Alternative CNET Categorization

For many years DataSource has had a two-level categorization structure. Over the years many customers have provided feedback on improvements to this structure.

In response to this customer feedback we are pleased to announce a new Alternative CNET Categorization. The existing 2 tier structure will continue to be provided to support the many customers who have integrated and embedded it deep within their internal content management systems. This additional categorization structure is different from the existing categorization structure in many ways:

5 categorization levels for higher flexibility
1013 unique categories on all hierarchical level
SKUs can be assigned to multiple categories
Continually evolves with the changes in the marketplace

Alternative CNET Categorization is based on best e-commerce practices and designed to be integration friendly. It can be used either on e-commerce websites as is, or otherwise easily adapted or mapped to the reseller’s own categorization trees. Custom categorization rules can easily be defined due to the higher granularity and depth of Alternative CNET Categorization.

Examples of the improvements in Alternative CNET Categorization versus the legacy CNET categories:

• Desktops and Servers are split into 2 separate level-3 categories.
  • Servers are split into Tower Servers, Rack Servers, Blade Servers, x86 Servers, RISC Servers, and Clusters.
  • Desktops are split into Desktops, Workstations, Barebone Systems, Thin Clients and POS.
    Also there is a further split of Desktops into Intel Desktops, AMD Desktops, Apple Desktops, All-in-One Desktops, and PC Media Centers.
• Camcorders and Digital Cameras are assigned to 2 separate categories.
  • Camcorders are split into Mini-DV Camcorders, HDD-based Camcorders, Flash-based Camcorders, DVD Camcorders, High-definition Camcorders, and Professional Camcorders.
  • Digital Cameras are split into Compact Cameras, SLR Cameras, Mirrorless Cameras, Kids Cameras and Underwater cameras.
• Applications are split into 12 categories (Antivirus & Security, Office Software, Business & Productivity, Development Tools, etc.) and 97 more granular subcategories.
• Games are split into 8 categories and 112 subcategories.
• All USB cables are assigned to the same USB Cables subcategory of the Cables class.
• Network Cabling class is split into Twisted Pair Cables (with 4 subcategories for Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6 and Cat 6e cables), Coaxial Cables, Fiber Cables, Patch Cables, Patch Panels, Crossover Cables, etc.

Alternative CNET Categorization is made available to CNET DataSource customers in a set of five additional tables that can be added to your download.zip at your request:

cds_Cct_Categories
cds_Cct_Products
cds_Cct_Vocabulary
cds_Cct_Version
cds_Languages

Please refer to the Alternative CNET Categorization User Guide for more details.
Download the current version of the Alternative CNET Categorization Structure.

Product Lifecycle Information

Product Lifecycle Information, a new product data component is now available in DataSource. Product Lifecycle Information consists of the following three fields:

Discontinued flag
Discontinued date
Release date

Product Lifecycle Information is made available in a set of two new DataSource tables that can be added to your download.zip at your request:

cds_Lifecycle
cds_Regions

ContentConnector v2.1.13

CNET has made available a new version 2.1.13 of the DataSource ContentConnector supporting Alternative CNET Categorization and Product Lifecycle Information.