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ProductCart version 5.4 Release Notes

Release Notes


The version 5.4 release of ProductCart E-Commerce Software is a significant update from all previous versions. A considerable amount of the core code has been re-factored to eliminate redundancies and improve overall performance, and a number of important changes have been made to the ProductCart database. Please note the following upgrade recommendations and changes to ProductCart's support policies.

IMPORTANT:  Both the file updates and the database updater for the v5.4 release have been changed considerably from previous version updates. This upgrade is structured as a 'whole cloth' update that corrects a number of structural issues found in previous versions. For stock (un-modified) ProductCart stores, simply upload the update package, login to your control panel, and run the updater. Modified stores should run the update the same way, then re-apply any customizations to the updated store. Do not upgrade a modified store by attempting to merge new ProductCart code into existing modified code. Modified stores upgraded by following an incorrect process will be ineligible for support under our support & updates agreement and could be liable for hourly billing for ProductCart technical support.

Always back up store files and your ProductCart database before beginning any upgrade.

The database update script included in the 5.4 release distribution will update any prior version database to the v5.4 standard, including all version 3.x and 4.x databases. This update script greatly simplifies the process of upgrading legacy versions of ProductCart while maintaining data integrity. Any tables or other database elements added to your store through modification, however, will not be updated by the script and will have to be re-implemented into your store by a developer.

As a result of the numerous changes and improvements to the database, version 5.4 is not supported on any version of MS SQL Server prior to SQL Server 2012.  Our recommended database is SQL Server 2016. Microsoft has deprecated end-of-life support for SQL Server 208, and stores running on this database may experience loss of some functionality. The corrective action for these issues is for your hosting service to update SQL Server to version 2012 or newer. Technical support will not be available for database issues on versions prior to SQL Server 2012. For planning and upgrade purposes, please note that future versions of ProductCart (version 5.5 and later) will require SQL Server 2016.

All ProductCart-hosted stores run on SQL Server 2016. If your hosting service is still running SQL Server 2008, please contact them immediately regarding an upgrade to your store's SQL Server.

As stated above, because of version 5.4's refactored code base, ProductCart has revised guidance for upgrades to all versions of the software.  Stock (unmodified) stores need simply to follow the upgrade instructions provided in the release distribution. Modified stores should upgrade by first installing a 'clean' version of v5.4 or upgrading the existing store in a development environment; the modifications should then be re-implemented into the updated code base. 

Stores that are  upgraded against this guidance through attempts to merge v5.4 code elements into an existing code base are not eligible for free Technical Support.
 

New Features for Version 5.4

Re-factored code for faster page loads and search performance. Redundant queries and element iterations have been eliminated for fast page loads, and search code has been improved for faster performance, both on customer-facing pages and in the control panel.

Stripe payment integration. The popular Stripe payment method is now included as a standard available payment integration. 

Back in Stock. Send a customized email to notify customers when an out of stock product is re-stocked in your store.

New HTML editor for content management.  The content management issues encountered in some browser builds has been resolved through the integration of a new HTML editor module.

Improved control panel UI. Control panel pages have been modified to make better use of screen space and for improved organization of information.

Promotion engine. Discount codes (coupons) and the sales manager have been replaced by all-new functionality that allows for more effective combinations of promotions. This includes options for BOGO and Buy More, Save More discounts. 

Version 2 Netsource Sales Tax API and interface. New options allow tax exemptions set by state and by individual product or category.

Email cart functionality. Registered customers can share their shopping carts with others by email.

Improved category deletion process. Updated control panel workflow speeds deletion of unused categories by eliminating the requirement to remove all products prior to deletion.

Admin 'Logged in as customer' warning in control panel. For merchants who frequently use the "Place Order" function for their customers, this features sets a control panel prompt to remind admin users when they are still operating under a customer login. 

Revised registration/login page layout.  New login page structure to clarify use of advanced security CAPTCHA elements during registration/login process.

Improved category display in control panel.  Significantly improved render speed of large categories through admin option that can hide both inactive products and product thumbnail images.

Google Tag Manager updates. GTM functionality updated to newer standards.

Enhanced customer account consolidation. Improved admin consolidation process, including the ability to consolidate guest account information and orders under a single customer email address.

Updated help and reference links in control panel.  Admin help links now point to the new online documentation resource for ProductCart.

In-stock status update at checkout. Enhances the Add-to-Cart stock check with a secondary stock check during One Page Checkout to prevent orders of products that sell while a customer has them in their active shopping cart or in a saved shopping cart.