Domain Name Registration (Actinic Express)

[G.W.Green]

There are two ways to use a registered domain name with your Actinic Express store. You can register a new domain name with Actinic, or you can use an existing domain name and point it at the store.

Registering a New Domain Name

Registering a new domain name will enable you to provide your customers with a store address such as http://www.myonlinestore.co.uk (where myonlinestore.co.uk is the domain name registered). You can register a new domain name with Actinic for £9.99 + VAT at the same time as you purchase your store. The newly registered domain name will be pointed at your Actinic Express store.

Then follow these simple steps in the Actinic Express Store Administration screen:

1. From the Setup Store menu, select Domain Configuration
2. Click the Express Domain radio button (which should show the domain you have purchased)

Using an existing Registered Domain Name

If you already have a domain registered, then you can use it for your Actinic Express store. Your domain name will be registered with a company that should provide you with access to its configuration; this is usually done via a web-based system.

You must have a Domain Name Server (DNS) service for your domain; Actinic does not provide a DNS service (sometimes called Name Servers) for 3rd party domain names.

If you currently have a web site with a domain name registered and pointing to that site you should be able to create a sub domain with your domain name provider. For example, if your current domain name is www.mywebsite.com you can create a sub domain such as mystore.mywebsite.com and point that at your Actinic Express store.

In order to redirect a domain or sub domain to your Express store you will need to change its DNS setting AND enter the domain or sub domain name in your Express store configuration:

• In your domain admin or control panel, locate the existing A record, which will currently point to your existing web site. Replace the existing forwarding address or IP address (a number in the format 10.10.10.10) with the Actinic server IP address that was supplied in your sign up email.
• Then follow these simple steps in the Actinic Express Store Administration screen:

1. From the Setup Store menu, select Domain Configuration
2. Click the Custom Domain radio button
3. Enter your domain name (excluding the http:/) in the box provided
4. Click the Apply button at the bottom of the page

You may need to contact your current domain name registrar for assistance in updating your DNS settings or setting up a sub domain. Alternatively call the Actinic technical support team and we will provide any assistance we can.

NB. DNS changes can take some time to propagate around the internet, usually a few hours but potentially up to 48. You willbe able too see in your browsers when your domain or sub domain name is pointing to your Actinic Express store

Linking an existing web site to your Actinic Express store

If you want to link an existing web site to your Actinic Express store it is very simple to do so. Actinic Express automatically provides you with a unique shop address to access your store directly. This will be in the form of:

http://shop1.actinicexpress.co.uk/shops/myonlinestore
(where myonlinestore is the name you give to your store)

You will find your exact URL under the 'Setup Store' menu, 'Domain Configuration', next to default URL. Simply add a new link on your existing website with your shop address and customers will be able to click directly through to your store.