Samples > Starter stores > Starter store enhancements

IBM Gift Center for the Madisons starter store

IBM Gift Center for the Madisons starter store allows the business to incorporate a gift registry solution into the storefront that uses service-oriented architecture. The Gift Center Web services provide seamless integration of gift registry functions on the Madisons storefront. Using Gift Center, customers can create and manage gift registries for their special events, and their guests can purchase gifts directly from the store catalog using the Madisons checkout flows.

IBM Gift Center for the Madisons starter store provides:

• A set of Web services to support gift registry functions on the storefront. These Web services adhere to the WebSphere Commerce SOA model. The Web services use the Business Object Document (BOD) command framework with the data service layer (DSL) for persistence. The Gift Center Web services are integrated with the enhanced order services.

• A sample add-on store archive that you can install on top of the Madisons starter store. The store archive includes fully functional gift registry JSP pages to demonstrate the capabilities of the Gift Center Web services.

IBM Gift Center for Madisons supports an additional feature: remote widgets. This feature allows customers to share their gift registry as a remote widget on social networking sites, blogs, or personal Web pages. Friends and family viewing the gift registry remote widget can see the event information, the number of gift items requested, and the number of gift items still needed. The remote widget contains a link to connect customers directly to the storefront to view the gift registry details.

IBM Gift Center for Madisons is licensed to run only on WebSphere Commerce Enterprise or WebSphere Commerce Professional, not WebSphere Commerce Express.

Comparison with the IBM Gift Center for the Consumer direct sample store

IBM Gift Center for Madisons offers an architectural alternative to the IBM Gift Center version that installs on top of the Consumer direct sample store. The following table summarizes the key differences between the two available versions of IBM Gift Center:

IBM Gift Center for the Consumer direct sample store	IBM Gift Center for the Madisons starter store
Uses data beans and URL commands for the runtime Gift Center functions, such as creating and editing a gift registry.	Uses Web services for the runtime Gift Center functions, such as creating and editing a gift registry.
Includes a sample add-on store archive that installs on top of the Consumer direct sample store.	Includes a sample add-on store archive that installs on top of the Madisons starter store.

Despite these differences, the data model and domain model are the same in both versions. This reduces the migration impact if the site already uses IBM Gift Center for the Consumer direct sample store. The migration required is limited to the Web store development and any runtime customization you have implemented.

Gift Center sample add-on store archive

When you install the Gift Center sample add-on store archive on the Madisons starter store, the archive adds a fully functional gift registry to the store. The gift registry JSP pages offer the same gift registry functions as IBM Gift Center for the Consumer direct sample store, for example:

• Registrants can create registries, select gifts from the Madisons catalog, and manage the registry as the event date approaches.

• Gift givers can search for a particular registry and then purchase gifts for the registrant using the Madisons order services.

The sample add-on store archive adds a Gift Registry link to the header menu of the Madisons store. You can then explore the gift registry features from the landing page shown here:

The sample add-on store archive is provided to demonstrate the Web services provided for the gift registry functions. The sample pages are not intended for production use:

• They are available only in United States English (en_us).

• They are supported only on Internet Explorer 8 and has not been tested on other browsers.

• They have not been tested for accessibility, for example, to ensure that shoppers can:

  • Operate all features using the keyboard instead of the mouse.

  • Use screen-reader software to hear what is displayed on the screen.

Note that all samples are provided to you as is. Samples are furnished by IBM as simple examples and have not been thoroughly tested under all conditions. IBM, therefore, cannot guarantee a sample's reliability, serviceability or functionality.

The sample add-on store archive can be published on the Madisons store only, and not other starter stores.

The Gift Consultant and Kiosk user interfaces are not provided for IBM Gift Center for Madisons.

• IBM Gift Center for Madisons: Getting started
  To add the Gift Center Web services to the server, enable the WebSphere Commerce foundation services by running the foundation enablement script. Then you can download the sample add-on store archive for IBM Gift Center for the Madisons starter store and install the archive on top of the Madisons starter store. To use remote widgets for gift registries, you can publish the Madisons enhancements store archive as well.

• IBM Gift Center for Madisons: Working with the sample store pages
  You can develop and maintain the Gift Center sample store pages following the same general practices used for the Madisons starter store pages.

• IBM Gift Center for Madisons: Site flow and interactions
  Publishing the Gift Center sample add-on store archive on the Madisons starter store adds the gift registry pages to the Madisons storefront. The sample add-on store archive uses Web services for the runtime Gift Center functions. Use the site flow and interactions to understand the gift registry pages that the archive adds, and to identify starting points when making changes to the gift registry.

• IBM Gift Center for Madisons: Remote widgets for gift registries
  Customers can share their gift registry as a widget on social networking sites, blogs, or personal Web pages. Friends and family viewing the gift registry widget on the remote site can read details about the event and then click a link to the storefront to view the gift registry. By supporting gift registry remote widgets on the storefront, you provide customers with a convenient and stylish way to publicize their gift registry. At the same time, you promote the brand on social networks and drive traffic back to the site.

Related concepts

Madisons starter store

IBM Gift Center for the Consumer direct sample store

WebSphere Commerce BOD command framework

Related reference

Customize IBM Gift Center for Madisons

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