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Media Manager Documentation

This document describes the Media Manager tool used for managing product-related media in Cadify. The Media Manager allows users to set up printing areas from Excel workbooks, configure downloadable PDF brochures, and manage product pictures, all controlled via proxy objects in the code and stored in structured Excel worksheets.

Overview

The Media Manager UI is divided into three main sections:

  • Print from Excel: Configure print areas from specified worksheets and ranges.
  • PDF from File: Set up downloadable PDF brochures for products.
  • Pictures: Manage product images and associate them with controls.

MediaManager

Excel Data Mapping

The configuration for each media type is stored in a structured format in the Excel workbook. Each section uses a proxy object:

  • ProxyReport for print areas
  • ProxyBrochure for PDF brochures
  • ProxyPicture for product images

The following example shows how these proxies are stored in the Excel workbook:

ProxyInExcel

1. Print from Excel (ProxyReport)

This subchapter explains how Cadify generates reports as part of integrated quality assurance. Reports are created from Excel using defined print ranges and exported as standard PDF files. They may contain drawings, control points, or checklists, and are always linked to the product configuration. The following pages describe how report templates are prepared, how print ranges are managed, and how outputs are distributed.

Allows the user to specify a worksheet and range to define a printable area for the product.

Field Example Value Description
Source sheet tab Cadify MASTER Worksheet containing the print area
Print area A15:P45 Excel range to print
Printer PDF Output format (PDF)
Destination tab 4 Customer Where the result is stored
Prompt Print Cadify MASTER Display name in UI
File name printFromTable.pdf Output file name
Page size A4 Page size
Orientation Portrait Page orientation
Number of pages 1 How many pages to print
Display order 10 UI display order

System Behavior

Publish (Product Release)

  • AddIn generates all report PDFs.
  • Files are stored in the published folder on Dropbox.
  • nopCommerce imports and displays these PDFs on the product page.
  • These become the product’s default published PDF outputs.

Calculation (Runtime Request)

  • When nopCommerce triggers a Calculation:
  • Cadify Service regenerates all report PDFs.
  • Files are uploaded to the request folder.
  • nopCommerce then fetches these request-specific files.

Storage Summary

State Behavior
Raw No generated PDFs
Published Default PDFs created at Publish
Request Fresh reports regenerated per calculation

2. PDF Brochure (ProxyBrochure)

Set up downloadable PDF files for products. The files are stored next to the workbook (e.g., on Dropbox) and published with a download link.

Field Example Value Description
Prompt Static Downloadable PDF Display name in UI
File format PDF File type
File name Controls - Cadify Light User Manual.pdf PDF file name
Destination tab 3 Brochures Where the brochure info is stored
Display order 10 UI display order
Brochure name (blank) Optional brochure display name

System Behavior

Embedded Brochures

  • PDF stored inside the Excel file as binary.
  • Always included when the product is published.

File-Based Brochures

  • Source file stored in the raw Dropbox folder.
  • At Publish:
  • Copied to the published folder.
  • nopCommerce receives and hosts the published version.

Storage Summary

State Embedded File-Based
Raw Stored inside Excel Stored in raw folder
Published Published from Excel Copied to published folder
Calculation Not regenerated Not regenerated

Brochures are static; they do not change during runtime calculations.

3. Product Pictures (ProxyPicture)

Users can assign images as product pictures or connect them to Cadify Controls (as ImageSquare).

Field Example Value Description
Source File Image file source
Picture Name red.png / green.png / blue.png Filename of the image
Alt red / green / blue Alt text for the image
Title red / green / blue Title or description
Display Order 10 / 20 UI display order
Associated Attribute Select your favorite color Linked control/attribute
Associated Value Red / Green / Blue Value for the attribute
Picture Type ImageSquare / Product Type of image

Example Images Mapped in UI:

  • ImageSquare: Used for selectable color squares (red, green, blue).

  • Product: Used for main product image (e.g., Cadify logo).

System Behavior

Embedded Pictures

  • Stored as binary inside Excel.
  • Available only in the raw Excel file until Publish.

File-Based Pictures

  • Stored in the raw folder on Dropbox.
  • Displayed inside the AddIn.

Publish Behavior

During Publish:

  • All pictures (embedded + file-based) are uploaded to the nopCommerce Picture Manager.

  • nopCommerce becomes the hosting source for images.

  • Dropbox picture files are no longer used on the live site.

Storage Summary

State Embedded File-Based
Raw Stored inside Excel Stored in raw folder
Published Uploaded to nopCommerce Uploaded to nopCommerce
Request Not regenerated Not regenerated

Proxy Object Mapping

  • ProxyReport: Defines Excel printing areas.
  • ProxyBrochure: Defines downloadable PDF brochures.
  • ProxyPicture: Defines product images and their attributes.

Each proxy is represented as a structured row in the Excel workbook, making it easy to configure and automate media management for products.

UI Actions

  • Add PDF print: Add a new Excel print configuration.
  • Add PDF as file: Attach a downloadable PDF brochure.
  • Add picture: Add new product images and associate them with controls.

Buttons at the bottom allow users to validate and apply changes, ensuring the product's media settings are correctly saved.

For more details, refer to the sample UI and Excel data structure above.