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Basic Configuration in Magento 2

Hello Magento Folks,

 


Let’s say you have successfully installed and has started using the Magento Ecommerce platform. But before you proceed to add products and taking up orders or do any things else in your store, you need to setup the general configuration in your Magento store.


Today we have come up with the Ultimate Guide to walk you through how to setup the general configuration in Magento 2. Below tutorial has some advance options to configure your Magento 2 store.

Store configuration

Store Configuration: Configure your store’s general settings, including store information, default currency, time zone, and email notifications. You can access these settings in the Admin Panel under

Stores > Configuration.

Website Configuration

Set up multiple websites within your Magento installation if you plan to run multiple stores. Each website can have its own domain, language, and pricing structure. You can manage websites under

Stores > Settings > All Stores.

Website configuration in Magento 2 allows you to set up and manage multiple websites within a single Magento installation. Each website can have its own domain, language, pricing, and other specific settings. Here’s more information about website configuration in Magento 2:

Multiple Websites:

  • Magento 2 allows you to run multiple websites from a single installation. This is useful if you want to manage multiple online stores with different domains or have separate websites for different regions or brands.

Website Scope:

  • Each website in Magento 2 has its own scope, which means you can configure various settings specific to that website. This includes settings related to store information, design, pricing, products, and more.

Domain Configuration:

  • You can assign a unique domain or subdomain to each website in Magento 2. This helps in distinguishing between different websites and provides a personalized experience to customers.

Language and Locale:

  • Magento 2 allows you to set up different languages and locales for each website. This enables you to cater to customers in various regions and offer localized content, currency, and language options.

Store Views:

  • Within each website, you can create multiple store views. Store views represent different variations of the website, such as different languages or themes. For example, you can have a store view for English and another for French, both under the same website.

Pricing and Currency:

  • With website configuration, you can set up different pricing structures and currencies for each website. This is particularly useful if you are targeting customers in different countries with varied pricing requirements.

Shared or Separate Catalogs:

  • Magento 2 allows you to choose whether to share the catalog across websites or have separate catalogs for each website. Shared catalogs can be useful if you want to have common products across multiple websites, while separate catalogs give you more control over products specific to each website.

Payment and Shipping Methods:

  • You can configure different payment and shipping methods for each website. This allows you to offer localized payment options and shipping carriers based on the requirements of the specific website.

Content and Design:

  • Magento 2 enables you to customize the content, design, and layout of each website individually. This means you can have different themes, banners, and static blocks specific to each website, providing a tailored experience to visitors.

Website Hierarchy:

  • Magento 2 allows you to define the hierarchy of websites, which can be useful for organizing and managing multiple websites efficiently. You can specify a default website that will be used when a visitor accesses a domain that is not explicitly assigned to any specific website.

By configuring websites in Magento 2, you can effectively manage and differentiate multiple online stores within a single Magento installation. It provides flexibility, customization, and control over various aspects of each website, allowing you to cater to different regions, languages, and customer segments.

Theme Configuration

Magento 2 allows you to choose and customize themes for your store’s frontend appearance. You can select themes from the Magento Marketplace or create your own. Configure themes in the

Admin Panel under Content > Design > Configuration.

 

 

  1. Theme Selection:

    Magento 2 provides a wide range of pre-built themes that you can choose from to style your store. You can browse and select themes from the Magento Marketplace or other third-party theme providers. Once you’ve chosen a theme, you can install and activate it in your store.
  2. Theme Customization:

    Magento 2 allows you to customize your chosen theme to match your branding and design preferences. You can modify various aspects of the theme, including colors, fonts, logo, header, footer, and more. This can be done through the built-in theme customization tools or by editing the theme’s files directly.
  3. Layout Configuration:

    With Magento 2’s layout configuration, you can control the arrangement and structure of your store’s pages. You can create and manage layout updates for specific pages, categories, or products. This allows you to customize the layout of individual pages or sections within your store.
  4. Widget Configuration:

    Widgets are small modules that can be placed in specific areas of your store to add dynamic content. Magento 2 provides a range of pre-built widgets that you can configure and place in your store’s pages. You can use widgets to display banners, product sliders, social media feeds, and more.
  5. Static Block Management:

    Static blocks are blocks of content that can be reused across your store’s pages. You can create and manage static blocks to display custom content, promotional messages, or additional information. Static blocks can be placed in various areas of your store using layout updates or widgets.
  6. Mobile Responsiveness:

    Magento 2 themes are designed to be responsive, meaning they adapt and provide an optimal viewing experience on different devices and screen sizes. You can ensure your theme is mobile-friendly and configure specific design elements for mobile devices.
  7. Theme Fallback Mechanism:

    Magento 2’s theme fallback mechanism allows you to create custom theme variations based on parent themes. This enables you to customize specific elements of your chosen theme without modifying the original theme files. Theme fallback allows for easier updates and maintenance.
  8. Multi-Store Themes:

    Magento 2 supports different themes for each website or store view within a single installation. This means you can assign different themes to different websites or store views, providing a unique look and feel for each store.
  9. Theme Deployment:

    Once you have customized your theme, you can deploy the theme files to ensure they are accessible to your store’s frontend. Magento 2 provides various deployment modes, including production mode, developer mode, and static view files signing, to optimize performance and security during theme deployment.
  10. Third-Party Theme Integration:

    Magento 2 allows you to integrate third-party themes or create your own custom theme from scratch. This provides you with flexibility and freedom in designing your store’s frontend according to your specific requirements.

Payment Methods:

Configure the payment methods you want to offer to your customers. Magento 2 supports a wide range of payment gateways, including PayPal, credit cards, and offline payment options. Set up payment methods under

Stores > Configuration > Sales > Payment Methods.

 

 

Payment method configuration in Magento 2 allows you to set up and manage the payment options available to your customers during the checkout process. Here’s more information on payment method configuration in Magento 2:

 

  1. Built-in Payment Methods:

    Magento 2 offers several built-in payment methods that you can configure and enable for your store. Some commonly used built-in payment methods include
    PayPal, credit card (Authorize.net, Braintree, etc.), bank transfer, cash on delivery, and check/money order.
  2. Third-Party Payment Extensions:

    Magento 2 also supports integration with various third-party payment gateways and extensions. These extensions can provide additional payment options such as specific regional payment gateways or alternative payment methods like Klarna, Amazon Pay, or Stripe. You can install and configure these extensions to expand your payment options.
  3. Payment Configuration:

    To configure payment methods in Magento 2, you can access the Admin Panel and navigate to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Payment Methods. Here, you will find a list of available payment methods.
  4. Enabling/Disabling Payment Methods:

    In the payment method configuration, you can enable or disable specific payment methods according to your preferences. Enabling a payment method allows customers to use it during the checkout process, while disabling it hides the option from customers.
  5. Payment Method Specific Settings:

    Each payment method has its own specific settings that can be configured. These settings include API credentials, merchant account information, payment action (authorize only, authorize and capture), payment capturing settings, and more. The configuration options may vary depending on the selected payment method.
  6. Payment Restrictions:

    Magento 2 allows you to apply restrictions on payment methods based on various criteria such as customer groups, store views, countries, minimum order amount, or specific product attributes. This enables you to control which payment methods are available for specific customer segments or regions.
  7. Sort Order:

    You can set the sort order of payment methods to determine their display sequence during the checkout process. The payment method with the lowest sort order value appears first in the list of available options.
  8. Payment Configuration per Store View:

    If you have multiple store views within your Magento installation, you can configure payment methods separately for each store view. This allows you to offer different payment options or settings for specific store views.
  9. Testing and Sandbox Environments:

    Many payment methods offer sandbox or test environments that allow you to test the integration without processing real transactions. This helps ensure the payment methods are working correctly before going live.
  10. Error Handling and Notifications:

    Magento 2 provides options for error handling and notifications related to payment methods. You can configure how error messages are displayed to customers during the checkout process and set up email notifications for specific payment-related events.

Shipping Methods

 

  • Set up the shipping methods and rates for your products. You can configure flat rate shipping, table rates, or integrate with specific shipping carriers. Configure shipping methods

 

Admin Panel under Stores > Configuration > Sales > Delivery Methods.

Shipping method configuration in Magento 2 allows you to set up and manage the shipping options available to your customers when they place orders. Here’s more information about shipping method configuration in Magento 2:

Flat Rate Shipping:

  • Magento 2 provides the option to configure flat rate shipping. With flat rate shipping, you can set a fixed shipping rate for all orders, regardless of the order’s weight, dimensions, or destination. You can specify the flat rate amount and additional settings such as handling fees.

Table Rates:

  • Rates allow you to define shipping rates based on various factors, such as order weight, destination, and shipping method. You can create a CSV file with a table of rates that Magento 2 references to calculate shipping costs during the checkout process. The table rates can be based on weight, price, quantity, or a combination of these factors.

Free Shipping:

  • Magento 2 allows you to set up free shipping promotions based on various conditions, such as minimum order amount or specific customer groups. You can configure free shipping options to attract and incentivize customers.

Handling Fees:

  • In addition to shipping rates, you can specify handling fees for each shipping method. Handling fees cover additional costs associated with processing and packaging orders.

Shipping Restrictions:

  • Magento 2 enables you to set shipping restrictions based on various criteria. You can limit shipping methods by customer groups, countries, regions, zip codes, or specific product attributes. This allows you to control where and to whom certain shipping methods are available.

Third-Party Shipping Extensions:

  • Magento 2 also supports integration with third-party shipping extensions, which can provide additional shipping options or carrier integrations beyond the built-in functionalities. These extensions can enhance the shipping capabilities of your store.

In-store delivery:

  • With the in-store delivery method, the customer can select a source to be used as a pickup location during the checkout.

During checkout on the storefront:

The customer clicks Pick In Store or selects the In-Store Pickup Delivery shipping method. The Pick In Store checkout tab opens.

UPS Integration:

  • Enable UPS: In the Magento Admin Panel, go to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Delivery Methods > UPS. Enable the UPS shipping method.
  • Configure UPS Settings: Enter your UPS access key, username, and password provided by UPS. Set the desired shipping origin and other configuration options.
  • Shipping Methods and Services: Specify the UPS shipping methods and services you want to offer to customers, such as Ground, Next Day Air, or Worldwide Express.
  • Packaging and Negotiated Rates: Configure package dimensions, weight units, and optionally enable negotiated rates if you have a UPS account with negotiated rates.

USPS Integration:

  • Enable USPS: In the Magento Admin Panel, go to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Delivery Methods > USPS. Enable the USPS shipping method.
  • Configure USPS Settings: Choose the API mode (test or production) and enter your USPS Web Tools API credentials.
  • Shipping Methods and Services: Select the USPS shipping methods and services you want to offer, such as Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, or Priority Mail Express.
  • Packaging: Configure packaging settings for USPS shipments, such as package size and weight limits.

FedEx:

  • Enable FedEx: In the Magento Admin Panel, go to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Delivery Methods > FedEx. Enable the FedEx shipping method.
  • Configure FedEx Settings: Enter your FedEx account credentials, including the account number, meter number, key, and password.
  • Shipping Methods and Services: Choose the FedEx shipping methods and services you want to provide, such as FedEx Ground, FedEx Express, or FedEx Home Delivery.
  • Packaging: Set up package dimensions and weight units for FedEx shipments.

DHL:

  • Enable DHL: Integration with DHL can be achieved through third-party extensions available in the Magento Marketplace. Install and configure a DHL shipping extension suitable for your needs.
  • Configure DHL Settings: Enter the required DHL credentials provided by the extension, such as account numbers, site IDs, and keys. Shipping Methods and Services: Select the DHL shipping methods and services you want to offer, such as DHL Express Worldwide or DHL eCommerce.

Packaging: Configure package dimensions and weight units according to DHL requirements.

Taxes

Configure tax rules and rates based on your store’s requirements. Magento 2 allows you to set up tax classes, tax zones, and tax calculations.

Manage tax settings under Stores > Configuration > Sales > Tax.

 

 

  1. Tax Calculation Settings:

    Configure the tax calculation method based on your business requirements. Magento 2 provides several calculation methods, including Total, Unit Price, Row Total, and others. Choose the appropriate method for your store.
  2. Tax Classes:

    Tax classes determine which products or types of products are subject to tax. Magento 2 comes with default tax classes, such as Retail Customer, Wholesale Customer, or Taxable Goods. You can create custom tax classes or modify existing ones to suit your specific needs.
  3. Tax Rates:

    Tax rates define the tax percentage to be applied to different regions or jurisdictions. Magento 2 allows you to set up tax rates for various countries, states, and provinces. You can create and manage tax rates based on the specific tax jurisdictions relevant to your business.
  4. Tax Rules:

    Tax rules associate tax rates and tax classes to determine which tax rates apply to specific products or customer groups. You can create tax rules based on product attributes, customer groups, or other conditions. For example, you can create a tax rule that applies a specific tax rate to products in a certain category or to customers from a particular country.
  5. Customer Tax Classes:

    Magento 2 provides default customer tax classes, such as Retail Customer and Wholesale Customer. You can also create custom customer tax classes to differentiate tax calculations based on customer groups or specific attributes.
  6. Import/Export Tax Rates:

    Magento 2 allows you to import or export tax rates and tax rules using CSV files. This feature is useful when you have a large number of tax rates or when you need to migrate tax configurations between different environments.
  7. Product Tax Classes:

    Each product in Magento 2 is associated with a product tax class. You can assign a specific product tax class to individual products or groups of products. This determines how tax is applied to those products based on the tax rules and tax rates you have configured.
  8. Display Settings:

    You can configure how tax is displayed in your store, including the display of prices inclusive or exclusive of tax. You can also choose to display the estimated tax amount during the shopping cart and checkout process.
  9. Testing and Validation:

    Magento 2 provides testing and validation options to ensure that tax calculations are accurate. You can test tax calculations using different scenarios and verify the tax amounts applied to orders.

Catalog Configuration

Configure product attributes, attribute sets, and categories for your product catalog. You can set up attributes to describe your products and organize them into categories. Manage catalog configuration under

Admin panel > Stores > Configuration >Catalog

 

 

  1. Product Attributes:

    Product attributes are characteristics or properties used to describe your products. Magento 2 allows you to create custom product attributes to suit your business needs. Attributes can be of different types, such as text, select, multiselect, boolean, date, and more. You can configure attributes to appear on the product details page, in layered navigation, or as searchable filters.
  2. Managing Attributes:

    In the Magento Admin Panel, you can access the attributes configuration under Stores > Attributes > Product. Here, you can create new attributes, modify existing ones, and set attribute properties like label, input type, validation rules, and more.
  3. Attribute Sets:

    Attribute sets group related attributes together and define the available attributes for a particular product type. Magento 2 comes with default attribute sets like Default, which you can modify or create custom attribute sets based on your product types. Attribute sets determine which attributes are available when creating or editing products.
  4. Managing Attribute Sets:

    Attribute sets can be managed under Stores > Attributes > Attribute Set. Here, you can create new attribute sets, assign attributes to them, and configure the attribute groupings and their display order. Attribute sets provide structure and organization to your product catalog.
  5. Categories:

    Categories in Magento 2 are used to organize and structure your product catalog. You can create a hierarchical structure with parent and child categories. Categories help customers navigate your store and find products based on their preferences.
  6. Managing Categories:

    Magento 2 allows you to manage categories under Catalog > Categories. Here, you can create new categories, set their display order, define URL keys, assign products to categories, and configure category-specific settings like display mode, image, and description.
  7. Category Attributes:

    Like product attributes, you can also define custom attributes specific to categories. These attributes can provide additional information or properties for categories. Category attributes can be managed under Stores > Attributes > Category.
  8. Product Attributes and Category Mapping:

    Magento 2 allows you to map product attributes to categories. This means you can set specific attributes to be visible or required for products within certain categories. Mapping attributes to categories helps in maintaining consistent data and displaying relevant attributes for specific product types.
  9. Frontend Display:

    The configured product attributes, attribute sets, and categories are displayed on the frontend of your Magento store. Customers can see product details, filter products based on attributes, and navigate through the category structure to find products.

Customer Configuration

Configure customer registration, account settings, and customer groups. You can define customer group-specific pricing and set up customer-related options in

Stores > Configuration > Customers.

 

 

  1. Customer Registration:

    Magento 2 provides options to configure customer registration settings. You can choose to enable or disable customer registration, enable email confirmation, set minimum password length, and configure CAPTCHA to prevent spam registrations.
  2. Account Settings:

    In the customer configuration, you can define various account-related options. This includes configuring the account sharing policy, allowing or disallowing multiple customers to share the same email address or account. You can also enable or disable the option for customers to subscribe to newsletters during registration.
  3. Customer Attributes:

    Magento 2 allows you to manage customer attributes to capture additional information during registration or account editing. You can create custom customer attributes and set their properties, such as input type, validation rules, and visibility.
  4. Customer Groups:

    Customer groups are used to segment customers based on specific criteria, such as wholesale customers, retail customers, or loyalty program members. In the customer configuration, you can create and manage customer groups. Each customer can be assigned to a specific group, and you can set group-specific pricing, discounts, or promotions.
  5. Group Pricing:

    Magento 2 enables you to set up group-specific pricing for products. This allows you to offer different prices to different customer groups. You can configure group pricing in the product configuration settings and assign different prices based on the customer group.
  6. Default Customer Group:

    You can specify the default customer group in the customer configuration. When a new customer registers on your store, they will be assigned to this default group unless otherwise specified.
  7. Account Dashboard:

    Magento 2 provides options to configure the account dashboard for customers. You can enable or disable various sections such as order history, billing agreements, downloadable products, and more. This allows you to customize the customer account dashboard to meet your specific requirements.
  8. Email Options:

    You can configure the email templates and communication settings related to customer accounts. This includes the email templates for account registration, password reset, order notifications, and more. You can customize the email content and design to align with your store’s branding.
  9. GDPR Compliance:

    If your business operates in regions that require General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance, Magento 2 provides options to configure GDPR-related settings. This includes managing customer data, consent checkboxes, and customer data export options.

Cache Configuration

Magento 2 uses caching extensively to improve performance. You can configure caching options and flush the cache when needed. Manage cache configuration under

System > Tools > Cache Management.

Cache Management:

The cache management section in Magento 2 allows you to configure and manage various types of caches used by the system. You can access cache management under System > Cache Management in the Magento Admin Panel.

Cache Types:

Magento 2 offers different types of caches, each serving a specific purpose. The cache types you can manage include:

Configuration: Stores the merged configuration data, reducing the need to fetch it from the database for each request.

Layouts: Caches the layout files to speed up the rendering process.

Blocks HTML output: Stores the HTML output of blocks to avoid rendering them on each request.

Collections Data: Caches the data retrieved from database queries for product collections, categories, and other entities.

Reflection Data: Caches the data used for PHP class reflection, improving the performance of class loading.

Compiled Views: Stores the compiled versions of the view files, reducing the time required for view rendering.

Web Services Configuration: Caches the web service configuration data for faster access.

Integrations Configuration: Stores the configuration data for integrations with external systems.

Cache Management Actions:

In the cache management section, you can perform various actions for each cache type, including enabling or disabling the cache, refreshing the cache, and flushing the cache.

Enable/Disable: You can enable or disable individual cache types based on your requirements. Disabling a cache type can be useful during development or troubleshooting.

Refresh: Refreshing a cache type updates the cached data with the latest changes, ensuring that the system uses up-to-date information.

Flush: Flushing a cache type clears all the data stored in that cache, forcing the system to rebuild the cache from scratch.

Full Page Cache:

In addition to the cache types mentioned above, Magento 2 also provides a Full Page Cache (FPC) mechanism. FPC stores the entire HTML output of pages, allowing for faster page loading and improved performance. FPC can be configured and managed separately under

Stores > Configuration > Advanced > System > Full Page Cache.

Third-Party Cache Solutions:

Magento 2 also supports integration with third-party caching solutions such as Varnish or Redis. These solutions provide advanced caching capabilities and can be configured in Magento 2 to further enhance performance.