• Abstract

  1. The stock module allows you to manage a database of clients, a database of products (shared by the store front) and send different kinds of messages to your customers. It also allows to make invoices, delivery notes, reminders, and receipts in both html as pdf format.
  2. Currently the email features are not implemented, but the framework is present so the overhead is little to actually add those features.
  3. The stock module interfaces with the product database of the Store Module but does not update the stock amounts.
  4. Additional features can be implemented on request.

• Campaigns

  1. We call promotional actions « campaigns ». Basically you select what customers will receive the mailing, what products will be on that mailing and how the mailing will look. The system will generate pdf documents that contain those mailings. It will put a maximum of 5 clients in one pdf document and will put everything in a zip file if more then one pdf is generated.

• Invoices & Delivery Notes

  1. If a customer replied to the mailing and placed an order, you can prepare an invoice. You can select all the products of the mailing or manually select those products and quantities that are required. A delivery note is also generated and added as a new page in the pdf document.

• Reminders

  1. If your customer did not reply within a suitable time, then you can generate a reminder very easily by clicking the button. The system will generate a document that will remind the customer that an invoice was sent at specified date, and for proper form, will include a duplicate of that invoice.

• Receipts

  1. After payment has been received, you can finalise the transaction and the system will generate a receipt. This receipt will also attach a copy of the invoice, with a big stamp PAID on it.

Getting started

• Configuration of the Stock Module

  1. To configure the stock module, log on as admin, then click the menu, and select Stock -> Settings.
  2. The configuration screen will show you a long list of options and many ’save’ buttons. Those buttons are there for your convenience so that you don’t need to scroll down each time if you only want to change a few things.
  3. You should note, however, that all ’save’ buttons save the entire page, and will also force validation of the entire page.

• Campaign Settings

  1. These settings allow you to tweak the generated pdf document. Note that the page format is A4 and cannot be changed.

PDF Prolog

This text will appear on the first page of the mailing. You may use the following codes:

• %name% Will be changed in the customer’s name
• %firstname% For the customer’s first name

PDF Margin Top

Set the top margin of the mailing. The unit is points (pts)

PDF Margin Bottom

Set the bottom margin of the mailing (points)
WARNING: if you use to big values for top, and bottom margin, then the system will get stuck in an endless loop while trying to make sure that everything is on the pages (header, contents, footer).

PDF Print Header

If you are using stationary, then you are better of replying ‘no’ here so that the system will not print out the store address.

PDF Print Customer Address

You may choose to not print the customer’s address on each page because you are using a template that already prints those details.

Download the application and install via www.yoururl.co.uk/installer.php. The password for the installer should be brown all lower caps but is not working at the moment. The application was built to work with php 4 but I need it to work with php 5.2+ and obviously I need the installer to work. I also need for you to prepare a list of changes you would suggest.

The project has these specific goals:
1. CMS
2. With online shop
3. With stock control
4. With invoice management (for customers and suppliers)
5. With reporting on amounts paid and amounts owing and weekly, monthly, annually totals (spent compared to income)
6. With sales and contact management.

Your role should be to:
1. Make the current version work with php 5.2
2. Suggest style changes to make the application more accessible
3. Cost up and make proposals for the above.

Once completed I intend to open source the project and put up on Sourceforge and build its own website. Links to you will be made available as chief developer and could result in further adoption work.

I need price and timescale for no. 1 initially and then 2 and 3.

Many thanks.

I have just found a plugin that takes Wordpress into a new depth of cms. It is fantastic and can be found at:
Get-a-post.

The basic concept is using this code [php get_a_post(id); ] (I have substituted the Wordpress page or post anywhere on a page. It really is very excellent.

The code I have used is available as a zip file at:
The Zip File.

As you can see I have saved the file as a template called “about.php” and then attached this template to each of the pages mentioned above. It really was very easy to do.

A HUGE thanks to Moshula who pointed the plugin out to me and also to Kaf who produced the plugin.

Rich

Wordpress is the software that Cregy uses to build its content management sites or cms. Wordpress is a blogging software that also allows pages and plugins to be added.

To explain further. A cms is a site that allows you the customer to add, edit or delete content as you require. This frees you from having to deal with site design etc and allows you to freely add content. A blog is a specialised (but becoming highly popular) cms. The best way to describe the software is as an online diary. For example. Your company might sell bicycles. So you develop an online shop that sells bikes and accessories. However as a company you can enhance this site with a blog. You might have a weekly blog that offers specialised tips on maintaining your bike. Additionally you could also be offering a blog on cycle events or even a review of the cycle team that races as part of your shop!

The beauty of Wordpress as software is that you can add plugins. Plugins are vital for the development of your site and allow you to build your site in stages or even in one go. For example at Cregy we have developed a shop plugin. You could therefore build your site, the content, design and start a blog to attract visitors. Then six months down the road you decide to build an online shop. It is simple to activate the plugin, style the shop, add content and you have an online shop. It really is that simple. Although there is work involved in uploading content and taking pictures!

I have listed below some additional plugins that I have found useful:
Contact Form
Some adaptions designed and built by Cregy
Contact Form Download
Prayer Form Download
Forum
Google Sitemap Generator
Static front page
Subscribe Me
Adhesive
Jerome’s Keywords
Admin Menu Dropdown
Search and Replace
CG PowerPack

There are many more. The list above will continue to get updated as I find more useful plugins!

To get a more detailed understanding of Wordpress I would suggest a visit to the Wordpress site:
Wordpress
For support visit:
Wordpress Forums
site managed by Podz
Of course Cregy can offer specialised help in using Wordpress.