3 TIER WEBSITE

3 Tier Website

3 Tier Website

This design is nearly identical to the two-tier design.  The three-tier design utilizes the following:

A Main Category Page for visitors to start "drilling down" into categories and products (Tier 1).

A set of Category Index Pages for category navigation (Tier 2).

Detail Pages for individual products (Tier 3).

Please see fig.1 below to get a better understanding of the hierarchy to be built.

Fig. 1 - Three-Tier Hierarchy

How does this work again?

Because WebMerge builds a maximum of two-tiers at a time, it is necessary to work on tier-one first.  Once tier-one is completed, the last two tiers get built (see figure 2 below).

Two Steps - Two Settings Files

Two settings files are required to complete a three-tier design.  Each settings file is used to build one or two tiers, building more than two-tiers requires more settings files.  We start out by having WebMerge work on the Main Category Page, with our first settings file.  After that is complete, we have WebMerge build all of the Category Index Pages, and the Detail Pages with our second settings file.

At least two category field names needs to exist in the data feed file in order to build a site with more than two-tiers.

Fig. 2 - Components for the Two-Step Process

First step, build Tier One

Getting WebMerge to build the Main Category Page

In the first step in the process, the links populating the Main Category Page are links to Category Index Pages, not Detail Pages.  We'll build the Category Index Pages, and the Detail Pages in the second part of the process (See figure 2 above).  Please note, detail pages do not get built in step one of the process (referred to as "NOT BUILT" in fig. 2 above).

The Main Category Page can be thought of as the main page for the merchant whose data feed you are building.  In our example, we're calling it "Betty Mills."  Once WebMerge is done running the first settings file, you will have a Main Category Page populated with links to Category Index Pages like "Cleaners," "Brushes," and "Storage."  The Main Category page is built based on information in the index template specified on the Index Pages Tab in WebMerge, and saved with the first settings file.

WebMerge can be set it to build either the index pages, or the detail pages, or both.  This comes in handy when building multi-tier web sites, and in cases where index pages don't need to be updated.  Simply go to the appropriate tab (detail or index), and un-check the box  "Create index/detail pages."Those pages will not be built.

The Detail Pages Tab in WebMerge will not be used in step-one, although you are welcome to set this up and have WM build these pages if you like.  We have called this "NOT BUILT" in Figure 2 above, as they will not be used later, and only serve as a possible reference.  Remember, in step-one only the Main Category page actually needs to be built.

WebMerge Settings:

It is presumed that you have set up the data feed file information on the "Sources" tab.

Switch to the "Index Pages" tab , and identify where WebMerge can find your Index Template file, and the directory (folder) where you want WebMerge to put the completed Main Category Index ...