Managing Modules

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Managing Modules

PrestaShop 1.4 comes bundled with over 110 modules that can be installed/uninstalled and configured as desired, so as to customize and complete your shop. The range of actions is virtually unlimited: the extensibility of PrestaShop makes it possible to turn your shop into exactly what you intend it to do, instead of you having to comply with constraints that you didn't choose – provided you can find the module that does exactly what you need.

The "Modules" tabs gives you access to the list of modules. On this page you can install, uninstall, and configure each module.

  • Click on "Install": in one click, the module is installed.

  • When a module needs to be configured, a click on "Configure" will lead you to a set-up wizard.

  • Uninstalling can also be done with a single click. You will lose your settings for this module

  • If you'd rather keep your settings for this module, you can disable it by clicking on the green tick.

Modules can have one of 4 statuses, represented by icons:

  • Installed and enabled

  • Non installed

  • Installed but disabled

  • Installed and enabled, but with warnings.

Most of the time, warnings are a reminder that you haven't properly configured the module. Click their "Configure" link and go through the various needed steps.

Here, we present the modules that already exist as part of PrestaShop, and how to configure them. Click the "+" sign for each category in order to expand them.

List of available modules

SEO

This section contains only one module.

Google Sitemap

In order to optimize your SEO, it is essential to have a sitemap, which is a XML file that lists all pages and products on your store. This will allow search engines to index all pages easily and efficiently. Your products will then appear perfectly in the search engines when a visitor conducts a search. You can create a sitemap for PrestaShop, and be indexed by Google (and other search engines that support the file format), using tools such as Google's Webmaster Tools. Once installed, click the "Configure" link to reach this page.

The first step is to decide whether or not to display the products that you have not activated in your shop. If you want to use all products, check "Sitemap contains all products". Inactive products will then be indexed by Google so that you can make them visible as soon as you put them back online. Once you've finished configuring the module, click on "Update sitemap file". You are given the Sitemap's address (e.g., myprestashop.com/sitemap.xml). Copy this URL to save it to your Google Webmaster Tools account. The module will then show you the file size and the number of pages indexed. Remember to update it regularly so that search engines index your content perfectly.

Smart Shopping

This section contains three modules.

Export Shopping Feed

Export your products to Shopping Feed.

Shopping Feed

Sell your Prestashop products on hundreds Marketplaces and Comparison Shopping

Twenga API

Twenga is an online open shopping platform that aims to bring together "all online products and stores in one place". This module helps you put your product on the Twenga platform: it exports your list of products on their service, and helps you track your sales through them.

You must have a Twenga account to make this module work.

Once installed, click the "Configure" button and follow the instructions.

Billing & Invoicing

This section contains two modules.

Avalara - AvaTax

Sales Tax is complicated. AvaTax makes it easy.

European VAT Number

This module enables you customer to fill in their VAT number in their details. The VAT can be fetched through a web service, based on your country.

The VAT field appears only when the user enters the company name.

Search & Filter

This section contains only one module.

Quick Search block

This module installs a search field in your store. It is installed and enabled by default, and you should leave it enabled to facilitate visitor's navigation. The search block can display results as soon as the first letters are typed.

There is no configuration page.

Market Place

This section contains two modules.

eBay

This module enables you to easily bring your product catalog on eBay. This is an excellent way of widening your shop's audience.

Install the module, click on the "Configure" link, and follow the module's instructions. For instance, you will have to register your module/shop on eBay first in order for it to work.

Neteven

Sell on all marketplaces thanks to Neteven.

Migration Tools

This section contains two modules.

Shop Importer

A generic module to import your stock of products from another e-commerce system to your PrestaShop shop. By default it doesn't provide anything, it needs platform-specific modules in order to work. Once at least one such module is activated, this module's configuration page gives access to a drop-down menu. Choose the platform of the source system, and enter the required authentication details. Click "Next Step" and follow the module's instructions.

Caution

Do make a backup of both platforms before doing anything! It is vital that you be able to restore your data in case of import failure.

Importer osCommerce

This is an import module for the Shop Importer. Install it in order to use it with the Shop importer module.

Pricing & Promotion

This section contains four modules.

Birthday Present

This module can create and send discount vouchers to your clients on their birthdays. Install it and then click "Configure" to include this feature. Several options will appear:

  1. Activate the module.

  2. Choose what type of discount you want to send, i.e. discount on order %, etc.

  3. Enter the amount in the "Value" field and specify the minimum amount that the customer must buy to use this voucher.

In order for this module to work, you must configure a cron task on your server that will be run every day. The address of the file is:

http://www.myprestashop.com/modules/birthdaypresent/cron.php

Note

A CRON task automatically and regularly executes a task. You can configure it from your admin server. If you are not comfortable with this operation, please contact your administrator.

Specials block

This module adds a block to your shop's home page, where the customer can discover the current specials (randomly chosen).

Install it, and see how simple the configuration is:

Fid'Bag

Provide a loyalty program to your customers.

Customer loyalty and rewards

PrestaShop's loyalty tool offers your clients a certain amount of loyalty points depending on the amount they spend at your store Install it and click "Configure" to access this form:

Fill in the various fields and selectors according to your needs, and save.

Payment Security

This section contains 3 modules.

FIA-NET - Certissim

FIA-NET is a French third-party e-commerce trust partner: it protects both customers and online shops against credit card frauds and other malevolent activities. You have to already have a FIA-NET account in order to use the module. Ask for one here. Once you have an account, configure the module with your details.

PrestaShop Security

PrestaShop Security is a service provided by PrestaShop in order to protect the security of your shop against fraudulent payments.

If you do not have an account, you can create one directly from PrestaShop: fill in the first field with your e-mail, and check that the second one does contain the correct URL for your shop, then click "Create Account".

If you do already have an account, change the top selector accordingly in order to make the following form appear:

Fill it in with your credentials and choices from your shop, and save.

Trusted Shops Customer Rating

Trusted Shops is "the leading seal of approval for online shops in Europe which includes buyer protection for consumers and a rating system".

You must have an account in order to use this module. You can create one through this partner link.

Once you have an account, fill in your details. Do not forget the module's second tab.

Advertising & Marketing

This section contains 5 modules.

Block Advertising

It will display on the front office of your store an image of your choice. Clicking on "Configure" you can load the image of your choice, or indicate the image URL. Validate and the image will appear to your customers.

Customer follow-up

This module enables you to create e-mail alerts for your customers. It gives you a way to automatically send discount vouchers to some of your customers.

For example, you may want to send vouchers to those who have abandoned their shopping carts, or to those who you want to thank for their order, to the best clients to thank them for their purchases and for being faithful.

Enable it, then click "Configure". You may choose among four kinds of e-mails.

Google AdWords

Google AdWords "offers a contextual advertising solution to web publishers. Delivers text-based Google AdWords ads that are relevant to site content pages."

This module enables you to easily integrate Google AdWords script into your shop. You need to have a Google AdWords account in order to use this module.

Once you have one, all you have to do is to add your AdWords script code into the textfield.

Customer referral program

You shop can use your current customers to win new customers with a customer referral system. Install this module then click "Configure".

Here is a description of each field:

  • Minimum number of orders a sponsored friend must place to get their voucher. Fill in the field with the value of your choice. Until this number is reached, your clients can't take advantage of the discount.

  • Number of friends in the referral program invitation form. Fill in the value of your choice.

  • Voucher type. You can give two types of reduction, either in percentage or amount. Select the one you prefer, then specify the value of the discount you want to apply in the various currencies supported by your shop.

  • Voucher Description. Enter the name for the coupon.

Once the setup is complete, click "Update text".

To fully explain how the referral program works, you can write a description in the "Referral Program Rules." Once the conditions are completed, click on "Update text".

When your customers register and want to view the benefits they will reap, they must go to the "Referral" section of their account. A new screen will appear.

Your customer can then enter the name and email address of the person he wishes to refer to your site. After he clicks "Confirm," the persons he entered will receive an email.

In "Pending Friends", the referral tool displays to the customer which of his referrals did not make a purchase after the email was sent. They may choose to resend an email by selecting the name and clicking "Refer my friends". Friends will then receive an email inviting them to register and submit an order.

The last tab in "my referrals", named "Friends I have sponsored", enables customers to see who among those to whom they sent a referral message, did accept the invitation and ordered an item on the store. When registering, the referees must indicate the email address of the person who referred them, so that they in turn may benefit from the discount:

Administration

This section contains 12 modules.

1-click Upgrade

Provides an automated method to upgrade your shop to the latest PrestaShop version

CloudCache

Supercharge your Shop with the CloudCache.com Content Delivery Network (CDN).

Artichow

This module enables a graphic library that can be used in order to create stats graphs.

Google Chart

This module enables a graphic library that can be used in order to create stats graphs.

Visifire

This module enables a graphic library that can be used in order to create stats graphs.

XML/SWF Charts

This module enables a graphic library that can be used in order to create stats graphs.

Simple HTML table display

Mail alerts

PrestaShop enables you to alert your clients by e-mail in certain cases, e.g., when a new order is placed in your shop, or if a product is almost out of stock. Guests can enter an email address at which they will be contacted when the product becomes available again. Click "Install" then "configure" to configure the module.

When you check the "Product Availability" box, a field appears on the product page of your store when the product is out of stock. It asks your customers to leave their contact information so that they may be contacted when you store will have this product back in stock.

In the "Mail Alert" section, you can specify whether you wish to be alerted of each new order. To do so, check the box labeled "New Order". If you want to be alerted when a product reaches a level of stock that you set, select "Out of stock" and set the value at which you wish to be alerted.

Mail alerts can be sent to multiple addresses at the same time. To do so, list each e-mail address that will receive the notification (one e-mail address per line. To move to the line, press the Enter key on your keyboard). Once the setup is complete, click "Save."

Mobile template

Provides a mobile template compatible with iPhone, Android, etc.

Newsletter

Your customers can give you their e-mail address either by entering it in the Newsletter block located on the homepage or by checking the "Yes" box to subscribe to the newsletter when they register. You need these e-mail addresses in order to do some marketing. Install it and click "Configure" in order to bring the needed page.

Upon registration, your customers have two choices related to the newsletter: The first asks users to subscribe to the newsletter, the second to receive offers from partners (Opt-In).

The first section enables you to collect all the email addresses recorded by the newsletter block on your homepage, by clicking the button "Export .CSV file". A notification will appear, asking you to click on a link to download the file containing the addresses.

Four pieces of information will be present in this file. The customer id, e-mail address, the day of registration, and the IP address. If you use this data with software such as Microsoft Excel, you can sort the information as you wish.

The second item, named "Export clients", enables you to filter your customers' e-mail addresses. You can then filter the clients by country of origin by selecting "Customer Country" from the drop-down menu, and then selecting the country you want. Filtering by country is particularly useful for sending newsletters in the right language and for adapting your offers.

You can then take more information into account, when exporting the e-mail addresses. Select the field "Newsletter's subscribers", and select from the drop-down menu one of the following three items:

  • The first "All customers" enables you to select all the e-mail addresses of your customers who open an account on your store. That is to say, those who do want to receive information from your part, as well as those who don't. Be careful what you did with it, then.

  • The second, "Subscribers", enables you to select only those customers who do want to receive a newsletter from you.

  • The third "Non-subscribers" enables you to select only those customers who do not want receive a newsletter from you.

Next is the "Opted-in Subscribers" field, where you can filter the contacts based on their desire to register for messages from advertising partners. Similarly, three choices are available:

  • The first "All customers" enables you to select all the e-mail addresses of your customers who open an account on your store. That is to say, those who want and do not wish to receive information from your part.

  • The second, "Subscribers", enables you to select only those customers who do want to receive a newsletter from your partners.

  • The third "Non-subscribers" enables you to select only those customers who do not want receive a newsletter from your partners.

Once you have filtered the e-mail addresses to export, click "Export .CSV File" to retrieve all addresses. As before, a notification on a green background appears asking you to click and download the file. This document contains six types of information: The customer ID, Last Name, First Name, email address, IP address, and date of registration. You can then use this information to send your marketing campaigns.

Import/export a theme

This is a special module that enables you to import a theme and install it (and its attached modules), or to export a theme and its modules from your shop in order to share it with the world.

The module presents you with 3 methods to install a new module: from your computer, from a public website, or from your own FTP server.

Importing a theme

Whatever the method, the process remains the same: indicate the location of the theme's Zip archive, then click "Next".

Import from your computer: using the file explorer to find the archive. Import from the web: indicate the direct public URL to the archive. Import from FTP: using your FTP client, upload the archive in the following folder: prestashop/modules/themeinstallator/import/ .

A quick summary is displayed in the next page.

Click "Next" again to validate your choice. The theme is now installed, and PrestaShop asks you if you wish to install modules that were imported along with the theme, what you'd rather do with the current modules configuration, and how you'd like the images configuration to be taken into account.

Click "Next" one last time. A final confirmation page presents you with all the changes applied to your PrestaShop install. Click "Finish" to end the process.

Exporting a theme

Once at least one theme has been important into your PrestaShop install, a new section appears in the "Import/Export a theme" module configuration page.

Select a theme and click on "Export this theme". A configuration form appears where you can set the exported themes parameters: author, modules, theme name, compatibility version, etc.

Once all the parameters are correctly set, click on "Generate the archive now". You will quickly get a file to download from your browser. Save it on your hard-drive, then give the save file a proper name. From there on, you can easily share this theme, and if it's your own creation, you can start selling it on PrestaShop's Addons website!

Watermark

This module enables you to add a watermark to images from your store. This limits their diffusion on the Internet.

Note: if you intend to export your products on Google Shopping, know that on this service, the usage of promotional text / logos and watermarks in the images is not allowed. You may only upload images which are free of any further watermarks / logos

Install it, then click on "Configure".

First select the image (the ‘watermark') that you want to apply to images (the image must be in GIF format). Then select the watermark transparency value (100 amounts to a non-transparent image). Select where your watermark should appear on each of your images. The X alignment corresponds to the horizontal axis. The drop-down menu proposes three options:

  • Left

  • Medium

  • Right

Then select the Y alignment (vertical alignment) and choose from these options:

  • Top

  • Middle

  • Bottom

Combine the two axes to choose where to place your watermark. Then select what type of image it is being applied to. Once you have configured the module to your convenience, click on "Save." At this stage the configuration is completed but the watermarks are not yet implemented. Go to the "Preferences" tab, then under the "Images". Click "regenerate thumbnails".

After this process, your watermark image will appear on the images that you selected.

Shipping & Logistics

This section contains 10 modules.

Shipping Estimate

This module enables the customer to compare carrier possibilities before going under the checkout process. Just install it to display this on your front-office.

Note that all your carriers must have their fees properly set. This is done at the bottom "Shipping" page, in the "Fees by carrier, geographical zone, and ranges".

Date of delivery

This module displays an approximate date of delivery during the checkout process.

You need to set delivery rules for each carrier. Click "Add Now" to find that form.

You should create as many delivery rules as necessary.

Set the remaining module options, and finally click "Save".

Connect to FedEx

FedEx is "the fastest courier services around the world daily. FedEx Express is your 24 hours solution for the best courier service".

With this module, you can add FedEx as a carrier, and offer your customers different delivery methods through their service.

You must have a FedEx account in order to use this module. You can register on their website.

Once you have your account set up, fill in the various fields from the module's configuration form, and validate. Once your PrestaShop is tied to the FedEx webservice, you can use the two other tabs, named "Categories Settings" and "Products Settings". The last tab gives you some help.

Kiala Comprehensive datafile integration – Kiala contract holders only

Offer delivery choice and savings to your customers. Activate the Kiala collection Point delivery option.

Kiala Light webservice integration

Offer delivery choice and savings to your customers. Activate the Kiala collection Point delivery option.

Mondial Relay

This module enables you to display rates for delivering in Mondial Relay points. This service is available in France, Luxembourg, Spain and Belgium.

You must have a Mondial Relay account in order to use this service. You can create one on their website.

Once you have your authentication details, use them to fill the first form in the module, and click "Update Settings" in order to connect your shop to the Mondial Relay webservice.

From there on, follow the module's instructions.

So Colissimo

SoColissimo is a service offered by La Poste (France), which allows you to offer your customers various modes of delivery.

You must have a So Colissimo account in order to use this service. You can create by calling a phone number in France: (+33) 36 34.

Once you have your authentication details, use them for fill the module's form, then click "Save".

TNT Express

Offer your customers, different delivery methods with TNT

Tracking - Front office

Enable your affiliates to access their own statistics.

Connect to UPS

UPS is a well-known worldwide parcel carrier

With this module, you can add UPS to your list of carriers, and offer your customers different delivery methods through their service.

You must have an UPS account in order to use this module. You can register on their website.

Once you have your account set up, fill in the various fields from the module's configuration form, and validate. Once your PrestaShop is tied to the UPS webservice, you can use the two other tabs, named "Categories Settings" and "Products Settings". The last tab gives you some help.

Connect to USPS

This module enables you to add the United States Postal Service to your list of carriers.

You must have an USPS account in order to use this module. You can register on their website.

Once you have your account set up, fill in the various fields from the module's configuration form, and validate. Once your PrestaShop is tied to the USPS webservice, you can use the two other tabs, named "Categories Settings" and "Products Settings". The last tab gives you some help.

Payments & Gateways

This section contains 14 modules

They are all explained in detail in the "Managing Payments Methods" chapter of this user-guide, in the "Setting up a payment module" section.

Analytics & Stats

This section contains 27 modules. Most of them create a new section in the "Stats" tab of your PrestaShop install. Many are installed by default. Therefore, if some of PrestaShop's functionalities are not useful to you, you can disable them here.

Many are described in detail in the "Understanding Statistics" of this user-guide. In this section, we will only describe the ones that are not enabled by default.

Google Analytics

This module makes it easy for you to install a Google Analytics script on your shop. You will then be able to enjoy the stats tools offered by Google.

You must have a Google Analytics account to make this widget work. Once you have one, follow the Analytics instructions to create a profile for your shop. You will receive a unique identifier. Use it in the module's "username" field and save it. Google Analytics will start gathering stats about your visitors.

Do read all the instructions provided by the module.

Analytics for ecommerce

The best analytics for ecommerce merchants. Deeply integrated into the Prestashop platform.

Best manufacturers

This module adds a "Best Manufacturers" link to the list of possible stats.

Geolocation

This module adds a "Geolocation" link to the list of possible stats.

At first launch, you will have to update the location of many of the missing countries (mostly the lesser known ones). This will help the module locate your visitors. Simply click on the country's name, and indicate where it is on the map.

Front Office Features

This section contains 31 modules.

Many of these are installed by default. Therefore, if some of PrestaShop's functionalities are not useful to you, you can disable them here.

Top seller block

Add a block displaying the shop's top sellers.

Cart block

Displays the products that your customers added to their carts. They can then see their basket to change the amount of product they're ordering or delete or add a coupon. The block is presented as follows. By clicking on "Shopping Cart", they see the "Summary Order" of all products added to their basket and their quantity.

Categories block

This feature allows you to display a list of your product categories on your site. To create the categories, consult the section Managing Categories on page 17.

CMS Block

Adds a block with several CMS links.

Currency block

This feature allows your customers to choose which currency will appear in price displays, as well as how the customers will pay for their orders. The block appears in standard currency in the header (top part) of your store. To add or configure the currencies go to the "payment / currency" section.

Block customer data privacy

Adds a block to display a message about customer data privacy.

Language block

Choose the languages that you want your store to appear in with the "Language Block" model. If you don't want the languages to appear then uninstall this block.

Layered navigation block

Displays a block with layered navigation filters: it enables the customer to define cumulative criteria to filter category products, little by little providing more details in order to reduce the number of products displayed. This is a great tool for customers who know the details of what they want (color, condition, price range...), but are unsure how to find it.

When configuring the module, you are presented with 4 sections.

Indexes and caches

In order to work properly, layered navigation needs to be kept up-to-date with your latest products, product attributes and product prices – unless these never change. You should therefore regularly re-index the data, using the buttons provided here. They each have specific actions:

  • Index all missing prices. Adds to the index only the prices that were not indexed before. Much faster than the next button.

  • Rebuild entire price index. Adds to the index all the prices, whether they were already indexed before or not. Much slower than the previous button when you have many products.

  • Build attribute index. Adds to the index all the product attributes.

  • Build url index. Adds to the index all the product URLs.

You should update your indexes every time your products' data changes. As this can prove pretty painstaking or even boring, PrestaShop enables you to trigger the indexing automatically, using cron tasks. Add the provided URLs to your crontab, and you will not have to handle this yourself anymore. If you do not know about cron and crontab, ask your webhost about it.

Existing filters templates

Layered navigation is based on templates, or group of criteria. There is one by default, named "My template", which makes use of all the available filters. You should create templates more adapted to your content or needs.

You can have as many templates as needed. This section enables you to edit and delete them when necessary.

Build your own filters template

The template builder enables you to specify what kind of filters your customers should have access to.

Creating a new template requires only three easy steps:

  1. Select categories. You can either create filter for the whole site, or on a per-category basis. You could for instance have the whole site display the price filter, while some categories can have additional filters. When choosing "Specific categories", a small window opens where your can choose in which categories this filter should be available. Note that filters do not automatically apply to sub-categories of the selected category: if there is no product on your "Home" category, then the layered navigation will not appear there.

  2. Selected filters. The number of available filters depends on the content of your shop. Six default filters will appear here: price, weight, condition, manufacturer, available stock and sub-categories. Along with these are the attribute groups for all products in the selected categories (with the number of products). Check a filter's box to move if from the "Available" section to the "Selected" one. You can move the filters up and down with your mouse cursor, which will influence their display in the front-page. Each filter has a two drop-down menu included:

    • Type of display. You can choose how the filter is displayed to the customer. The visualization depends on the type of the filter.

      • Numerical (price & weight): check-box, radio button, drop-down list. Note that only the check-box setting allows for multiple selection.

      • Alphabetical (all others): slider, inputs area, list of values.

    • Limit. If some of your categories have too many choices for a given filters, you can limit the number of items using this selector.

  3. Name your template. Customers will not see the name, but it will prove very useful to you when you have to edit one template among the dozen or hundred you may create in the lifespan of your shop.

Note that saving the filter will not save the whole configuration: you have to save the filter first, then click on "Save configuration".

Configuration

Two options are available:

  • Hide filter values with no product is matching. If disabled, you will still see filters, even if they are useless because of the lack of matching product (which can make the layered navigation over-crowded with options).

  • Show the number of matching products. Displays the number after the name of the filter, between brackets. If there is no matching product, it will display "(0)".

  • Show products from subcategories. The filter applies to more than just the current category.

  • Category filter depth (0 for no limits, 1 by default). If the above option is enabled, you risk having too many products taken into account, and lose the interest of layered navigation. The depth is of 1 by default, but you can use even deeper sub-categories.

  • Use tax to filter price.

  • Allow indexing robots (google, yahoo, bing, ...) to use condition filter.

  • Allow indexing robots (google, yahoo, bing, ...) to use availability filter.

  • Allow indexing robots (google, yahoo, bing, ...) to use manufacturer filter.

These options apply to all templates and filters.

Link block

With this module you can add links to the sites you want, or to pages of your store. Click "Install" then "configure" to add links to this block. The page below, divided into three sections, will appear.

The first section, "Add a new link", enables you to specify the link's name and URL. Enter a link following the form http://www.myprestashop.com, then click "Add this link".

The second section, "Block title," is where you add a site name as well as a URL to which visitors will be redirected.

By default the links are ordered according by most recent update. If you want to change this setting, select instead “by oldest link” from the drop-down menu to place the oldest links first. At the bottom of the page, you will find all of the links that you have entered. If you would like to modify the links, click the Edit button, or to delete a link, click the red cross.

Once the changes are made, the results will appear on your site.

Manufacturers block

Displays a block of manufacturers/brands.

My Account block

Each client must be able to view all of their account data. Here they will find a summary of previously made orders, package tracking, product returns, their addresses (if more than one), coupons etc. Once the client is connected he will see a panel appear.

New products block

This block presents recently added products, in order to make them more visible. With this option you can create traffic for your new products. You can set the number of visible links by configuring this module.

Newsletter block

This block invites your store's visitors to enter their email address to be included in the newsletter.

You can in the configuration set several options For example ‘Send a confirmation email after registration' or ‘send a discount code for each entry'

Block payment logo

Adds a block to display all payment logos.

The module's configuration page lets you choose where to display these logos.

Permanent links block

Adds a block that displays permanent links such as sitemap, contact, etc.

RSS feed block

The RSS feed allows your visitors to stay informed about news from a site that you specify in the field provided in the module configuration. Please do not put your website address in this field- it could create an error. The RSS feed will then appear on the front of your shop in a block. Visitors can sign up for the RSS feed in this block.

Stores block

Displays a block with a link to the store locator.

Suppliers block

Adds a block displaying suppliers.

Tags block

This block can slightly improve your store's SEO and make visible the most important words of your shop. Indicate in the module's configuration how many keywords should appear. They will then show up in a block.

User info block

Adds a block that displays information about the customer.

Viewed products block

This block displays the latest products that each customer has consulted. You can set the number of products shown by completing the "products displayed" field.

Wishlist block

With this module your customers can save a wish list that can be sent to many people. Once the module is enabled, the product page will have a new button, "Add to my list." By clicking the button and logging in, you client can add the products to his list. He can always review its contents by going directly into the "My Wishlist" section of his account.

The module's configuration page enables you to view your customers' lists.

Cross Selling

This module displays a "Customers who bought this product also bought..." block.

Home text editor

To adjust your online store's home page click "configure". You will then discover all the fields that you can configure. You can edit each of them in all the languages installed on your shop. To do this, select the language by clicking on the flag next to the field.

The home page image itself may also be modified. To do this, click on "Browse" to find the image you want on your computer.

Once you are done, click "Update."

You can now see the new look of your store by going to your homepage.

Note: The homepage is the first image that your visitors experience when they access your store. Remember to make it pleasant and efficient and to update it regularly.

RSS products feed

Enables you to generate an RSS Product Feed on your store, showing the latest products that you have put on line. Regular visitors as well as search engines are very fond of this module.

FIA-NET Seal of Confidence

Turn your visitors into buyers by creating confidence in your site.

FIA-NET is a French third-party e-commerce trust partner: it protects both customers and online shops against credit card frauds and other malevolent activities.

You have to already have a FIA-NET account in order to use the module. Ask for one here. Once you have an account, configure the module with your details.

Featured Products on the homepage

With this module you can choose which products to highlight by placing them on your homepage.

To activate this feature, install the module located in your Back Office and click on "Configure". A page will appear asking how many products you want to show. Enter the value of your choice and click "Save." Now go into the configuration page of a product of your choice by going to the "Catalog" tab. Select "Home" as the category into which the product appears. Validate by clicking on "Save" and you product will appear on your store's home page

Repeat for all of the products that you want to place on the home page by checking the box marked "Home".

Product Comments

This module gives visitors the possible to leave a message on your product page. They can write it by using a new tab that will add itself to your product page.

Click on "Configure" from your Back Office and you will have the option of validating or rejecting the comments submitted. To validate click on the corresponding green icon; to delete the comment then click on the red icon. If you want your comments to be validated automatically, check the red cross icon in "Validation Required."

Products Category

The "Products Category" module enables you to display on each product page suggestions of other products that are in the same category. This model is particularly useful for discovering what your store has to offer.

Product tooltips

This model shows information on the behavior of the visitors on the page that you're currently looking at Click on "install" to install this module then on "configure" to set up all of the different possibilities offered. The screenshot below will then appear.

Validate the choices corresponding to the information that you would like to show to your clients. Once you are done click on "Update Settings" to save. This information will then be posted in the top right section of your browser.

Send to a Friend module

You want to give your customers the opportunity to share your product knowledge. In order to do this, install this module at the bottom of your product pages: a link will appear with which you can share the product.

By clicking on the link, you are then redirected to a form where you can enter the name and email address of the person with whom you want to share your product. He will then receive the link of the product in question, inviting him to see it.

Modules & Themes Catalog

PrestaShop comes bundled with a host of modules, but even that number might seem limiting, or you could want to explore other directions.

There are many more modules available on the PrestaShop Addons website. Some are free, others are for-pay, and you're sure to find something that suits your needs! Once you are a seasoned module developer/theme designer, you can even submit your own creations, and sell them on Addons!

The "Modules & Themes Catalog" gives you a quick and easy access to the Addons database of modules and themes. A search query will return the 5 first results from Addons, with more available if you click on the "View all results on addons.prestashop.com" link.

Installing modules

Once you have downloaded a module from the Addons online store, it's up to you have it installed on your PrestaShop site.

There are two ways to install a module: either using the dedicated form, or using your FTP client.

Installing using the dedicated form

To install a new PrestaShop module "automatically", click on the "Add a module from my computer" link at the top of the list of modules. This will reveal a new section.

Two options are presented in the "Add a new module" section:

  • Add a module from a web server: simply put the URL to its online zip file, and validate.

  • Add a module from your computer: browse to the module's Zip file that you downloaded, and validate.

In both cases, you must point to the module's Zip archive, and not its folder or any of its unpacked files.

Once validated, PrestaShop will load the module (either from the Web or from your computer), unpack it, place the files in the correct location, and update the page, all this in a handful of seconds.

Installing using an FTP client

To install a new PrestaShop module manually:

  1. Unzip (decompress) the module archive file (.zip). This should result in a new folder.

  2. Using your FTP client, place the folder in your PrestaShop /modules folder. Pay attention NOT to upload that folder in another module's folder (which can happen when drag-and-dropping items). Upload the whole folder, not just the files it contains.

  3. Go to your back-office, in the "Modules" tab.

  4. Locate the new module in the modules list. You might have to scroll down; you can also use the list's search engine, which should give you a dynamically updated list of matching module names.

  5. In the row for the new module, click the "Install" button.

  6. Your module is now installed and should be activated too (green tick). If necessary, click on the module's "Configure" link. Pay also attention to any warning message that might be displayed by PrestaShop.

Once configuration is complete, be sure to test the module immediately to confirm that it works as planned.

Uninstalling a module

If you only need to temporarily not use the module, but still wish to keep its configuration, you can simply disable it: just click on the green tick, which should then turn into a red cross, meaning that the module is still installed, but disabled.

If you do not care about the module's configuration, click on the "Uninstall" button: your module's folder will still be in the /modules folder, but the module will not have any more impact on your shop.

If you changed your theme to take the module into account, make sure that the disabling or removal of the module does not break the theme.

My Account

PrestaShop also enables you to access your Addons account right from the back-office.

Log-in using the form on the "My Account" sub-tab, and get access to all your Addons details.

Themes

The "Themes" sub-tab enables you to quickly customize the current theme: header logo, mail logo, invoice logo, favicon, store icon and even the navigation pipe can be easily modified from there.

From this sub-tab, you can also choose to use another theme (if you have more than one installed already).

Finally, a section lists the latest themes from the Addons site, and you can click on any of them to reach their page, and possibly download them.

Installing using the Theme Installator module

This is the recommended method, as it preserves all the blocks' positions on their respective hooks.

The "Import/export a theme" module is a native module, and should be installed by default. This is a special module that enables you to import a theme and install it (and its attached modules), or to export a theme and its modules from your shop in order to share it with the world.

Find this module in the module list (in the "Modules" page), and open its configuration screen. This screen presents you with 3 methods to install a new module: from your computer, from a public website, or from your own FTP server. It also gives you a method to export your module in a correct format.

Importing a theme

Whatever the method, the process remains the same: indicate the location of the theme's Zip archive, then click "Next".

Import from your computer: using the file explorer to find the archive. Import from the web: indicate the direct public URL to the archive. Import from FTP: using your FTP client, upload the archive in the following folder: /modules/themeinstallator/import/ .

A quick summary is displayed in the next page, indicating what that importer is about to do..

Click "Next" again to validate your choice. The theme is now installed, and PrestaShop asks you if you wish to install modules that were imported along with the theme, what you would rather do with the current modules configuration, and how you would like the images configuration to be taken into account.

Click "Next" one last time. A final confirmation page presents you with all the changes applied to your PrestaShop site. Click "Finish" to end the process.

Exporting a theme

This section is only available when there is at least one theme installed on your PrestaShop site. Exporting a theme is very useful when you want either to back the theme up for safety, and create an archive of the theme for a friend or in order to make it available on the Addons marketplace (http://addons.prestashop.com/fr/). Not only does it generate a complete Zip archive of your theme, but it also adds many information in an XML files, which is very useful both when uploading to Addons, and when importing to another PrestaShop site.

Select a theme and click on "Export this theme". A configuration form appears where you can set the exported themes parameters: author, theme name, compatibility version, attached modules (if any), etc.

Once all the parameters are correctly set, click on "Generate the archive now". You will quickly get a file to download from your browser. Save it on your hard-drive, then give the save file a proper name. From there on, you can easily share this theme, and if it is your own creation, you can start selling it on PrestaShop's Addons website at http://addons.prestashop.com/.

Installing using a FTP client

This method is not recommended, but is still available. Use with caution: your blocks might not have the expected position on their respective hooks.

To install a new PrestaShop theme via FTP:

  1. Unzip (decompress) the theme archive file (.zip). This should result in at least one new local folder, /themes, containing your theme's folder(s).

  2. Using your FTP client, place the theme's folder (as found in the local /themes folder) online in your PrestaShop /themes folder. Pay attention NOT to upload that folder in another theme's folder (which can happen when drag-and-dropping items). Upload the whole folder, not just the files it contains.

  3. (optional) If the theme's archive contains a second /modules folder, it means your new theme comes bundled with modules that are specific to it, or necessary for it to run properly. Using your FTP client, place the folder(s) found in the local /modules folder online in your PrestaShop /modules folder. If your online PrestaShop install already has a module of the same name, try to only keep the most recent version of the two (the one with the most recent files). If unsure, keep the version bundled with the theme, as it is the most likely to work best with it.

  4. Go to your back-office, in the "Modules" tab then it "Themes" sub-tab.

  5. Select the new theme in place of the current theme, by clicking on the radio button then clicking "Save".

  6. Your theme is now in place.

  7. (optional) If the theme came with modules, activate them on the back-office's "Modules" page, then configure them if need be.

Many themes come with an accompanying Install.txt file, which gives you instructions. Make sure to follow them in order to not forget anything.

Once configuration is complete, be sure to test the theme immediately, every page of it, to confirm that it works as planned. Do try to make a full order, from A to Z – you wouldn't want to miss orders just because you didn't notice the theme was incomplete!

PrestaShop's mobile template

The mobile template enables any PrestaShop merchant to have his or her shop be accessible to mobile devices: from the home page to the payment process, along with product pages and conversion funnel.

Installing the mobile template for your shop

Installing PrestaShop's mobile template is easy:

  1. Make sure that you are using PrestaShop 1.4.x, and that you have the latest version of the PayPal module, which is optimized for mobile devices.

  2. Download the template on PrestaShop Addons: http://addons.prestashop.com/en/mobile-iphone/6165-prestashop-mobile-template.html:

    1. Connect to the Addons website. If you do not have an account yet, create one, it's free!

    2. Your browser will offer to download the theme_mobile.zip archive file. Save that file in your computer, for instance on the Desktop. Do not uncompress the archive file.

  3. Install the template as you would do for a module:

    1. Connect to the PrestaShop 1.4 administration,

    2. Go to the "Modules" tab,

The module is now installed, which means the template is now active on your site, and your clients can already use it. All you have to do know is to customize it.

Configuring the mobile template

Once the module is installed, click on its "Configure" link in order to access all of the template's options (general graphic aspects, visibility on a given set of devices, etc.). To the right of the configuration screen, you will find a working preview of your site, as it will be displayed through the mobile theme. This way, you will be able to directly see how your changes impact the mobile display of your site.

The first section is called "Customize your template". Its 8 options enable you to choose a given theme for each part of the mobile interface. Five themes are available (from A to E), each with its own set of color. You can choose to combine the themes, or to keep a single uniform theme for all the parts of the interface. To see your changes applied to the live preview, click on "Save changes".

The second section is called "Other settings", and contains three options:

  • Enable the Mobile Template for. By default, the mobile template is only displayed when accessing your shop from a mobile phone, tablets getting the same regular template as all other classic devices. This option enables you to choose to also use the mobile template for tablets ("Both" option), or even to only have tablets access the mobile template.

  • Your Mobile sub-domain. When the "Use this domain for Mobile users" is enabled, mobile device users are redirected to the m.your-shop.com subdomain, thus clearly indicating that it is the mobile version of the main site. You can choose another subdomain. If you prefer your mobile visitors to remain on the main domain, disable the "Use this domain for Mobile users" option below.

  • Use this domain for Mobile users. When this option is enabled, mobile device users are automatically redirected to the domain listed in the "Your Mobile sub-domain" option above.

Positions

The order in which modules' front-office interface are displayed can be customized – because you might want one module to be place much higher (or lower) in the page that others. In PrestaShop's jargon, this is called "transplanting", and is done using the tool available under the "Positions" sub-tab for the "Modules" tab. In effect, this enables you to attach a module to one of the many available hooks in the current theme, without writing any code.

The "Positions" home-page displays all the available hooks, and their attached modules.

Each hook's table displays the hook's name, its technical name, its number of attached modules, and finally lists the attached modules themselves. For each module, you have access to its position relative to this hook.

Moving a module

You have two ways of moving a module within a hook:

  • Click the up or down arrow. The page will reload and display the new order.

  • Drag and drop the module's row itself:

    1. Place the mouse cursor between the moving arrows and the module's name to have it change into a "move item" cursor.

    2. Click and hold: the row turns orange

    3. Move the cursor over the row/position where you want the module to be: the module's row changes position accordingly.

    4. Release the mouse button: the now position for the module is saved.

For most modules, transplantation can easily be done directly via the Back Office. Certain modules require altering the code in order to transplant the module.

Transplanting a module via the back-office

  1. Go to the "Modules" tab, and its "Positions" sub-tab.

  2. Click the "Transplant a module" link.

  3. In the "Module" drop-down menu, select the module you want to transplant.

  4. In the "Hook Into" drop-down menu, select where you want to transplant the module to.

  5. In the "Exceptions" field, type the name of the file(s) of the pages in which you do not want the module to appear.

  6. Click the "Save" button.

The "Hook Into" drop-down menu gives you a good idea where module can be placed.

Transplanting a module by modifying its code

Some modules cannot be transplanted into other page sections because they lack the necessary code. For example, the Quick Search block contains templates for both column display and header display, while the Currencies block only has one template file which only pertains to the header section. Likewise, the default Featured Products block can only be placed in the center content section of the main page. If you want to move it to a column, you'll have to do the customization yourself.

If you want to display simpler modules such as the Currencies block or the Featured block in a position for which it wasn't built, you'll have to edit its template files.

To customize the transplantation of a module on a hook, you must give it the PHP function for the hook. For example, the Currency block has this function exists:

function hookTop($params)
  {
  ...
  }

In order for instance to transplant the Currency block into the right column, you need to create:

function hookRightColumn($params)
  {
  ...
  }

...and edit its PHP, HTML and CSS code accordingly.

Live Edit

Another way to move modules around on the shop's homepage is the Live Edit mode, which embeds said homepage into a tool that lets you graphically decide where to place your modules. You can access it from the "Position" sub-tab, by clicking the "Run LiveEdit" button.

Once clicked, PrestaShop opens the homepage in a new browser windows/tab, with the Live Edit script on top:

  • All blocks have a dotted red border, enabling you to see which blocks you can move.

  • At their top left side, a block-specific icon appears, along with the block's name, enabling you to always find your way among blocks.

  • At their top right side, they have two icons:

    1. A "move" icon: click on it to start moving the module around.

    2. A "trash" icon: click it to remove the block from the home.

At the bottom of the Live Edit mode, a row presents you with two buttons: "Save" and "Close Live Edit".

The first one is quite self-explanatory; the second one cancels all changes you might have made to your modules during this live-editing session. Note that once you have clicked after having removed a module, you'll have to go to the "Positions" sub-tab and use the "Transplant a module" form in order to bring it back.

Where to move modules

Modules cannot be moved just about anywhere: it depends on both the theme's hooks, and each module's hook support (as seen in the above section). Therefore, you mostly can only move modules within their understood context: column modules can be moved within a column as well as from one column to the other (right to left, for instance), while regular homepage modules (the ones at the center) can only be moved within their specific column.

In order to give you a visual hint about where a given module can be moved, it will display an empty green block if the location is correct, and an empty red block if not.

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