You can download an example database to give you a clearer understanding of how to setup your catalog and organize your products. Please see our list of databases supported if you already have an existing database and just need to get it web-ready.

Here is a listing of the fields in the 'Products' table of the above example database, and a brief explanation of each field:

• CategoryNameNumber - Category of available product, such as 'Rings'.
• CategoryDesc - Optional description for internal use.
• SubCategoryNameNumber - Subcategory of Category, such as 'Ladies'.
• SubCategoryDesc - Optional description for internal use.
• ItemID - Item number of product.
• ItemIDLabel - Optional description for internal use.
• Description - Title or Name of product.
• Description2 - Additional optional description.
• DescriptionLONG - Long description of product.
• ShipSource - Source of where the item will be shipped from.
• StockQuantity - Available units of product.
• ColorGroupUsed - Yes/No flag. If yes, 'Colors' table in database must contain data.
• ItemColor - The name of the color group. If no Color groups are used, the flag is not checked, and this field is used to define the color of the product.
• SizeGroupUsed - Yes/No flag. If yes, 'Sizes' table in database must contain data.
• ItemSize - The name of the size group. If no size groups are used, the flag is not checked, and this field is used to define the size of the product.
• ShippingPerItem - Surcharge for item in addition to regular shipping charges.
• ItemWeight - How much the item weighs. Used in shipping calculations.
• Taxable - Yes/No flag. All items are taxable by default. This flag must be checked if the item is non-taxable.
• Price - The price of the product.
• Manufacturer - The manufacturer of the product.
• WarrAvail - Yes/No flag.
• Warranty - Description of warranty.
• ProductImageURL - The path and filename for the image or thumbnail image of the product.
• EnhancedImageURL - Optional. The path and filename for the enlarged image of the product.
• ImageDescription - Alt text for image.
• SourceZip - Zip Code that the item will be shipped from.
• DownloadFile - The path and filename of the item to be downloaded when using a Pay Per Download shopping cart.

Color and size groups are used to reduce the amount of data entry needed in setting up your products table. If you sell shirts, for example, you probably sell them in different colors and sizes. You only have to make one entry for each type of shirt that you sell, rather than having to make separate entries for each variation of the same shirt.

For more information on setting up database search and return pages, please our Database Documentation.