How do products work in the system?
Products Organization - An Overview
A Matrix Approach for Accuracy and Flexibility
Products in the ez print commerce application and database follow a "matrix-like" approach to organization. To ensure accurate and utmost flexibility in the engine and the pricing of products and options, each combination of a product has a unique row in the database. This may seem overwhelming when first viewed, but the entire PFS team is continually providing upgrades and tools to manage groupings of these products as easily as possible.
For example: A product such as, flyers, where the quantity = 1000, having 2 paper types, 14pt. Cardstock and perhaps 12pt. Cardstock, sharing a singular size of 3x5, would have 2 distinct rows in the database. The reason for this is that each of these products will most likely have different weights due to the paper type. If for example, in this same example we have an additional size of 6x9 available, that too, would have 2 distinct rows in the database. As the number of available paper types, quantities and sizes grow in your database thus the matrix too will grow in size.
Again, in short, each combination of products in your database has a unique and distinct row of data and information to ensure accuracy of dynamnic quotes as well as to provide the most flexibility possible in turnaround and option pricing.