Searching For An Item

Searching is the act of finding an information by the use of a medium. In eDirectory, this act is usually done by visitors who want to speed up their search for an item. Since a directory site may contain hundreds or thousands of items or entries, the search panel is made accessible on every sections of the directory front such as Home, Listings, Events, Classifieds, Articles, Promotions, Advertise With Us, and Contact Us. Not only that! The site visitors can choose from the two types of search available in these sections:

  • Simple Search – This is done by the use of the search panel. This type of search can be classified into two – Search by Keyword and Search by Address.
  • Advanced Search – This is done by the use of the advanced search panel. This type of search can be classified into two – Search by Category and Search by Location.

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The top searches in the directory front can be monitored by the Site Manager in his/her account using the Search Statistic Reports.

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To do the simple search, do the following:

  1. Go to the search panel in any sections of the directory front. The search panel looks like the one below:

    searching an item_img1

  2. Do any of the following:
    1. To search by a keyword: In the Keyword box, type the name of the item that you want to find (e.g., concert ticket).
    2. To search by an address: In the Address box, type the name of the city/state, or the zipcode of the place where the item that you are looking for is located.
  3. Click on the Search button.

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To do the advanced search, do the following:

  1. Click on the Advanced Search link in Listings, Events, Classifieds, Articles, or Promotions section of the directory front. You can find it on the right side of the Search button. After clicking on the link, an area like the one shown below will appear:

    searching an item_img2

  2. Do any of the following:
    1. To search by a category: In the Category dropdown list, select the category (or sub-category) where you think you can find the item that you are looking for.
    2. To search by a location: In the Location dropdown lists, select the country, state or city where you think you can find the item that you are looking for.
  3. Click on the Search button.

In eDirectory version 7.0.15, Advanced Search box can be closed (image shown here). With this new added feature, you do not have to refresh the page if you do not wish to use the advanced search box. Just click on the close icon beside the text and it will close the advanced search option. Click on it again to open the advance search box. This feature can be found on the search panel found on the search panel found in Listings, Events, Classifieds, Articles and Promotions pages.

Navigating The Directory Front

The directory front interface is divided mainly into four parts: the header, the top navigation panel, the body, and the footer.

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HEADER

This is the top most part of the site where the logo and the top banners are placed firmly in position. The logo is the one set by the Site Manager to represent the site, and the top banners that appear randomly are those created by the Members.

TOP NAVIGATION PANEL

This navigation panel is where the primary menus can be found. Clicking on any of these menus will cause the body area to change.

  • Home – Clicking on this menu will enable you to view  the featured and recent listings, events, classifieds, articles, promotions and reviews.
  • Listings – Select this menu if you want to view and browse through the active listings in the directory site.
  • Events – Select this menu if you want to view and browse through the active events in the directory site.
  • Classifieds – Select this menu if you want to view and browse through the active classifieds in the directory site.
  • Articles – Select this menu if you want to view and browse through the active classifieds in the directory site.
  • Promotions – This is where you can see all the promotions of those listings that use the promotion feature.
  • Advertise With Us – The section that shows the prices and features of all item levels offered by the directory site.
  • Contact Us – Clicking on this menu will enable you to send your inquiries directly to the Site Manager.

BODY

The content of this area is dependent on the menu that is selected by the site visitor on the top navigation panel. By default, this section shows the Home page.

Inside the body, some blocks appear consistently, extending across the major sections of the site (e.g., Blocks containing the search panel and side banners that appear in almost all pages of the site)

FOOTER

It is a line of information placed at the end of every page for purposes of identification. It displays the copyright text, the eDirectory brand, and the links to other important sections like FAQ and sitemap.

Signing Up

Any site visitor who wants to become a Member of a directory site is required to undergo the sign-up procedure. Normally, site visitors acquire membership to take full advantage of the site’s features including the ability to add advertisement items such as listings, events, classifieds, articles and banners to the site.

The whole signing up procedure comprises three steps such as:

  • Order -In this step, the applicant (or the site visitor signing up) is asked to create the first advertisement item that he/she wants to post in the directory site. This is also the time when he/she supplies the account information.
  • Check Out –In this step, the applicant is asked to pay for the item that he/she created in the “Order” step.
  • Configure –In this step, the applicant is asked to complete the item information that he/she provided in the “Order” step.

Signing up is offered free. The amount being solicited in the “Check Out” step is not for signing up but for the item that the applicant creates in the “Order” step. If the item that he/she creates there is in Free level, the “Check Out” step will automatically be omitted from the procedure.

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Member accounts do not expire. Members also can create as many items as they want given that they pay for every item that they create. (Items in Free level are exempted)

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To add a new listing, do the following:

  1. In the directory front’s Home page, click on the Join Now link. Usually, this link appears on the bottom of the Login panel. After doing this, a page will appear like the one shown below:

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  2. Click on any Options tab. These options tabs (highlighted area in the image above) are the available item types which you can select from.
  3. Click on the Order Now button of the corresponding item type and level. After doing this, a form will appear.

    DOCUMENTATION_CONVENTIONS_img1The form may vary depending on the Item Type (e.g., Listing, Event) and Level (e.g., Premium, Showcase) that you choose. In the following procedure, we used that of Showcase Listing Level. This means that some fields and areas may not be present if you choose other Item Type and Level.

  4. In the Account Information area (image shown below), do the following:

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    1. In the Username box, type the Login ID you want.
    2. In the Password box, type the password you want. (Password strength tells you if the password you input is weak or strong)
    3. Retype your new password.

In eDirectory version 7.4.00, a username real time validation is added in the Username field of this form (image shown here). The application validates username availability once a new Member types the desired username. It also issues warnings regarding the character type and length validity of the provided username in real time.


  1. In the Listing Information area (image shown below), do the following:

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    1. In the Listing Title box, type the name of the item that you are adding. The title is the text that will appear on the top most part of your item. Be sure to make it descriptive.
    2. In the Promotional Code box, type the promo code that you want to use for the item.  (To know more about Promo Code, click here)
  2. In the Categories and sub-categories area (image shown below), select the category and the sub-category (if there is one) under which you want the item to appear. As you click on a category, the list of all sub-categories under it is displayed.

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    You need to click on the Add link to associate the category or sub-category with the item. After clicking on the link, the category or sub-category is automatically displayed in the Listing Categories box.

    DOCUMENTATION_CONVENTIONS_img1You need to associate the item with one or multiple categories and sub-categories so as to display the item under the specific categories and sub-categories to the site visitors.  To delete a category, highlight the sub-category name listed in the Listing Category box, and click on the Remove Selected Category button.

  3. In the Billing Information area (image shown below), do the following:

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    1. In the Language dropdown list, specify the language that you prefer.  You can then receive e-mail notifications from the directory in the language specified.
    2. In the First Name, Last Name, Company, Address, Address (Optional), City, State, Postal Code, Country, Phone, and E-mail boxes, provide the information being asked.
  4. Select the Payment Method that you prefer. You can select from any of the following:

    By Credit card – a Member who selects this method is asked to fill out the electronic payment forms
    By PayPal – a Member who selects this method is redirected to the PayPal website where the electronic payment forms are located
    Print Invoice and Mail a Check – a Member who selects this method must print off the invoice and mail it to the address specified on the invoice.

    The amount that you need to pay shows up in this area:

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  5. Click on the Continue button. After doing this, a new form will appear. At this point, your Member account has already been created. You can choose to go on with the remaining steps below or you can sign in right away in to your account.

    DOCUMENTATION_CONVENTIONS_img1The form may vary depending on the Payment Method that you chose in the previous step. In the following procedure, we used that of Credit Card ­payment. This means that some fields and areas may not be present if you chose other Payment Method.

  6. In the Billing Info area (image shown below), do the following:

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    1. In the Card Number box, type the long string of numbers that is embossed on the front of your credit card.
    2. In the Card Expiry Date box, type the date that is printed on the front of your credit card close to your name (e.g., 10/10).
    3. In the Card Code box, type the three- or four- digit security code that is printed on the back of your credit card. The number typically appears at the end of the signature panel.
  7. Click on the Place Order and Continue button. After doing this, a new form will appear similar to the one you fill out when adding a new item.

    DOCUMENTATION_CONVENTIONS_img1The main purpose of this form is to allow you to complete the item information that you provided earlier. It is important to have them finalized because once approved; all this information will be displayed in the directory front.