Our store uses version 4.12 of the Miva Merchant shopping cart provided by Hostasaurus. We're using the OpenUI interface for our shopping cart, which has enabled us to add numerous modules to customize the look and feel of our store.* We've also added new functionality. Here are the modules we're currently using, along with the price as of March 2002, and source for purchasing each module:

External Product Purchase (v. 4.01) - $15.00 from Emporium Plus We're using this to allow customers to pay their invoice online. By default, every Miva product must have a product price. This module adds one product to the store without a price, but includes a text field where the user can enter how much they're paying.

Perpetual Basket Display (v. 4.01) - $10.00 from Emporium Plus We're using this so that shoppers can always see a total of what's in their basket.

URLSecure Fulfillment (v. 4.14) - $119.95 from modStop, Inc. Allows for the ability for users to purchase programming code and spreadsheets online. This module will allow the user to immediately download their purchase. This offers zero-administration fulfillment of downloadable products.

Remove Shipping Checkout (v. 4.01) - free from Santa Fe Mall By default, the Miva shopping cart includes a shipping option field on the checkout screens. Since we don't offer any shippable products, we wanted to remove this field.

PayData Email - free from Santa Fe Mall By default, Miva doesn't include the payment type on the order confirmation e-mails. This module adds that information to the e-mails.

Tridog LinkOptions: (v. 1.0) - $95.00 from TriDog By default, the Miva shopping cart makes the product code be a clickable link to a product page. This module allows us to make the description of a product be the clickable link, which means we can hide our product codes, which are meaningless to shoppers anyway. This means our category pages and related products pages have a clean look and feel, with the description being a larger link for the user to click on. A free alternative we later discovered from Netblazon offers the same end result, just with slightly less functionality.

Goto Basket (v. 4.0) - $24.95 from AdvanZ Design By default, the Miva shopping cart doesn't take the user to a basket page when they add something to their cart. It does change the quantity field listed on the product page, but this subtle change in the screen is often overlooked. This module takes shoppers to their basket after each item is added, so that it's clear what's been added. A free alternative we later discovered from Viking Coders offers the same end result. Look for the file called vc_adprtobask.zip.

Coupon Redemption (v. 4.06) - $25.00 from Emporium Plus This module enables us to create coupon codes that shoppers can enter upon checkout. We can create a storewide coupon, or just offer discounts on specific products.

Basket Wizard (v. 4.01) - $29.95 from Santa Fe Mall By default, the shopping cart doesn't include an obvious checkout button on the basket screen. This module enabled us to add a prominent "Click Here to Checkout" link to guide shoppers.

Convert Static Navbar Links (v. 4.01) - $19.95 from AdvanZ Design This module enabled us to create a custom navigation bar with tabs similar to the rest of our web site

Payment Method Display (v. 4.04) - $15.00 from Emporium Plus By default, "Check" was the first payment method on the dropdown list in the checkout screen. This module enabled us to move "Check" to the bottom of the list.

Mail Manager (v. 4.00) - $45.00 from Emporium Plus This module enables us to automatically send an e-mail to anyone when a particular product is purchased. Some of the vendors with products in our store handle their own fulfillment. THis module enables them to receive an automatic e-mail anytime one of their products is purchased.

Display WizardPro (v. 4.24) - $44.95 from Santa Fe Mall We had to temporarily disable this module because it conflicted with the Convert Static Navbar links module

Show Baskets (v. 4.02) - $15.00 from Emporium Plus This module allows us to see how many people are coming to our store and abandoning their baskets without completing a purchase.

Subscribe 2 - $69.97 from Design Extend This module allows our users to subscribe to the Accounting Advisors Newsletter. It also allows us to administer the newsletter and send it to our readers.

Subscribe 2 Merchant Integration - $14.95 from Design Extend This module gives our store customers the option to subscribe to our newsletter upon checkout or via their personal information screens.

ELM Stats Package - $79.95 from Design Extend This module gives us the ability to track items viewed and/or purchased for in our store. It's a great tool to see what folks are viewing, but perhaps not purchasing.

Hide Product Name - Free from NetBlazon Since we put our product names in the header (to control the size and formatting), having the product name show up again in the default location is redundant. This free module removes the product name from the product screen.

The Official Guide to Miva Merchant 4.X by Pamela Hazelton New to Miva? This book will get you started. Everything you need to know about establishing and maintaining your Miva Merchant shopping cart is covered here.