Pipeline changes in Commerce Server 2000 and Commerce Server 2002 (291449)

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Site Server 3.0, Commerce Edition includes two pipelines, Plan and Purchase. By default, the Plan pipeline provides a fourteen stage sequence of validity checks on the OrderForm object. The Purchase pipeline, by default, provides a three stage sequence that finalizes the purchase. The following table lists their purpose and functionalities.

Pipeline	Purpose	Description
Plan	Verify the order and compute the total cost of the order.	Using a 14 stage sequence, the order is verified, and the subtotal, shipping cost, tax, and total for the order is calculated and applied to the order.
Purchase	Validate the Payment Form and complete the Payment Transaction.	Using a three stage sequence, the payment form is validated, approval of payment is performed, order information is stored to the database and receipt, purchase order, and inventory functions are performed.

By default, Commerce Server 2000 and Commerce Server 2002 includes up to eight pipelines in its solution sites. The Direct Mailer Pipeline is installed if you select the Direct Mailer service during the Commerce Server 2000 or 2002 installation. The other pipelines are installed when one of the solution sites is unpackaged. The following table lists their purpose and functionalities.

Pipeline	Purpose	Description	Solution Site
DMLPipe	Used to create customized mail jobs.	Using a seven stage sequence, a recipient list is called, the mailing is composed and sent, and any post mailing instructions are executed.	Loaded with Application
Basket	Gathers basket information and computes the order subtotal.	Using a ten stage sequence, product, merchant, and shopper information is obtained and verified, the product price is obtained, discounts are applied, and the subtotal is calculated.	Retail SupplierAD
Checkout	Validates the order for purchase, verifies payment, and records orders approved for payment.	Using a three stage sequence, certain address and credit card criteria is verified, credit card payment is processed, and the order is saved.	Retail SupplierAD
Product	Information from an external data source about each line item in the order for use by subsequent pipeline components is obtained.	Using a one stage sequence, product information is queried from the product catalog and unknown products are marked for deletion.	Retail SupplierAD
RecvPO	Permits a Commerce Server 2000 or Commerce Server 2002 Web site to receive orders through Microsoft BizTalk Server.	Using an eight stage sequence, product and order information is verified, product price and discounts are applied, subtotal, tax, and shipping and handling values are calculated, and the order is saved.	Retail SupplierAD
Total	Computes the sum of the subtotal, tax, shipping, and handling values.	Using a five stage sequence, shipping & handling charges, taxes, and the order total values are calculated, and then copied into the order form.	Retail SupplierAD
Advertising	Selects targeted advertisements and promotions for personalization, and then displays on the Web site.	Using a seven stage sequence, a content score is derived, advertisement and promotions are selected according to their score, and the proper formatting is applied in preparation for display.	Retail SupplierAD
Discounts	Selects targeted discounts to be displayed on the Web site.	Using a seven stage sequence, a discount score is derived, a discount selected according to its score, and the proper formatting is applied in preparation for displaying.	Retail SupplierAD
RecordEvent	Used to record targeted content event information to a database.	Using a three stage sequence, targeted content event information is obtained and recorded in the proper format to a database and/or Web log.	Retail SupplierAD

There are also seven pipeline templates included with Commerce Server 2000 and Commerce Server 2002. These templates can be used as a starting point in developing your own customized pipelines.

Pipeline	Purpose	Description
ContentSelection	Responsible for selecting content to be displayed on the site.	Using a seven stage sequence, content for advertising, promotions, and personalization is selected.
Empty	Used as a starting point to create a new customized pipeline.	Initial starting point for creating a customized pipeline.
EventProcessing	Responsible for processing events related to the displayed content on the site.	Using a three stage sequence, AD and promotion click events are recorded.
Plan	Verifies the integrity of the Orderform object.	Using a fourteen stage sequence, product and shopper information is verified, order subtotal, shipping & handling, tax, and total are calculated, and the inventory is updated.
Product	Used to check factors affecting the price of a product.	Using a five stage sequence, product, shopper, item price information is obtained, any price adjustments are applied, and the inventory verified.
Purchase	Verifies the final purchase information.	Using a three stage sequence, the order is validated for purchase, payment is processed, and any work necessary for the order to be fulfilled is performed.
Test	Used for testing pipeline components before implementation.	A one stage sequence for testing pipeline components.

The use of Commerce Server Pipelines can automate various business processes and provide recovery in the event of an unexpected failure in the process. Default pipelines that are included in the solution sites perform various business processes that are essential to any commerce Web site, and provided pipeline templates assist in establishing a starting point for your Web site development and expanding its capabilities.