Introduction
This four-day, instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to develop and deploy a Microsoft Commerce Server 2002 solution.

Audience
This course is primarily intended for application developers who need to build e-commerce solutions with Commerce Server 2002.

At Course Completion
After completing this course, students will be able to:

Describe the basic features of Commerce Server 2002 and the way the features work together to allow frameworks to be built for commerce-driven Web sites.
Describe the fundamentals of e-commerce Web sites.
Understand the Microsoft Commerce Server 2002 approach for building e-commerce Web sites.
Work with Commerce Server 2002 tools.
Describe the integration of Commerce Server 2002 with Microsoft .NET.
Work with and extend the Profile system of Commerce Server.
Authenticate users of the Commerce Server Web sites.
Design and implement product catalogs.
Work with baskets and pipelines to build a complete checkout process for shoppers.
Describe the analysis features provided by Commerce Server, Microsoft SQL Server™, and Analysis Services.
Work with existing reports, and create new reports for use by business analysts.
Apply data mining models to Commerce Server site data.
Describe the content selection and targeting system of Commerce Server.
Implement Commerce Server ad campaigns, discount campaigns, and direct mail campaigns.
Extend the Commerce Server business desk.
Build multilingual Commerce Web sites.

Prerequisites
Before attending this course, students must have:

Knowledge of Microsoft Visual Studio® .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework.
Knowledge of ASP.NET.
An understanding of what commerce-driven Web sites should achieve for enterprises and business users.

Microsoft Certified Professional Exams
No Microsoft Certified Professional exams are associated with this course currently.

Course Materials
The student kit includes a comprehensive workbook and other necessary materials for this class.

The following software is provided for use in class:

Microsoft Windows® 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft SQL Server 2000
Microsoft Office XP Professional
Microsoft Commerce Server 2002
Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Edition

Course Outline

Module 1: Introducing Commerce Server 2002
This module introduces the features and release themes for Microsoft Commerce Server 2002. After completing this module, you will be able to describe the basic features of Commerce Server 2002 and how they all fit together.

Lessons
Commerce Server 2002 Placement
Commerce Server 2002 Themes and Features
Commerce Server 2002 Anatomy
Windows Server 2003 Support

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the placement of Commerce Server 2002.
List the features of Commerce Server 2002.
Understand the support provided by Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Commerce Server 2002.

Module 2: Introduction to E-Commerce Web Sites
This module provides an overview of e-commerce, both from a business-to-business (B2B) and a business-to-consumer (B2C) perspective. It includes an overview of the different roles needed to build e-commerce sites, and outlines some typical aims and challenges that face team members. It also discusses e-commerce functionality typical in modern Web sites.

Lessons
Characteristics of E-Commerce Sites
Overview of E-Commerce Site Functionality

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe typical characteristics of modern e-commerce sites.
Describe typical functionality of modern e-commerce sites.

Module 3: The Commerce Server 2002 Approach for Building E-Commerce Web Sites
This module uses the sample International Retail Site to illustrate how the features of Commerce Server 2002 can be used to achieve a fully functioning, modern e-commerce Web site. Each of the features used in the sample site are discussed in detail.

Lessons
Introduction to the Retail2002 Site
Features of the Retail2002 Site

Lab 3:
Exercise 1: Adding Data to the Site
Exercise 2: Exploring the Retail 2002 Site
Exercise 3: Shopping the Site

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Install the Retail2002 site and explain its purpose.
Describe the main features of the Retail2002 site.

Module 4: Working with Commerce Server 2002 Tools
This module introduces many of the administrative and development tools you will need to be familiar with in order to build a Commerce Server 2002 Web site. These include Internet Services Manager, Commerce Server Manager, Commerce Server Business Desk, and Visual Studio .NET. This module acts as a primer for the tasks you will perform in later modules.

Lessons
Development and Business Tools
Administration Tools

Lab 4:
Exercise 1: Exploring Site Structure with Internet Information Services
Exercise 2: Exploring Application Design with Visual Studio .NET
Exercise 3: Exploring Configuration Settings with Commerce Server Manager

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe and use the development and business tools that Commerce Server 2002 provides.
Describe and use the administrative tools that Commerce Server 2002 provides.

Module 5: Commerce Server in a .NET World
This module describes the integration between Microsoft .NET and Commerce Server 2002. After completing this module, you will be able to describe the .NET features of Commerce Server.

Lessons
Big Bets on .NET
Commerce Server and the .NET Framework
Commerce Server Architecture

Lab 5: Creating a Commerce Server 2002 Site with Visual Studio .NET
Exercise 1: Creating a Commerce C# ASP.NET Web Application
Exercise 2: Using the CommerceContext Object

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the benefits of integrating Commerce Server 2002 and the .NET Application Framework.
Describe the .NET Application Framework and Commerce Server 2002.
Describe the Commerce Server architecture.

Module 6: Extending the Profile System
This module describes the Commerce Server Profile system. After completing this module, you will be able to extend the Profile system so that it suits your organization’s needs.

Lessons
Profiling System Overview
Profiling System Administration
Profiling System Object Model

Lab 6: Implementing User Management
Exercise 1: Initializing and Using Business Desk
Exercise 2: Modifying the UserObject Table
Exercise 3: Extending the User Profile for Northwind Traders
Exercise 4: Creating Site Terms for the Northwind Traders Commerce Site
Exercise 5: Creating New Users with Business Desk

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the setup of the Profiling System.
Describe the administration of the Profiling System.
Explain the architecture of the Profiling System.
Describe the Profiling System object model.

Module 7: User Identification and Authentication
This module explains the various mechanisms you can use to identify and authenticate users in your commerce sites. After completing this module, you will be able to implement logon, logoff and signup pages.

Lessons
Authentication Components
Custom Authentication
.NET Enhancements for Authentication
Authentication .NET Object Model
Commerce Authentication Module

Lab 7: Creating Logon, Logoff and Registration Pages
Exercise 1: Creating the LogonStatus.ascx User Control
Exercise 2: Creating the Logon.aspx and the Logoff.aspx Pages
Exercise 3: Creating a User Registration Page
Exercise 4: Testing the Log On, Log Off, and Sign Up Pages

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the authentication components.
Describe Microsoft Windows authentication.
Describe custom authentication.
Manage authentication resources.
Describe single logon access across domains.
Describe the Microsoft .NET enhancements for authentication.
Describe the Commerce Authentication Module.

Module 8: Commerce Server Catalog System
This module describes Commerce Server catalogs. After completing this module, you will be able to design and create base catalogs, virtual catalogs, and you will be able to import and export catalogs in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

Lessons
Product Catalog System
Catalog Variations
B2B: Catalog Exchange and Import/Export
Catalog Management API

Lab 8: Implementing Catalogs and Products
Exercise 1: Creating Property Definitions
Exercise 2: Creating Product Definitions and Category Definitions
Exercise 3: Creating a Base Catalog and Adding Categories
Exercise 4: Adding Products to the Catalog
Exercise 5: Importing an XML-based Catalog and Creating a Virtual Catalog
Exercise 6: Implementing Category and Product Pages for the Northwind Traders Commerce Site
Exercise 7: Browsing the Site

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the Product Catalog System.
Describe multilingual catalogs.
Describe catalog variations.
Describe catalog searching.
Understand the catalog management user interface (UI).
Describe B2B catalog exchange and import/export.
Understand the components of the catalog software development kit (SDK) and application programming interface (API).
Describe third-party catalogs.

Module 9: Implementing the Basket and Order Pipelines
This module explains how to implement shopping baskets for your customers. It also discusses how to use pipelines (and their components) for processing orders. After completing this module, you will be able to implement basket and checkout pages for your commerce sites.

Lessons
Baskets
Pipelines

Lab 9: Implementing the Checkout Process
Exercise 1: Configuring the Site for the Checkout Process
Exercise 2: Creating the AddToCart Web Page
Exercise 3: Creating the ShoppingCart.aspx Web Page
Exercise 4: Creating the Checkout Web Page
Exercise 5: Creating the OrderConfirmation.aspx Web Page
Exercise 6: Testing the Site

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Implement baskets.
Configure pipelines for Microsoft ASP.NET.
Debug pipeline components.

Module 10: Business Analytics System Overview
This module provides an overview of the complete analytics system provided by Commerce Server 2002. After completing this module, you will be able to describe the various analytical components that you can use with Commerce Server 2002.

Lessons
Applying Business Analytics to E-Business
E-Business Information Challenges
Closing the Loop
Release Themes
Analysis Architecture
Overview of Analysis Reports
Overview of Data Mining
Overview of Predictor
Overview of Targeting

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the business needs that enterprises have for scalable, comprehensive business analysis tools that can be used with their commerce sites.
Describe how the major features of the business analytics system, provided by Microsoft Commerce Server, Microsoft SQL Server, and Analysis Services, work together to provide a comprehensive analysis tool set.
Describe the different types of reports available with Commerce Server 2002.
Describe the different types of data-mining models available with Analysis Services.
Describe how the Predictor resource analyzes Commerce Server data.
Describe the targeting features of Commerce Server, and how they can be used to provide full closed-loop analysis.

Module 11: Analysis and Reporting
This module explains the built-in reports and analysis features provided by Commerce Server 2002, and discusses how to create new reports and extend the analysis system. After completing this module, you will be able to create new Microsoft SQL Server and multidimensional expressions (MDX) reports, modify exiting reports and extend the data warehouse.

Lessons
Analysis Features
Report Types
Reporting Extensibility
Enabling Report Preparation—DTS Processing
Data Warehouse Extensibility
Commerce Server Event Structure
Logging Commerce Server Events

Lab 11: Creating Reports
Exercise 1: Simulating Purchase Activity and Synchronizing the Data Warehouse
Exercise 2: Creating New Reports by Modifying an Existing One
Exercise 3: Creating a new SQL-based Report
Exercise 4: Creating a new MDX-based Report

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the different report types supported by Commerce Server 2002.
Create new reports and modify existing ones.
Run Data Transaction Services (DTS) tasks for report preparation.
Extend the Data Warehouse.
Log Commerce Server events.

Module 12: Working with Predictor
This module introduces the Predictor resource, and explains how to use it with your Commerce Server data. After completing this module, you will be able to build predictive data mining models based on your commerce site data.

Lessons
Business Questions
Technical Challenges
Solution: Data Mining
Data Mining Models
Using Predictor
Building Models
Deploying Models
Predictor Tutorial

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Understand the business issues that give rise to the need for data-mining with commerce data.
Understand the technical challenges involved in applying data-mining techniques.
Understand how data-mining provides solutions to business problems.
Describe the various data-mining models provided by Analysis Services and Commerce Server.
Use the Predictor resource.
Build, view, and deploy data-mining models.

Module 13: Introduction to the Targeting System
This module introduces the Commerce Server Targeting system. After completing this module, you will be able to explain how to use the Commerce Server List Manager and build expressions.

Lessons
Commerce Server Targeting
Targeting System
Content Selection Framework
Expression Builder
Direct Marketing

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the Targeting System.
Describe the Content Select Framework (CSF).
Describe the List Manager.
Describe the Expression Builder.
Describe Direct Marketing.

Module 14: Commerce Server Discounts and Campaigns
This module explains how to implement discount and advertising campaigns. After completing this module, you will be able to create discount campaigns and advertising campaigns for your commerce sites.

Lessons
Campaign Manager Features
Discounts and Merchandising
Reuse Policies
Discount SDK Samples

Lab 14: Implementing Campaigns
Exercise 1: Creating Campaign Expressions, Target Groups, and Campaign Customers
Exercise 2: Creating Discount Campaigns
Exercise 3: Creating Ad Campaigns
Exercise 4: Adding Content Selector Code to the Northwind Traders Commerce Site
Exercise 5: Testing the Site

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the Business Desk Campaign Manager module.
Describe discount conditions and awards.
Describe the interactions between discounts.
Describe reuse policies.
Describe how item-level discounts, order-level discounts, and shipping discounts work.
Describe auditing of discounts.
Describe the high availability enhancements to Direct Mailer

Module 15: Extending the Business Desk
This module describes how to extend the Business Desk. After completing this module, you will be able to create your own Commerce Server Business Desk modules.

Lessons
Introduction to the Business Desk
Task Button Configuration
Special Tasks
Shared UI Routines
Rich UI Widgets
Security

Lab 15: Extending the Business Desk
Exercise 1: Creating a Structure for the new Business Desk Module
Exercise 2: Developing the XML Files for your Business Desk Module
Exercise 3: Developing the ASP Scripts
Exercise 4: Testing your Business Desk Module

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe how the Microsoft Commerce Server 2002 Business Desk functions.
Create your own Business Desk Modules.
Describe the security architecture employed by Business Desk

Module 16: Commerce Server Going Global
This module introduces the multilingual and multicurrency support provided by Commerce Server. After completing this module, you will be able to implement multilingual catalogs, and multilingual commerce sites.

Lessons
Infrastructure Improvements
International Features of the Catalog System
International Features of the Marketing System
International Features of Order Processing
International Features of the Data Warehouse and Analysis Components
Multilingual Deployment
SDK Sitelets

Lab 16: Implementing Multilingual Commerce Sites
Exercise 1: Creating Multilingual Catalogs
Exercise 2: Creating Multilingual Display Names for Products and Categories
Exercise 3: Creating a French User
Exercise 4: Programmatically Setting the Language for the Commerce Site
Exercise 5: Testing the Multilingual Site

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the infrastructure improvements in Microsoft Commerce Server 2002 to support international sites.
Describe international features of the Catalog system.
Describe international features of the Marketing system.
Describe international features of order processing.
Describe international features of the data warehouse and analysis components.
Describe dynamic site localization.
Describe international site configuration.
Describe multilingual deployment.
Describe the SDK sitelets and their international features.

For more information or to give feedback, send e-mail to info@OneApex.com or call 949-597-2100