder to allow only the web store owner and other authorized users to access them.
   • ReloadXML.aspx – found in the site root and site root/SSL folder.
   • CompileSite.aspx file – in the site root folder.
   • Authentication folder – in the site root/SSL/Management folder.
   • Integration folder – found in the site root/SSL/Management folder.
   • RMS23confirm.aspx file – found in the site root and site root/SSL/Management folder.
   • RMS23output.aspx file – found in the site root and site root/SSL/Management folder.
   • RMS23confirmws.asmx file – found in the site root and site root/SSL/Management folder.
   • Clientaccess.aspx file – found in the site root and site root/SSL/Management folder.

4. Edit the database connection string which is found in the web.config to include your database information. Example: Change the four items in bold

   • The web.config file is in site root folder

5. Open the admin database table and configure the following fields with the settings specific to your web store:

   • EmailMethod – Example: CDONTS (local store email may not be available)
   • EmailServer – Example: mail.mydomain.com (local store email may not be available)
   • PromoMailServer – Example: promomail.mydomain.com (local store email may not be available)
   • SSLPath – Example: http://localhost/mySF7store/SSL/ (must end with a trailing back slash / and typically won’t be https:)
   • SiteURL – Example: http://localhost/mySF7store/
   • Close the database
6. You’re now ready to access your store for the first time.

7. Open Internet Explorer and type the URL to your local store.

   • Example http://localhost/mySF7store

8. The URL to your merchant tools will be the path you set for the SSLPath plus the word management

   • Example http://localhost/mySF7store/ssl/management/

Create a Remote Web Store

Follow the instructions below to create a new remote web store using an MS SQL Server database. Before you begin constructing the store, make sure that your host can support it; see Choosing a Host for more information.

1. Have your host create a new, empty database on one of their SQL Servers for you to use. Your SQL Server user account must be part of the db_owner group. Your host should also create a new, empty web site for your use.
2. Upload a copy of the downloaded StoreFront software files to the empty web site provided by your host. Ask your host if you do not know how to do this or don’t know your FTP connection information.

3. Set the IIS/NTFS permission requirements for StoreFront 7 (you may have to have assistance from your host):

   • At the root of the site directory the ASPNET user must have Modify permission and the additional permission to "Delete Subfolders and Files".
   • Enable anonymous access and only “basic” authentication the site root folder.

   • Disable anonymous access on the following files and folder to allow only the web store owner and other authorized users to access them.

     • ReloadXML.aspx file – found in the site root and site root/SSL folder.
     • CompileSite.aspx file – in the site root folder.
     • Authentication folder – in the site root/SSL/Management folder.
     • Integration folder – found in the site root/SSL/Management folder.
     • RMS23confirm.aspx file – found in the site root and site root/SSL/Management folder.
     • RMS23output.aspx file – found in the site root and site root/SSL/Management folder.
     • RMS23confirmws.asmx file – found in the site root and site root/SSL/Management folder.
     • RMS23confirmws.asmx file – found in the site root and site root/SSL/Management folder.

4. Edit the database connection string which is found in the web.config to include your database information. Ask your host for this information if you do not know it. Example: Change the four items in bold

   • The web.config file is in site root folder
5. Have your host run the SQL script named SF7.sql on the database they have created for you. This file is found in the db folder of your site files. When executed using query analyzer, it will create the database table structure for your store.

6. Open the admin table of your MS SQL database and configure the following fields with the settings specific to your web store

   • EmailMethod – Email Methods StoreFront 7 supports: CDONTS Mail, CDOSYS Mail, CDONTS/CDOSYS Mail, ASP Mail, ASP QMail,
   • EmailServer – Example: mail.mydomain.com (ask your host if you’re not sure)
   • PromoMailServer – Example: promomail.mydomain.com (ask your host if you’re not sure)
   • SSLPath – Example: http://localhost/mySF7store/SSL/ (must end with a trailing back slash / and typically won’t be https:)
   • SiteURL – Example: http://localhost/mySF7store/
   • Close the database
7. You’re now ready to access your store for the first time.

8. Open Internet Explore and type the URL remote store.

   • Example http://www.mydomain.com

9. The URL to your merchant tools will be the path you set for the SSLPath plus the word management.

   • Example http://localhost/mySF7store/ssl/management/