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Cadify Substore System

Technical Overview

This document describes the full end-to-end setup of a Cadify Substore, from Dropbox configuration through nopCommerce setup to domain and SSL configuration. Follow the sections in order when onboarding a new Cadify Client.

1. Terminology

This section defines the key concepts (Client, Store, etc.) that are used throughout the rest of the guide. Make sure these are clear before you start the technical steps.

Cadify Client

A Cadify customer that owns a store and its products.

A Cadify Client can be either:
- a Company, or
- a Marketplace.

Store Role

A Store Role is a nopCommerce Role.
Technically: a Customer with Store specific Role in nopCommerce.

In Cadify:
- A Cadify Client is represented as a Customer with Store specific Role in nopCommerce so they can manage their store.

Cadify Store

A nopCommerce Store that belongs to a Cadify Client.

  • Each Cadify Store:
  • corresponds to a specific Cadify Client
  • is connected to exactly one Dropbox App Folder

Cadify Service

A windows background applications which serves user requests.

  • Each Cadify Service:
  • corresponds to a specific Cadify Site
  • is connected to one or more Dropbox App Folder
  • continuously observes those Dropbox folders
  • supply the requests with MS Excel and Solidworks
  • generates the requested files

Cadify Addin

A Solidworks extension.

  • Each Cadify Addin:
  • corresponds to a specific Cadify Site
  • is connected to one or more Dropbox App Folder
  • an engineer can design a product with it
  • product can be published to the Cadify Store

Site vs Store

  • Site example: ovalas.no
  • A Site can host multiple Stores, for example:
  • main.ovalas.no
  • anotherstore.ovalas.no

Dropbox App Folder

A dedicated Dropbox application folder used to store the Cadify Client’s product files.

  • Has restricted access and cannot see any other client’s folders.
  • Example path:

Dropbox\Cadify\Apps\<ClientFolder>

Silo

A Silo is a software package

  • With the Customer Role a Cadify Client can use
  • a Cadify Store
  • a Cadify Service (with Solidworks and Dropbox background)
  • a Cadify Addin (in Solidworks)

Cadify Authorization

The mechanism that connects a specific Cadify Store in nopCommerce to a specific Dropbox App Folder.

  • The relationship is 1:1:
  • One Store ↔ One Dropbox App Folder

2. Vendor Role and Entity Relationships

In nopCommerce, a Cadify Client is represented as a Customer with the Store role.
Key points:

A Cadify Client must have:
- A nopCommerce Store (Cadify Store), and
- A connected Dropbox App Folder via Cadify Authorization.

While nopCommerce allows:
- One Store → Many Vendors,

Cadify uses a simplified structure:
One Store represents one Cadify Client and one Vendor.

A Site can contain multiple Stores, each with its own Dropbox App Folder.

3. Client Onboarding Process (High-Level)

The full process of setting up a new Cadify Client has four main steps:

  1. Create the Client’s Dropbox App Folder
  2. Create the Cadify Client in nopCommerce
  3. Create and Configure the Substore in nopCommerce
  4. Create the User Account(s) for the Client

4. Create Client (Dropbox) Folder

Cadify products are stored in per-client Dropbox folders:
Dropbox/Cadify/Apps/<ClientFolder>

4.1 Create the Dropbox App (Client Folder)

Log in to Dropbox Developers:
https://www.dropbox.com/developers

Open the App Console → Create a new Dropbox App.

Creating an app automatically creates the App Folder.

⚠️ Be careful when creating apps. Mistakes affect file access.

4.2 Naming Convention

Use naming:
Store.Site.Country

Example:
Main.Ovalas.No

Must match the nopCommerce Substore name.

4.3 Redirect URIs

Main folder redirect URI:
Admin/ExtendedStore/AuthorizedAppFolderAuth

Each client app must include its corresponding redirect URI.

4.4 Permissions

Set permissions so Cadify can upload/update/read files but cannot access unrelated folders.

4.5 Store App Key and Secret

5. Configure Substore in nopCommerce

5.1 Create the Substore

Path: Administration → Configuration → Stores → Add New

The Store name must match the Dropbox App Folder name.

5.2 Configure Dropbox in Cadify Plugin

Enter App Key & Secret → Click Authorize

6. Create a Store Role

Store Role name must match:
- Substore name
- Dropbox folder name

Represents the client and controls permissions.

7. Create an Account (Customer with Vendor Role)

Steps:
1. Register customer
2. Assign Store role
3. Customer becomes client admin

They can manage products and sync Dropbox data.

8. Store Roles & Permissions

8.1 Data Model

Store Role → Customers (1:N)
Store Role → Products (1:N)

8.2 Store Role as Permission Filter

Ensures isolation between clients.

8.3 Cadify Structure

Store is the central object mapping customers, products, and Dropbox folders.

9. Create a Domain Name

In Store settings:
- Set Store URL
- Enable SSL

10. DNS Setup in ServeTheWorld

Login: https://my.servetheworld.net/login

Navigate to DNS settings.

Set A or CNAME records to point domain → server IP.

11. Let’s Encrypt SSL

Use win-acme to generate and install certificate. Start command prompt first.

Then run letsencrypt with wacs.exe.

Create new certificate (N).

Set the site identifier (main.ovalas.no -> 4). Then Pick all binding (A). It is important to create certificate for all bindings. Then select the main host (main.ovalas.no -> 5).

Then continue that selection (y), overwrite settings (y) and replace existing task (y).