Each channel to which you subscribe will need to be set up in a similar way. Please repeat for each channel.
Configuration
1 - First, log into the DotFeed Platform, using the credentials you used to purchase your DotFeed items.
2 - If you've successfully purchased a DotFeed Channel (e.g. Google, Amazon, TheFind) then you should see a page that looks similar to the image below.
3 - There are three clear sections to this platform. The topmost section allows you to add further channels.
4 - The middle section(s) are the rows that define any and all of the channels to which you are subscribed.
5 - The lower section serves as a reminder of the growing range of channels available to you.
6 - To configure your first channel, click on the word MANAGE. You will see that it expands to give you four choices. Click on the option "Configuration". NOTE Before you can configure, make sure that your channel has changed from "Waiting Approval" to "Active".
7 - Your channel configuration page will open up (each channel has its own Destination Credentials so please see the individual channel documentation for further help). Since this is your first installation of DotFeed, you will need to install a connector.
Every time you execute a feed through your DotFeed console (or when Google or another feed does), your store is queried for your product data to make sure we're sending out the most up to date information you have. That query requires that a 'connector' be installed on your site. The process is simple, but it will require that you have FTP access to your site. If you don't have FTP information, contact your host and they can provide that.
Installing the Connector takes just a few steps:
a - Navigate to https://www.aspdotnetstorefront.com/license/ and click on the Software Downloads tab at the top of the page. Click the link for 'Download AspDotNetStorefront Connector'.
b - Once the Connector is downloaded, upzip it. You should have a single .aspx file.
c - FTP the dotfeed.aspx file up to the root folder of your AspDotNetStorefront install.
d - Browse to https://www.yoursite.com/dotfeed.aspx (This step will activate the AppConfig)- The first time you do this, you're going to get a message saying that "DotFeed is not enabled on this site" - that's normal! The site has recognized that you're hitting this page for the first time, and is creating an AppConfig that you're going to need for the DotFeed service. NOTE: Once you've seen the message above, there's no need to ever browse directly to this page on your site again. Just continue on with the install directions.
e - If necessary, verify that the user account your site is running under has read/write/modify access to the {root}/images folder on your website. That user account is usually ASPNET, NETWORK SERVICE, or IIS_ISRS depending on your version of IIS and Windows. Contact your host if you are not certain which account to use. Note that this will probably already be set the way it should be on your site, but it doesn't hurt to check!
That's it! The DotFeed Connector file is installed on your site. You have unknowingly created an AppConfig that you're going to need for the DotFeed service.
Now, in a separate browser window, log into your site's admin console and reset the cache.
Still in your store's admin console, go to the AppConfig Parameters page from the Configuration menu, and search for 'dotfeed.AccessKey'. Edit that AppConfig, enter any value you want - any length, and any mix of letters and numbers, then save it.
8 - Next, back at your DotFeed platform, please click on the button "Edit Configuration".
9 - There are just three fields to be completed.
Nickname (optional) - This will help you identify your store/channel as you invest in a growing number of DotFeed Channels. Use any range of alphanumeric characters, including spaces.
Store Endpoint (critical) - This must be your domain in the format http://www.mystorename.com/DotFeed.aspx , or http://store.mydomain.net/DotFeed.aspx . The point here is that you must include "http://" and you must end with the extension "/DotFeed.aspx" (case insensitive)
Access Key - This should match the value you put in the DotFeed.AccessKey AppConfig on your site while installing the DotFeed Connector.
10 - Once you have entered your values, click the "Save Configuration" and then the "Validate Endpoint" button.
You should see the word "Valid".
That's largely it! Your feed account is set up. The instruction on this page is generic and you will need to pay attention to the detail of your channel - at the foot of this page you will find a link that explains clearly. You will also want to set up rules to format the data the way the various feeds want, and set any special values that you prefer to use. See below for information on how that's done.
NOTE:If your site is hosted with Applied Innovations, there is one more thing that needs to be done. That hosting environment has some special security measures in place that require a small adjustment to your DotFeed account. Submit a support ticket asking that your account be set up to work with AppliedI, and we'll get that taken care of for you!
Rules
Rules are used to change the information sent to channels in order to optimize some of the data that comes straight out of your storefront, or add in values that channels require that the storefront can't provide. Rules have to be set up manually for each channel. For information on how rules work in general and how to add them, see this page.
Each channel has a different 'spec' that determines how your product data has to be formatted. While DotFeed does most of the work for you, it's important to know what the spec for the channel you're using is, so you can know which of your storefront values you might want to override, and what minimum rules you have to set up to get your feed accepted.
See the 'Channel Formats' section below for details on the requirements of the supported channels.
Channel Formats
