link"UniTheme2 for Multi-Vendor edition of CS-Cart" documentation

Adds support for layouts, styles, templates and UniTheme2 theme functionality for full-fledged work in CS-Cart Multi-Vendor installations (for marketplaces).

It is not an independent addon (it requires the UniTheme2 complex to work).

General technical support conditions are available at this link (be sure to review these conditions, all solutions from the AlexBranding development team come with limited technical support).

In order to use our technical support, you need to:

1. Log in with your order owner account on https://cs-cart.alexbranding.com;
2. Go to the page My Account → Orders;
3. Find the corresponding order with the problem add-on in the orders list and pass to its details;
4. Find the “Support” link next to the corresponding add-on name (near you can find Documentation link also) and click on it;
5. Fill in the data with the problem, provide access to your CS-Cart installation (path to the administration panel, admin mail, admin password + FTP access) and create a ticket (after you will create the ticket, you will receive an e-mail and a special code to track the ticket in the future);
6. Wait for the specialist answer in accordance with the regulations of the technical support service and the priority of your ticket.

If you didn't receive an answer within the deadlines, according to the chosen ticket priority, send e-mail info@alexbranding.com with the ticket number, for which you did not receive an answer in time, and the team manager will solve the problem in compliance with regulations.

You can test the addon work with admin access using our demo server Demos for CS-Cart solutions from Alexbranding by choosing it in Addons list or just follow the link.

We recommend to note general restrictions:

1. All solutions from AlexBranding developers team require pre-installation of the AB: Addons Manager service addon. It is delivered free of charge and is responsible for such services: installation, upgrades, license verifications. Excluding this service addon usage is not possible;
2. Addon files may have a closed (encoded) part, in which only a license check is located;
3. The addon will work only on those domains, that are specified in the user's license. If you try to use the solution on CS-Cart installations, whose domains are not included in the license, the addon will be automatically turned off;
4. Local installation is not possible, so that the addon works on the additional domain (subdomain), enter this domain (subdomain) in the Domain field, when ordering (or write to info@alexbranding.com) - adding technical domains for the developing or for testing is always free.

After your order has been processed by our manager, it will be transferred to Completed state, you will receive an email to your mailbox with ordered add-ons license numbers (usually it takes from 15 minutes to 8 hours depending on the day time and week day).

Then follow the steps below, which differs depending on your version of the CS-Cart platform:

You can also install the add-on with a standard installation for CS-Cart. To do this, download the appropriate archive with an add-on version compatible with your version of the CS-Cart platform.
Go to the website cs-cart.alexbranding.com, log in under the account of the order holder and go to the page My Profile → Orders → Relevant Order, go to details and you will see a list of available archives for the ordered add-on. Download the version (archive) you need and make the installation (standard for CS-Cart installation: Add-ons → Downloaded add-ons and in the gearwheel menu select Manual installation).

Install the addon together with other addons included in the UniTheme2 MV package. The addon will automatically add layouts, styles, functional support and some templates for the full-fledged work of UniTheme2 in CS-Cart Multi-Vendor edition.

FollowUniTheme2 documentation.

Add-on also adds several settings in UniTheme2 settings:

For access to the theme settings go to the page Administration panel → Add-ons → Manage add-ons and at the theme name AB: UniTheme2 (Multi-Vendor) in the gearwheel menu select section Vendor settings on product page. On the opened page select the section Block with vendor information.

For each type of product lists there are settings, that allow to display maximum information about vendor in a short view.

Settings for Grid product list view. Please note, that some settings allow you to control the output of functional elements for different devices separately.

1. Show vendor information ‒ allows to display vendor name;
2. Show vendor logo ‒ allows to display vendor logo;
3. Show vendor address ‒ allows to display vendor address;
4. Show vendor rating ‒ allows to display vendor rating. The setting depends on CS-Cart add-on Vendor rating and specified rating on the page Vendors → Vendors → [vendor name] → "Rating" tab.

Example on "Grid" product list page

Settings for List without options product list view. Please note, that some settings allow you to control the output of functional elements for different devices separately.

1. Show vendor information ‒ allows to display vendor name;
2. Show vendor logo ‒ allows to display vendor logo;
3. Show vendor address ‒ allows to display vendor address;
4. Show vendor rating ‒ allows to display vendor rating. The setting depends on CS-Cart add-on Vendor rating and specified rating on the page Vendors → Vendors → [vendor name] → "Rating" tab.

Example on "List without options" product list page

Settings for Compact list product list view. Pay attention to the presence of add-on-dependent settings. Some settings allow managing functionality elements output for different devices separately

1. Show vendor information ‒ allows to display vendor name;
2. Show vendor logo ‒ allows to display vendor logo;
3. Show vendor address ‒ allows to display vendor address;
4. Show vendor rating ‒ allows to display vendor rating. The setting depends on CS-Cart add-on Vendor rating and specified rating on the page Vendors → Vendors → [vendor name] → "Rating" tab.

Example on "Compact list" product list page

For access to the theme settings go to the page Administration panel → Add-ons → Downloaded add-ons and at the theme name AB: UniTheme2 (Multi-Vendor) in the gearwheel menu select Vendor settings on vendor page.

In the vendor panel on the Seller info page, the add-on AB: UniTheme2 (Multi-Vendor) adds some new settings.

A new field Short description is added to the tab Description, that can be displayed:

• in the block with the template AB: Vendor information;
• on the page AB: Vendor micro-store;
• on the page AB: Vendor reviews.

Compact logo is added to the tab Logos, that can be displayed:

• in product blocks;
• on the category page of all templates;
• on the product page.

When the setting AB: Banners on product page is enabled (located Vendors → Vendor plans → [plan name] → "Restrictions" tab) by the main administrator/ marketplace holder, the page Seller info → "AB: Banners on product page" tab will be available for vendor. In this tab the vendor can manage his banners, which will be displayed on the page of vendor's products.

1. After breadcrumbs of product ‒ display the banner after breadcrumbs of product;
2. After main information about product ‒ display the banner after main information about product.

UniTheme2 MV add-on allows vendors to manage colors of menu, colors and background of block of vendor information, background of vendor page header. To do this, the main administrator/ marketplace holder should grant access to vendor on the page Vendors → Vendor plans → [plan name] → "Restrictions" tab → AB: Personal design of pages and blocks.

There are settings to manage design for pages and blocks of vendor on the page Seller info → "Style" tab.

1. Banner for the header of Home page ‒ allows to select a vendor banner for the header of Home page (Micro-store).
2. Vendor information ‒ settings that influence on elements of the block Vendor information:
   • Background for block Vendor information;
   • Block background;
   • Main text color in the block;
   • Additional text color in the block;
   • Color of links in the block.
3. Vendor menu ‒ settings that influence on elements of the block Vendor menu:
   • Menu background;
   • Background of active menu item;
   • Color of menu links in the first level;
   • Color of menu links in the first level on hover.
4. Vendor buttons ‒ settings that influence on elements of the Vendor buttons block:
   • Background color of buttons;
   • Background color of buttons on hover;
   • Text color of buttons;
   • Text color of buttons on hover.

The main administrator/ marketplace holder can manage design of pages and blocks of vendor on the page AB: UniTheme2 → Color scheme settings → "Vendor" tab.

1. Vendor information ‒ settings that influence on elements of the block Vendor information:
   • Block background;
   • Main text color in the block;
   • Additional text color in the block;
   • Color of links in the block.
2. Vendor menu ‒ settings that influence on elements of the block Vendor menu:
   • Menu background;
   • Background of active menu item;
   • Color of menu links in the first level;
   • Color of menu links in the first level on hover.

A new tab Social network services has been added to the Seller infor page, where the network information is displayed in the block with template Vendor contacts (only for "About vendor" page).

Step by step instruction to set the block:

1. Go to the page Administration panel → Website → Themes → Layouts → "AB: About vendor" tab.
2. Add the block template Template and select the template Vendor contacts (only for "About vendor" page).

To restore the layout and get maximal correct style of the page, we recommend you to follow the steps below:

1. Activate or install the Vendor locations [Beta] add-on.
2. Create a new layout in the store with a set of blocks that begins from prefix Original: UniTheme2.
3. Go to the page AB: Vendors and manually carry over the settings that are used in the layout (as well as customer classes in sections and blocks) to the page AB: Vendors of your layout in use.

UniTheme2 для Multi-Vendor add-on allows to improve the basic page About vendor, add your own style and locate additional blocks: vendor rating with a transfer to review page about vendor, vendor contacts, vendor information (logo, vendor name, general quantity of products, activity duration on marketplace, vendor location etc.), button All vendor products to transfer to the Vendor products page.

To create the block follow the steps below:

1. Go to the page Website → Themes → Layouts → layout page "AB: About vendor";
2. Create the block of template Vendor information;
3. Select the template AB: Vendor information (Vertical);
4. Click Settings at the template to check the necessary information for display on storefront.

Detail information about block settings see in the section Settings of the block "Vendor information (for vendor about page)".

Example of the block "Vendor information (for vendor about page)"

To create the block follow the steps below:

1. Go to the page Website → Themes → Layouts → layout page "AB: About vendor";
2. Create the block of template Template;
3. Select the template Button "All products of vendor" (only for "About vendor" page).

Example of the block "Button (all vendor products)"

To create the block follow the steps below:

1. Go to the page Website → Themes → Layouts → layout page "AB: About vendor";
2. Create the block of template Template;
3. Select the template Vendor contacts (only for "About vendor" page).

Example of the block "Vendor contacts"

1. Vendor logo ‒ displays vendor logo of full view.
2. Vendor name by reference (to vendor Home page) ‒ displays vendor name that transfers to Home page of vendor (micro-store).
3. Vendor rating ‒ displays a vendor rating, number of reviews, average mark for reviews and statistic of reviews. Depends on the add-ons Vendor rating and Comments and reviews.
4. Number of characters in the short description of vendor ‒ allows to set a number of symbols for vendor description. Value 0 disables the display.
5. Motivation for buyer ‒ displays a number of products, work period on the marketplace and location of the vendor.
6. Button "Ask a question" ‒ displays the button Ask a question. Depends on the add-on Message center.

UniTheme2 для Multi-Vendor add-on allows to improve the basic page Vendor products, add your own style and locate additional blocks: Vendor menu and Vendor information, which display total amount of vendor products, activity duration on marketplace, vendor location, vendor rating, vendor reviews buttons Ask a question and Vendor contacts, etc.

This block is a universal branded "header" placed above the catalog of all products of a specific vendor. It consolidates key vendor data (logo, name, short description, overall rating and vendor review rating, motivation elements, and functional buttons Contact vendor, Contacts, Vendor homepage. This combination provides navigation through their personal sections.

To create the block follow the steps below:

1. Go to the page Website → Themes → Layouts → appropriate layout page: "AB: Vendor products", "AB: Vendor micro-store", "AB: Vendor reviews";
2. Create the block of template Vendor information;
3. Select the template AB: Vendor information;
4. Click Settings at the template to set necessary information for display on storefront.

There are color scheme settings for the block Vendor information (see the details in the section AB: Personal design of pages and blocks).

1. Template type ‒ there are two templates of display: Full and Compact.
2. Vendor logo ‒ displays vendor logo of full view.
3. Vendor name by reference (to vendor Home page) ‒ displays vendor name that transfers to Home page of vendor (micro-store).
4. Vendor rating ‒ displays a vendor rating, number of reviews, average mark for reviews and statistic of reviews. Depends on the add-ons Vendor rating and Comments and reviews.
5. Number of characters in the short description of vendor ‒ allows to set a number of symbols for vendor description. Value 0 disables the display.
6. Motivation for buyer ‒ displays a number of products, work period on the marketplace and location of the vendor.
7. Contact information ‒ displays the button Contacts, that allows users to see a contact information of vendor.
8. Button "Ask a question" ‒ displays the button Ask a question. Depends on the add-on Message center.

Example of the block with the template "Vendor information" on the page "AB: Vendor products"

Example of the block with the template "Vendor information" on the page "AB: Vendor micro-store"

A special menu AB: Vendor menu has been designed to manage sections and view parameters, including color scheme setting.

To create the block follow the steps below:

1. Go to the page Website → Themes → Layouts → appropriate layout page: "AB: Vendor products", "AB: Vendor micro-store";
2. Create the block of template AB: Vendor menu;
3. Select the template AB: Vendor menu;
4. In the block go to the tab Content and select sections for navigation to your personal pages of vendor.

There are color scheme settings for the block AB: Vendor menu (see the details in the section AB: Personal design of pages and blocks).

1. Filling ‒ the filling Full tree is available;
2. Home page ‒ activates the menu section Home page;
3. Vendor categories ‒ activates the menu section Vendor categories;
4. Pages ‒ activates the menu section Pages;
5. Reviews ‒ activates the menu section Reviews;
6. Hide reviews if the vendor has none ‒ allows to hide the section Reviews, if there are no reviews;
7. About vendor ‒ activates the menu section About vendor.

Example of the block AB: Vendor menu" on storefront

Block Vendor categories adds the possibility to create on the category page a view of the block with dependent categories, concerning current category in the form of list or tree. This block is located on the layout pages AB: Vendor products and AB: Vendor micro-store and includes its settings in the tab Block settings. There you can choose types of dependent categories, which will be used as a content of the block.

1. Show parent categories ‒ display parent categories concerning current one in the block Subcategories.
2. Show sibling categories ‒ display sibling categories concerning current one in the block Subcategories.
3. Show child categories ‒ display child categories concerning current one in the block Subcategories.
4. Show products quantity in category ‒ displays a quantity of products in the categories.
5. Limitation on amount of categories for the second level ‒ quantity of categories in the second level that will be shown in the block. If quantity of categories is more than specified, the link More will be displayed. If click the link, all categories of the corresponding level will be displayed.
6. Limitation on amount of categories for the third level ‒ quantity of categories in the third level that will be shown in the block. If quantity of categories is more than specified, the link More will be displayed. If click the link, all categories of the corresponding level will be displayed.

The page AB: Vendor reviews is a critically important element of the trust ecosystem on the marketplace, separating the reputation of the product from the reputation of the one selling it. This specialized page accumulates feedback from buyers concerning exclusively the experience of interacting with a specific vendor. Unlike product reviews, service is evaluated here:

• delivery speed;
• packaging quality;
• communication adequacy;
• problem resolution with returns and warranty cases.

The page does not look like a "general section of the site". It is wrapped in the vendor's branded block (logo, rating, contacts), preserving the context of their storefront and providing convenient navigation.

This block is a universal branded "header" placed above the catalog of all products of a specific vendor. It consolidates key vendor data (logo, name, short description, overall rating and vendor review rating, motivation elements, and functional buttons Contact vendor, Contacts, Vendor homepage. This combination provides navigation through their personal sections.

To create the block follow the steps below:

1. Go to the page Website → Themes → Layouts → appropriate layout page: "AB: Vendor products", "AB: Vendor micro-store", "AB: Vendor reviews";
2. Create the block of template Vendor information;
3. Select the template AB: Vendor information;
4. Click Settings at the template to set necessary information for display on storefront.

There are color scheme settings for the block Vendor information (see the details in the section AB: Personal design of pages and blocks).

1. Template type ‒ there are two templates of display: Full and Compact.
2. Vendor logo ‒ displays vendor logo of full view.
3. Vendor name by reference (to vendor Home page) ‒ displays vendor name that transfers to Home page of vendor (micro-store).
4. Vendor rating ‒ displays a vendor rating, number of reviews, average mark for reviews and statistic of reviews. Depends on the add-ons Vendor rating and Comments and reviews.
5. Number of characters in the short description of vendor ‒ allows to set a number of symbols for vendor description. Value 0 disables the display.
6. Motivation for buyer ‒ displays a number of products, work period on the marketplace and location of the vendor.
7. Contact information ‒ displays the button Contacts, that allows users to see a contact information of vendor.
8. Button "Ask a question" ‒ displays the button Ask a question. Depends on the add-on Message center.

Example of the block with the template "Vendor information" on the page "AB: Vendor products"

Example of the block with the template "Vendor information" on the page "AB: Vendor micro-store"

A special menu AB: Vendor menu has been designed to manage sections and view parameters, including color scheme setting.

To create the block follow the steps below:

1. Go to the page Website → Themes → Layouts → appropriate layout page: "AB: Vendor products", "AB: Vendor micro-store";
2. Create the block of template AB: Vendor menu;
3. Select the template AB: Vendor menu;
4. In the block go to the tab Content and select sections for navigation to your personal pages of vendor.

There are color scheme settings for the block AB: Vendor menu (see the details in the section AB: Personal design of pages and blocks).

1. Filling ‒ the filling Full tree is available;
2. Home page ‒ activates the menu section Home page;
3. Vendor categories ‒ activates the menu section Vendor categories;
4. Pages ‒ activates the menu section Pages;
5. Reviews ‒ activates the menu section Reviews;
6. Hide reviews if the vendor has none ‒ allows to hide the section Reviews, if there are no reviews;
7. About vendor ‒ activates the menu section About vendor.

Example of the block AB: Vendor menu" on storefront

To create the block follow the steps below:

1. Go to the page Website → Themes → Layouts → layout page "AB: Vendor reviews";
2. Create the block of template Template;
3. Select the template AB: Block: Title;
4. Click Settings at the template to set necessary parameters.

At the block title you can use html tags mentioned below:

<mark>text</mark>, <u>text</u>, <b>text</b>

1. AB: Title centered ‒ allows to locate title in the center.
2. AB: Decorate title with a stripe ‒ allows to add a decorated stripe to title.
3. AB: Title size ‒ allows to select a title size: Standard, Large, Largest.
4. AB: Decrease title contrast ‒ allows to manage the title contrast.

There is a possibility to create your own page, where you, as vendor, can display any information about your store.

If you wish to set the page AB: Vendor micro-store and create a maximum similarity to demo-website of the theme, you have to follow the steps to set blocks and its elements. You may look at the example of this page on the link.

Step-by-step instruction of vendor micro-store is provided below in this section.

The main administrator/ marketplace holder must grant access for vendor to micro-store, banners and personal design of pages and blocks. Access to the functionality that has been mentioned above can be provided on the page Vendors → Vendor plans → [plan name] → "Restrictions" tab. Besides the main setting Vendor microstore, the add-on UniTheme2 MV adds its own settings.

1. Vendor microstore: ‒ A vendor can have his or her own microstore at a separate address like example.com/vendor/. A microstore only contains products of the vendor who owns this microstore. Also, search results in a vendor's microstore only include products of this vendor.
   For more details see the section "My micro-store" in the vendor panel.
2. AB: Micro-store homepage ‒ Allows vendor to create its own Home Page and allows to fill the page in the vendor's panel with content blocks: products, banners, blog articles, promotions, HTML content.
3. AB: Banners on product page ‒ Adds ability to choose 2 banners: after the breadcrumbs and after a general information about product. Special demo-banners were designed for vendors, which are recommended to add to get acquaint with the functionality and get expected result as soon as possible. Vendors have an access to banners settings on the page Seller info → "AB: Banners on product page" tab. For more details see the section AB: Banners on product page.
4. AB: Personal design of pages and blocks ‒ Allows vendors to manage a menu color, color and background of a block about vendor information, header background of the vendor page. Vendors have an access to banners settings on the page Seller info → "Style" tab. For more details see the section AB: Personal design of pages and blocks.

When the setting AB: Micro-store homepage is enabled by main administrator/ marketplace holder, the section My micro-store will be available in the vendor panel. On this page the vendor can manage the following content:

• Products ‒ product block with all templates and appropriate settings.
• Banners ‒ banner block with all templates and appropriate settings.
• HTML block ‒ block with the ability to add HTML data.
• Vendor recent posts ‒ block with a list of vendor posts.
• AB: Deal of the day ‒ block with the promotion products. Depends on of the add-on AB: Advanced promotions.
• AB: Promotions ‒ block with a list of all promotions. Depends on of the add-on AB: Advanced promotions.

A special filling AB: Banner of Home page of vendor was designed for the template AB: Advanced banner, that should be used on the page AB: Vendor micro-store.

To create a block with banner follow the steps below:

1. Go to the page Website → Themes → Layouts → layout page "AB: Vendor micro-store";
2. Create the block of template Banners;
3. Select the template AB: Advanced banner;
4. Click Settings at the template to set necessary settings;
5. Go to the Content tab in the block and in the field Filling select AB: Banner of Home page of vendor.

Example of banner on the page "AB: Vendor micro-store"

This block is a universal branded "header" placed above the catalog of all products of a specific vendor. It consolidates key vendor data (logo, name, short description, overall rating and vendor review rating, motivation elements, and functional buttons Contact vendor, Contacts, Vendor homepage. This combination provides navigation through their personal sections.

To create the block follow the steps below:

1. Go to the page Website → Themes → Layouts → appropriate layout page: "AB: Vendor products", "AB: Vendor micro-store", "AB: Vendor reviews";
2. Create the block of template Vendor information;
3. Select the template AB: Vendor information;
4. Click Settings at the template to set necessary information for display on storefront.

There are color scheme settings for the block Vendor information (see the details in the section AB: Personal design of pages and blocks).

1. Template type ‒ there are two templates of display: Full and Compact.
2. Vendor logo ‒ displays vendor logo of full view.
3. Vendor name by reference (to vendor Home page) ‒ displays vendor name that transfers to Home page of vendor (micro-store).
4. Vendor rating ‒ displays a vendor rating, number of reviews, average mark for reviews and statistic of reviews. Depends on the add-ons Vendor rating and Comments and reviews.
5. Number of characters in the short description of vendor ‒ allows to set a number of symbols for vendor description. Value 0 disables the display.
6. Motivation for buyer ‒ displays a number of products, work period on the marketplace and location of the vendor.
7. Contact information ‒ displays the button Contacts, that allows users to see a contact information of vendor.
8. Button "Ask a question" ‒ displays the button Ask a question. Depends on the add-on Message center.

Example of the block with the template "Vendor information" on the page "AB: Vendor products"

Example of the block with the template "Vendor information" on the page "AB: Vendor micro-store"

A special menu AB: Vendor menu has been designed to manage sections and view parameters, including color scheme setting.

To create the block follow the steps below:

1. Go to the page Website → Themes → Layouts → appropriate layout page: "AB: Vendor products", "AB: Vendor micro-store";
2. Create the block of template AB: Vendor menu;
3. Select the template AB: Vendor menu;
4. In the block go to the tab Content and select sections for navigation to your personal pages of vendor.

There are color scheme settings for the block AB: Vendor menu (see the details in the section AB: Personal design of pages and blocks).

1. Filling ‒ the filling Full tree is available;
2. Home page ‒ activates the menu section Home page;
3. Vendor categories ‒ activates the menu section Vendor categories;
4. Pages ‒ activates the menu section Pages;
5. Reviews ‒ activates the menu section Reviews;
6. Hide reviews if the vendor has none ‒ allows to hide the section Reviews, if there are no reviews;
7. About vendor ‒ activates the menu section About vendor.

Example of the block AB: Vendor menu" on storefront

On the product page there is a block with vendor information. The filling of the block is managed with UniTheme2 for Multi-Vendor settings (see the details in the section Block with vendor information on the Product page) and combines the following information:

• vendor logo of short view;
• vendor name;
• short vendor description;
• vendor location;
• functional buttons: Ask question, About vendor.

The button About vendor has a double functionality, that depends on the setting Show panel with a detailed vendor information (located in the settings page UniTheme2 → "Product" tab → Block with vendor information):

1. If the setting is disabled: the button works as a standard link. Upon clicking, the user leaves the product card and goes to the vendor's separate profile page on the marketplace.
2. If the setting is active: clicking the About vendor button activates the Sidebar. It slides out smoothly from the side, covering part of the content but without reloading the page.

UniTheme2 for Multi-Vendor add-on allows to improve the basic category page and adds the following information: vendor logo, vendor name that transfers to Home page of vendor, vendor rating, vendor location.
All displayed information can be managed with theme settings (see the details in the section Block with vendor information on the Product lists page).

There is a possibility to display products exceptionally of specified vendor in the product block. Accordingly, only products sold by this vendor can be presented.

It can be done on the following vendor pages:

• AB: Vendor products;
• AB: About vendor;
• AB: Vendor micro-store;
• AB: Vendor reviews;
• Product page of particular vendor.

To activate the setting AB: Vendor products only, that handles this functionality, the main administrator/ marketplace holder must activate the setting AB: Micro-store homepage (located Vendors → Vendor plans → [plan name] → "Restrictions" tab). After that, the setting AB: Vendor products only will be available in the settings of product blocks in the tab Content. This setting can be used with the following fillings:

• Newest;
• Most popular;
• Bestsellers;
• On sale;
• Similar;
• Rating.