A tour of a thriving VM3 site in all its shiny new Bootstrap 3 finery, as well as a look at the added features and functions that make it sizzle. This talk was delivered to the Melbourne Joomla! User Group on 19 April 2017.

1. VirtueMart 3 Case Study
Russell Searle
Psicom
Melbourne Joomla! User Group
27 March 2013
Melbourne Joomla! User Group
19 April 2017

2. Agenda
• GCG Turbochargers business
• VirtueMart 3.2.1
• VirtuePlanet Merchant template
• Cherry Picker for Custom Fields
• ChronoForms apps
• Turbopedia: RSTickets! Pro

3. GCG Turbochargers
https://gcg.com.au/

4. GCG Turbochargers business
• GCG Turbochargers sells and services automotive
performance equipment and accessories
• Based in Sydney, office in Tokyo
• 3000+ products in online shop
• 250o+ customer accounts

5. GCG Turbochargers product range
Product
Category
Petrol
Diesel
OEM
etc …
Vehicle
Make
Audi
BMW
Caterpillar
etc …
Product
Attributes
Type
Options
Sizes
etc …
• Product category
tree is complex and
extensive
• Vehicle Make and
Product Attributes
implemented as
custom fields
• Custom fields
selected and applied
by value picker
modules

6. VirtueMart 3.2.1
http://virtuemart.net/

7. VirtueMart 3.2.1
• Major rewrite from VM 2.x
• Much more reliable, new features, better
performance
• Now shipped as a package
• 2 admin components
• 7 modules
• 5+ plugins
• Joomla! update handles all assets individually

8. VirtuePlanet Merchant template
https://www.virtueplanet.com/

9. VirtuePlanet Merchant template
• Complete package, total site styling
• Template + framework package
• 6 modules
• Combine with VP One Page Checkout plugin
• Extends Joomla! system
• Bootstrap 3 and Font Awesome typography extensions
• Mega Menu, Off Canvas, icon, badge menu extensions
• Module display, icon and badge extensions
(Joomla! core module manager, turn off Regular Labs Advanced Module Manager)
• Adds smart CSS / HTML / JS / CDN optimisation

10. VirtuePlanet Merchant template
• Extends VirtueMart
• Adds pop-over login and mini-cart boxes
• Adds Wishlist and Product Comparison (with Add to Cart)
• Adds customisable product tags
• Customise product listing, product grid, product detail
pages
• Modify custom field options displays
• Integrates with Break Designs VM extensions
• Adds cookie consent

11. VP Merchant module positions
• Module positions
standard for online
shop
• Positions also sufficient
for one page site
design
• Choose various column
layouts with full BS3
support

12. Cherry Picker for Custom Fields
http://www.galt.md/

13. Cherry Picker for Custom Fields
• Produces product filter modules
• Applies to currently selected category grid / list
• Very flexible and customisable, very fast
• Wide range of display / content options and filter styles
• Range of select and apply options
• Option for dynamic AJAX update of current lists
• Optionally select only products in stock
• GCG uses this module extensively and creatively to
filter all sorts of product attributes

14. ChronoForms apps
https://www.chronoengine.com/

15. ChronoForms apps
• GCG has two of my ‘standard CF applications’
• Warranty Claim app
• Contact form app

16. Standard ChronoForms apps
• CF entry form with validation, spam block, database save, mail
notification, PDF attachments etc
• CC view with search, column sort, view and update links
• CF update form(s) with ‘Office Use Only’ tab for workflow /
status update, mail notification etc
• CF review form with ‘Office Use Only’ tab for workflow /
status review, export options etc
• Secured via custom user groups / viewing access levels

17. Turbopedia: RSTickets! Pro
https://www.rsjoomla.com/

18. Turbopedia: RSTickets! Pro
• Customer service case function
• Allows customers to post sales / tech inquiries
• Inquiries directed to teams
• Staff members volunteer or can be assigned
• Staff member progresses case to closure
• Case may become KB article
• Q&A Knowledgebase function
• Staff member can promote case to KB article, or case can
be automatically promoted by rules
• Customers can read authorised articles as Q&A or FAQ

19. Links
GCG Turbochargers https://gcg.com.au/
VirtueMart http://virtuemart.net/
VirtuePlanet Merchant template https://www.virtueplanet.com/
Cherry Picker for Custom Fields http://www.galt.md/
ChronoForms product range https://www.chronoengine.com/
RSTickets! Pro https://www.rsjoomla.com/