ikoshkin

We have released CS-Cart and Multi-Vendor 4.10.2. It is a patch release, so it focuses on fixing bugs instead of adding new functionality. The only big change is the ability to disable the requirement for phone number in the international format. Check the changelog or the article in our blog for more information.

For the time being, we provide upgrades to 4.10.1 and 4.10.2 in limited numbers. For example, at first we make 20 upgrade packages available for download. Those who check the Upgrade Center and download them, will get to upgrade first. After that, we make 40 upgrade packages available, and so on. This limitation gets lifted some time after the release.

We have released CS-Cart and Multi-Vendor 4.10.1. The changes are too many to describe here, so instead we've listed them in our blog. This time you'll also find links to videos about new variations and checkout there. Here I'll only list 3 most important changes:

• Product variations are finally out of beta, and with new functionality.
• New customizable one-step checkout has been introduced.
• A new add-on called "Stores and pick up points" has been added. It'll let you create a "Pick up from store" shipping method with manually defined rates.

Read the article in our blog for more information about the changes.

The upgrades to version 4.10.1 are already available. As usual, for the first few days after the release we hand out upgrade packages in limited numbers, but then we lift that restriction. So if you don’t see this upgrade in your Upgrade Center yet, please try again later.

We have released version 4.10.1 RC (Release Candidate). It will be useful to:

• add-on and theme developers—they can test their products in advance to prepare for 4.10.1;
• the merchants who are interested to see how the new version will work, and what they’ll have to do during the upgrade.

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The full list of changes is very long, so we left it in the changelog and in the post-upgrade notifications. We also have an article about technical changes for developers. Below you’ll find only the major changes that are definitely worth looking into:
 

Product variations are out of beta. Variations are now based on features instead of options. This change makes variations more useful, but requires the conversion of the old variations and option combinations into “variations 2.0”. Version 4.10.1 RC lets you see in advance how this conversion will work.

New “Lite Checkout” introduced. The old step-by-step checkout is now a separate add-on. We won’t change checkout page without your consent. If you upgrade from an earlier version, disable the Step-by-Step Checkout add-on, and you’ll get the new checkout configured for you. The new checkout page can be configured via block manager. To do it, go to Design → Layouts and switch to the Checkout tab.

The Store locator add-on has been expanded greatly, and it is now called Stores and pickup points. It allows you to create a shipping method that uses your store locations as selectable pickup points for customers to choose from.

Instead of keeping the map settings in different add-ons, we now have one add-on called Maps and geolocation. It handles what map provider your store uses. Google Maps and Yandex.Maps are available.

 
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The best way to try 4.10.1 RC is to upgrade from the previous version:

1. Make sure that your store runs on 4.9.3 SP1.

2. Create a dev copy of your store. Make sure to close the storefront. It is a requirement for a dev copy, while you are still using your own key.

Don’t upgrade your live store to 4.10.1 RC1—there won’t be an upgrade from any RC to the final 4.10.1 release.

3. In your test copy, go to Settings → Licensing mode and change the key to the one that matches your product:

CS-Cart: CS-BETA-277W-86C6-4NZS-ZXB7
Multi-Vendor: MV-PL-BETA-3NZ1-RP6D-6897-9297

For Russian versions, please refer to the announcement at the Russian forum.

These keys will only have one upgrade: from 4.9.3 SP1 to 4.10.1 RC1 (and any subsequent RCs of 4.10.1). Once the testing is over, we will disable these keys. When you enter and save them, you’ll no longer need to keep the storefront closed. But it’s best to open in after step 4.

4. Install the upgrade. After the upgrade you’ll see notifications about the changes. They’ll tell you what to do and check next.

5. (optional for Multi-Vendor users and developers) Try the upcoming Multi-Vendor Ultimate. To do it, change the key on your dev copy to MV-ULT-BETA-0G3H-1CA2-Y5XI-5J5F after you upgrade to 4.10.1 RC1.

 
If you can’t upgrade a test copy for any reason, you’ll still be able to try 4.10.1 RC as a new installation. Just download CS-Cart 4.10.1 RC or Multi-Vendor 4.10.1 RC and use the corresponding keys provided above.
 
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Feel free to discuss 4.10.1 RC, possible issues, and especially the actions that are required after the upgrade, in this topic.

P.S. We have also released RC2, RC3, RC4, and RC5.

What we've done:
00:31 – product variations:

1:14 – variation export and import
2:30 – filtering variations by color
3:44 – a block with the list of variations

4:03 – Lite Checkout (a new one-step checkout experience):

4:20 – profile field management
5:13 – checkout customization
8:03 – checkout settings

8:52 – automatic cart recalculation
9:43 – minor fixes
10:52 – RTL support in Multi-Vendor Plus mobile application
11:19 – Multi-Vendor Ultimate with multiple storefronts

What we're working on:
14:27 – the release of version 4.10.1, 4.10.1 RC, and Multi-Vendor Ultimate
15:27 – improvements to Lite Checkout, while preserving the old checkout as an add-on enabled by default
16:02 – migration of variations to variations 2.0
16:19 – variation features on the product list
16:43 – tools for vendors in Multi-Vendor mobile application

CS-Cart currently has 2 similar entities: product variations (will appear in 4.10.1) and option combinations. They serve the same purposes as variations:

• A convenient way to switch between similar products on the storefront.
• Separate inventory tracking for those products.

We're planning to:

• Remove option combinations in version 4.10.1.
• Automatically turn all existing option combinations into product variations during the upgrade to 4.10.1.

Please note that there is a difference between options and option combinations. We are planning to remove only option combinations. Options will remain, and their price and weight modifiers will affect products as before, but different quantities will be handled only by variations based on features. Variations give you more control than option combinations:

• Selection of the correct variant on the product page:
available both with variations and combinations.

• Separate inventory tracking for variants:
available both with variations and combinations.

• Displaying similar products as separate items in the catalog:
not available with combinations / available with variations, if you choose so.

• Filtering variants on the storefront:
not available with combinations / available with variations.

• Back-in-stock notifications about a variant:
not available with combinations / available with variations.

• Product import in a single file with consistent structure:
not available with combinations / available with variations.

• Price management:
the price of an option combination must be set via the modifiers of option variants / the price of each variation can be set independently.

• Own images:
an option combination only has its own main image / product variations can have as many images as they needs, or borrow them from parent products.

Here's the looks comparison: the old option combinations are on the left, and the new product variations are on the right.





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Please reply here if:
• Your store absolutely needs option combinations instead of variations (we'd be very interested to know why).
• You use third-party addons that extend the functionality of option combinations.[/i]