PRB: CreateProduct Method Fails on Custom Catalogs After You Install Commerce Server 2000 SP1 (311834)

SYMPTOMS

If you use the CreateProduct method to add an item to a custom catalog, Microsoft SQL Server returns the following error message:

Cannot insert the value NULL into column 'LastModified', table 'somecatalog_commerce.dbo.bc 1_CatalogProducts'; column does not allow nulls. INSERT fails.

This problem occurs after you install Commerce Server 2000 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

CAUSE

Commerce Server 2000 SP1 changes the schema for a custom catalog by adding a LastModified column that requires a value. In standard catalogs, the default value is set to the getdate function. The getdate function enters the current date and time. Because you should not enter products manually in custom catalogs, this same change is not made in Commerce Server 2000 SP1. Therefore, the above-mentioned error message occurs after you install Commerce Server 2000 SP1.

STATUS

This behavior is by design. The Commerce Server documentation is very clear on this issue. You cannot add new categories and products to a custom catalog. In addition, you cannot remove new categories and products from a custom catalog.

MORE INFORMATION

The MSDN Creating a Custom Catalog documentation states:

You use the Catalog Editor module to create custom catalogs. You create a custom catalog when you want to assign custom prices to specific categories in the catalog. For example, if you want to discount items for a specific set of users (such as a premier members), but you want to leave the base catalog intact, you can create a custom catalog. By using custom catalogs you can maintain product and category information in one place and offer products at different prices to different users.

After you create a custom catalog, you use the Catalog Sets module to add the custom catalog you just created to one or more catalog sets, and then you use the Users module to associate the catalog set with those users or organizations whom you want to view the catalog.

NOTE: You cannot remove or add new categories and products from or to a custom catalog.