Product Price Comparison (PPC)

Example : Wizard

There are two types of Product Price Comparison (PPC) script.

Standalone PPC
First is the standalone PPC which is called directly using the following calling line (example of standalone PPC):

Javascript:

PHP:

PPC Extended from PSE
The second type of PPC is one that extends from PSE, PSE is the price search engine, if you click 'Compare # Price' from PSE it will automatically display PPC script without any additional calling of DFF script. This PPC which extends PSE automatically inherit the options, parameters and styling from the parent PSE.

Available Options of Standalone PPC Script

product_sku = DFF unique product SKU or DFF Corenum

• A DFF Product is a product which has been identified, normalized and reserved a SKU # in DFF's database.
• EXAMPLE:
  • &dff_product_sku=3106078
  • ...DFF_PPC_SCRIPT...?dff_product_sku=3106078

upc = Use UPC to find DFF Product SKU

• UPC stands for Universal Product Code, which identify a single unique product. Read more about UPC at Wikipedia::Universal_Product_Code
• EXAMPLE:
  • &dff_upc=013803090154
  • ...DFF_PPC_SCRIPT...?dff_upc=013803090154

isbn = Use ISBN to find DFF Product SKU

• ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number, which identify a single unique book. Read more about ISBN at Wikipedia::Isbn
• EXAMPLE:
  • &dff_isbn=9781592004737
  • ...DFF_PPC_SCRIPT...?dff_isbn=9781592004737

mernum = Only show price from this one single merchant / store.

• mernum stands for DFF merchant number which can be obtained using DFF Merchant # Finder or by downloading your specific merchant list in CSV/Excel, Tab or PHP Array.
• EXAMPLE: (display only result from Amazon.com)
  • &dff_mernum=45024
  • ...DFF_PPC_SCRIPT...?dff_mernum=45024

user_zipcode = Specify US Zip Code to show estimate of shipping cost along with the merchant list.

• This feature is only for United States Zip Code. US Zip Codes are only 5 numerical digits. Only calculate an estimated shipping cost for Ground shipping service based on weight of this particular product being compared.
• EXAMPLE: (display shipping cost estimates to US Zip Code 77074)
  • &dff_user_zipcode=77074
  • ...DFF_PPC_SCRIPT...?dff_user_zipcode=77074

ml = Hide or do not show merchant / store logo image

• Putting a value of 'h' which means hide in this parameter will hide the merchant logo image and show the text merchant / store name instead.
• EXAMPLE:
  • &dff_ml=h
  • ...DFF_PPC_SCRIPT...?dff_ml=h

nw = Cause external links to merchants' website open in new window

• Putting any value such as '1' will make any external links URL from PPC script to be opened in new window.
• To disable, do not specify this parameter at all on the URL query string.
• EXAMPLE:
  • &dff_nw=1
  • ...DFF_PPC_SCRIPT...?dff_nw=1

sort = Sort the list of merchants result by merchant name, price (default), shipping+tax, merchant rating [numeric]

• This sort parameter controls the order of the merchant list being shown in the PPC search result. You can only enter 1 numerical digit between 1 - 5 which have the following meanings:
  • 1 = sort by merchant / store name ascending
  • 2 = sort by merchant prices ascending
  • 3 = sort by merchant shipping + tax ascending
  • 4 = sort by Total Price ( merchant price + shipping + tax ) ascending
  • 5 = sort by merchant / store ratings reviews
  • default will be used if sort parameter is not specified which will default to 2 (sort by merchant prices ascending)
• EXAMPLE: (sort by merchant / store name ascending)
  • &dff_sort=1
  • ...DFF_PSE_SCRIPT...?dff_sort=1

style = DFF Template (Specify a style template #) [numeric]

• You must create your own DFF Template to obtain a DFF Template #. Created at ACP > Template (optional)
• DFF Template is a simple and easy way to manipulate the color, font and style of the HTML output of the PPC product info and merchant list result.
• EXAMPLE: (use DFF Template # 1209)
  • &dff_style=1209
  • ...DFF_PSE_SCRIPT...?dff_style=1209

How to control Design, Color and Style?

If you are using Javascript output or HTML output via any of the dynamic web scripting language you can control the styling of the search result output in several ways.

1. The easiest way, but least flexible is using DFF Template. DFF Template was our initial attempt to allow affiliate to set and store template (color, font, background, etc...) into our database and given a particular DFF Template #. This DFF Template # can then be used in the DFF Javascript or Dynamic Languages calling line query string as an optional parameter. The GET query string variable is usually named 'style'. In the GET query string parameter it looks like this ...&style=12345... where 12345 is the DFF Template #.
2. The second way to control styling is by using DFF's CSS PPC. We have created a different PPC which outputs certain CSS DIVs and SPANs which affiliates can combine or override with their own styling. We also call this PPC CSS our PPC version 2. How to use PSE with CSS compliant output. How do I determine which PPC version I am using?
3. The third way, using DFFML + JSON, is currently still under development.

Getting RAW data from PSE

Sometimes no matter how much flexibility we provide to control output and design, they are just never enough to satisfy the pickiest web designer / programmer. If you are that picky, we hope you are willing to take up the challenge of having full control which means you will have direct access to the data via XML and JSON. Having raw data means you will be responsible solely to compose your own page layout and even the navigation and flow of your site. We recommend XML and JSON integration for medium to advance programmers only (or if you know a good programmer).

Still need more customization

If you need a custom search result from our PSE or have special integration needs which are not available from our current solutions offering, DFF developers can perform custom programming for you for a reasonable fee. Contact Us to get a quote.