Samples > Starter stores > Starter store enhancements > Remote widgets
KickApps integration for remote widgets
To demonstrate remote widgets, WebSphere Commerce is integrated with KickApps, a Web-based platform that offers hosted widget services. The KickApps App Studio provides the widget editing and publishing functions accessible through the Madisons starter store and the Management Center Marketing tool.
After you enable starter store enhancements and publish the Madisons enhancements store archive, the following KickApps integration points are in place:
- On the Madisons starter store: When a customer clicks the Share link for a remote widget on a store page, the Share this widget page that displays is integrated with the KickApps App Studio. KickApps provides the widget preview in the center of the page, as well as the sharing functions. When the customer changes the widget layout or background color, WebSphere Commerce communicates with KickApps App Studio through the Internet to display the changes in the widget preview.
- In Management Center: Business users can connect directly from the Marketing tool user interface to the KickApps App Studio to create an e-Marketing Spot remote widget. Specifically, the e-Marketing Spot properties view includes a Get Widget button that business users can click to access the widget editor that KickApps App Studio provides.
KickApps affiliate account
To access KickApps through these integration points, the company must set up an affiliate account with KickApps. In addition, an administrator must specify the affiliate account information in the WebSphere Commerce Administration Console so that the WebSphere Commerce Server and KickApps can communicate with one another.To create wish list and gift registry remote widgets, store developers and designers can log on to the KickApps App Studio directly using the KickApps affiliate account.
For more information about KickApps, visit the KickApps Web site.
Widget templates in KickApps App Studio
WebSphere Commerce provides a set of widget templates that are available in KickApps App Studio to IBM customers. You can use the templates when you access KickApps through the Management Center or log on to KickApps directly using the affiliate account. The templates are specifically designed to display WebSphere Commerce feeds for e-Marketing Spots, wish lists, and gift registries. You can use the templates as starting points for the own widgets. You can also use any of the templates KickApps provides, if they are appropriate for the widget.
Alternatives to KickApps
A remote widget is really just a container that displays a feed of store information. KickApps is one option for creating and hosting that "container," but you have other options. WebSphere Commerce provides feed URLs for the three supported types of remote widgets (e-Marketing Spot, wish list, and gift registry). You can choose a different widget service provider, or create the own widgets in-house, as long as the widgets you build can retrieve and display the WebSphere Commerce feeds using the provided feed URLs.
Accessibility limitations
The KickApps software does not meet IBM standards for accessibility. As a result, remote widgets users might encounter some accessibility limitations when using KickApps through Management Center or when using the widget preview on the Madisons "Share this widget" page. For example, certain functions might not be keyboard accessible or readable with a screen reader.
Related tasks
Configure WebSphere Commerce to communicate with KickApps for remote widgets
Related reference
URL structure for Web service feeds
Remote widget setup and implementation checklists