version confuision V8

[wesleythorne]

Hi, I am probably just be stupid, I am currently using Dev V7.
Having download the v8 beta I see there are two options, one for merchant product range and one for web design range.
Which one is equal to or replaces Developer.

I have tried the V8 Business Client under web deisgner but it does not contain the 'Design' Tab thereby I am unable to change themes or other options.

The 'Designer' V8 program includes this 'design' tab.

IS this option only in Deisgner.

I think I have got confused with there being 5 new versions to choose from!

Thanks
Wesley

[jont]

Business Multi Site replaces developer - this is probably disabled in the BETA as you only need the 1 site to work on to evaluate

[wesleythorne]

hi, thanks, the beta looks good, just reading through the pdf.
The one click order process looks nice, just been tinkering with it, I have a few comments to make on it, is it best to email these to support or post here.
They are not bugs just improvements!
wes

[RuralWeb]

Im doing a bit of both:rolleyes:

[wesleythorne]

Not a bug as such more of a request,one click processing.
Currently we use 2 delivery companys, when we send a job out we email the customer to let them know when there parcel will arrive, if we use Royal Mail then we word that email accordingly, if we use a courier we have a differnt email.

I know we can set up email templates for both of these.

What I am getting at is having something like two buttons for one click, or custom amount so that if you can one click process and send differnt emails.

Example ;one click button completes job and sends email with email template 1.

Improved one clicks shows a list of buttons to send out orders to differnt email templates.

I hope this sounds clear.
Multi one click buttons set up for diffent couriers and emails.

wesley

[cdicken]

Thanks for the feedback Wesley - please report this to v8beta@actinic.co.uk.

[cdicken]

Also, just to confirm, Business and Catalog have all the design flexibility of Designer - they are just missing some of the advanced deployment functionality.

The 'Client' versions of Business and Catalog essentially replace Order Manager as the tools used to manage a store that has been designed by a designer.

[RuralWeb]

just to confirm, Business and Catalog have all the design flexibility of Designer

So we still have the situation where there is no significant advantage in having designer ie as with V7 I can design multiple sites with Catalog as long as the client purchases the licence for Catalog. Is this correct?

[pinbrook]

The later days of V7 introduced developer and developer lite.

the later having the ability to design multiple sites without inbuilt order manager. full blown developer had the ability to run multiple stores.

This as a designer (if you don't run client'ssites for them) you can have lite (considerably cheaper) and your client buys catalog or business as appropriate.

I actually bought lite last month, up until then I always used my clients key to develop a site

[RuralWeb]

I had many discussions about this with Toby at Actinic but he failed to convince me about the advantages of Developer/Lite V7. It looks like I can continue as I did with V7 and not bother with the new Developer/Designer Lite.

[pinbrook]

Are you saying the same as me, ie you use the client key to develop and haven't used developer as such?

The only reason I went for lite was I wanted the ability to save themes

[RuralWeb]

you use the client key to develop and haven't used developer as such Exactly. I can understand going for Lite if I needed to save themes but I dont.

[marke]

OK just to clear this up a little more. I am currently running v7 developer. All of my sites are developed and run in house by me. I design the site, I built the catalog and at the end I download the orders. Dev V7 works well for this set up. With v7, if for some reason I was to build a site for someone else then they would have only needed to buy the order manager element and I would manage the site and they could download their own orders.
From what I have read, the upgrade for me is to the business multi site version of V8 which I think I saw was £1500. As far as I can see this will enable me to continue exactly as I am now with me building, depolying and running all of the sites I have to. What happens if I now want to deploy a site for a client. Can I build a site using the business multisite version and then have my client buy an Actinic catalog client to manage their end or, should this need arise, would I need to buy Actinic designer as well as the multisite business version to get the functionality to make a site work with Actinic catalog client?
It seems that there is an option for the Actinic designer customers to build sites for their clients, who have to buy Actinic Catalog Client, to get a free licence to be able to run their own in house sites. No problem with that but does it work from the opposite perspective with multisite developer. Most of my sites are in house but I would like the option to be able to offer to build a site for someone and offer them the benifits of me building the site and them just buying the Actinic Catalog client to download their orders. If this need came along coudl I do this from multi site business or would I also have to purchase Actinic designer?

[Buzby]

If you have Actinic cover you are entitled to upgrade to designer and receive a free license to business multi-site. This will then totally replace Developer.

I agree that Business mult-site is not a replacement for Developer as it is a backward step on what you are able to do with the software.

I only took cover out 2 weeks ago when I felt V8 was close to being released.

[Duncan Rounding]

Also, just to confirm, Business and Catalog have all the design flexibility of Designer - they are just missing some of the advanced deployment functionality...

Still confused.
What advanced deployment funtionality is not in Business Multisite then?

[cdicken]

What advanced deployment funtionality is not in Business Multisite thenDesign | Deploy Site Snapshot - which gives the ability to pass a snapshot to a client with various features automatically enabled/disabled.

[marke]

So is there anything I can do with Actinic designer that I can't do with business multisite?

[pinbrook]

So is there anything I can do with Actinic designer that I can't do with business multisite?

create a theme

and deploy site snapsot as mentioned by Chris above

[RuralWeb]

There is the option of white branded software ie as a design company you can put your comany details on the box rather than having Actinic all over it.

[cdicken]

So is there anything I can do with Actinic designer that I can't do with business multisite?Business Multisite allows you to set up and manage multiple sites - and process the orders from them. It is basically the same as Actinic Developer was in v7. Actinic Designer allows you to set up multiple sites - but not manage the orders. You will be able to test the order processing functionality, but not actually process real orders.

[RuralWeb]

Just ordered my copy of Designer and talking to sales realised that I had not understood fully what has happened on the Designer side.

Designer - allows you to create sites and deploy them (v7 developer)

Client - Replaces Order Manager BUT now includes the ability to manage the products. This is fantastic news as it will dramatically reduce the costs involved in designing a site. To get this with V7 you needed to buy Catalog at £450 but Client is only £200 - a huge saving.

Well done Actinic.

I hope Ive got it right:rolleyes: Im sure someone will correct me if not:D

[cdicken]

Yep. Basically the way it works that with Designer (v8) you can create as many sites as you want, but you will not be able to take live orders on the sites using Designer.

To handover the site to a client, you give them a copy of Catalog Client or Business Client and then import the snapshot into it. These Client versions have all the features of Catalog and Business, but there is no 'Design' menu or 'Design' tab.

You can also disable the Client versions to make them work just like Order Manager if you really want to.

[pinbrook]

Designer - allows you to create sites and deploy them (v7 developer)

without the ability to do any order management. Therefore ideal for designers who do not manage client sites.

And for the odd control freak (designer) it means that clients can't mess up the perfectly designed site with their own ugly hacks!

I have also bought designer (well V7 developer lite at the mo) - I had been constantly asked over the past 2 years why i didn't have developer.

I didn't have developer because it

a costs a fortune
b offer no extra design functionality
c clients still had to buy a full product.

Designer gets around all of this...

[jont]

Chris - what split do you anticipate between Designer / Client versions?

[RuralWeb]

I didn't have developer because it

a costs a fortune
b offer no extra design functionality
c clients still had to buy a full product. Me either for exactly the same reasons.

I dont really have a problem with clients not being able to get at the design - I find most of them are busy enough running a B&M business without getting into redesigning thier website. I think if one did want this it would be no problem to give them the full version of the software but the Client does give us a fighting chance against the competition most of which is free.

[cdicken]

Chris - what split do you anticipate between Designer / Client versions?Sorry John - I don't understand the question. Customers cannot buy 'Client' versions 'off the shelf' from Actinic - they can only get them via people who are using Designer.

[Duncan Rounding]

I'm unfortunately further confused with your reply Chris. Does that mean that people with Designer will be reselling Client? Does Designer deploy a complete install and then the customer will just need a Client license?

[cdicken]

That's right.

People using Designer will purchase Client licenses from Actinic. They will then pass these Client licenses onto their customers, for them to run their Actinic sites on.

[pinbrook]

does this mean that clients using "client" will be able to update the also bought, bestsellers etc?

will stock control also work ?

This new set of software combo presumably takes care of previous issues where we had order processing and design split over 2 locations

[cdicken]

Client versions are identiacal to the full versions, except that they don't have a 'Design' tab or a 'Design' menu - so yes, your clients will be able to manage stock, best sellers etc.

[wesleythorne]

hi, i have been following this for a while since I raised the question.

I have developer which I use on one pc to run three sites all of which i take orders for. With my developer cover what version of actinic will i receive to replace developer; with all its design possabilty and to take orders from my three sites?

Thanks
Wesley

[jont]

It should be Business MultiSite

[cdicken]

It should be Business MultiSiteThat's correct. Customers who are currently using Developer to run their own sites in v7 will be upgraded to Business Multi-Site in v8.

Customers who are using Developer to design sites for other people will be given the choice of upgrading to either Business Multi-Site or Designer - but obviously as Designer is so much lower in price than Developer, there will be some other products as part of the upgrade package. Contact Sales for further details.

[simon_y]

Hmm.
We recently bought developer in order to both run sites AND develop sites for other people. It seems that the upgrade to v8 won't allow us to do this now. Am I correct and, if so, what are the options?

[cdicken]

Hmm.
We recently bought developer in order to both run sites AND develop sites for other people. It seems that the upgrade to v8 won't allow us to do this now. Am I correct and, if so, what are the options?There are lots of options - give Sales a call and they will be able to let you know the deals.

[los_design]

Just a quickie requiring clarification on the key front if I may after a client issue raised its head today...

We assume that when we order client software this contains our designer license key for import of the finished works, as all orders are made under our contract with Actinic, correct?

What about the client who already owns business v8 and wants us to design a 'new look' for this site. Do we work using their keys or just carry on as above and export as normal?

Regards
Daren

[RuralWeb]

What about the client who already owns business v8 and wants us to design a 'new look' for this site. Do we work using their keys or just carry on as above and export as normal?
I just carry on as normal (ignore thier key) your designer key will be replaced by thiers on import.