Skylights Modes

What is a Mode?

     The implementation of Modes is a complex, yet powerful, feature in  Skylights. Modes allow the airline to run Skylights in a variety of  ways simultaneously, so that Skylights operates one way for one user or  group of users, and quite differently for another. For example, a Mode  can be configured to offer discounts for certain city pairs, for  holiday periods, or for designated passenger types.

How do I make a Mode?    

     By copying one or more data structure(s) from the original customization file, placing them in this file, and altering the values within them,  Skylights is able to intelligently recognize and implement the differences.

Examples

  • Seasonal Mode -Season Special. Download
  • Agency Mode User Name: 123456 Password: mali -see the "My Profile" and "Book A Flight" links. Download
  • Corporation Mode -Give corporations a different discount or look or feel. 654321 & Justin   Download
  • Two for One -Get two fares for the price of one. Download
  • Open-Jaw Allows open-jaw searches. Download
  • Restrict City Pairs -Only members of the SPECIAL mode can fly SLC to FLL. Download
  • Group Travel   -Allows up to 20 members to select special group fare. Download
  • Other Cool Tricks
  •     
         In general, when a user is operating within a certain Mode, every module accessed by the user will behave according to the settings defined by  the Mode file instead of the equivalent settings defined for that module.

         Modes are considered to be an advanced feature of Skylights. While allowing additional functionality, they greatly increase complexity,  and make regular maintenance and system upgrades more difficult.  Additionally, care must be taken in the implementation of Modes, as it  is easy to introduce undesirable side-effects, or to cause an entire  module to cease to operate. Always test your Modes thoroughly in the  "trylights" test directory before migrating them to the live "skylights" directory.

    Modes History

        The Skylights 2.0 release made it possible to control text (TEXT)  and graphics (GRFX) properties in different modules with Modes. In  previous releases, only properties in SKYLIGHTS_PREFS.pl could be  modified through Modes.

     Skylights 2.1 added a three-tiered structure composed of the following Mode types:

    • USER TYPE Modes. Provide basic default functionality specific to predefined types of users (Members, Travel Agencies, Corporations, and Customers who are not logged in).
    • USER GROUP Modes. Allow more specific customization for selected (or all) logged in users of a particular type.
    • PROMO Modes. Provide special promotion functionality that is not tied  to a particular USER TYPE or USER GROUP Mode, and that can be changed at any time or place on the web site by either the user or the airline.
       

    Note: See Chapter 6 of the "Skylights Introduction and General Implementation Guide" for additional information and detailed instructions for creating, modifying, and enabling a Mode.


     USER TYPES BELOW THIS LINE MUST NEVER BE ALTERED BY THE AIRLINE.
     DO NOT CHANGE, ADD, OR DELETE ANY SETTINGS BENEATH THIS LINE!!!


     These predefined Modes provide the foundation of the Skylights Modes structure. Refer to the documentation for additional information.


     REQUIRED TYPE. DO NOT TOUCH.

    • CUST => {
      description => "Standard Customer Group",
      },
    • MEMB => {
      description => "Standard Member Mode",
      },
    • TA => {
      description => "Standard Travel Agency Mode",
      },
    • CORP => {
      description => "Standard Corporate Mode",
      },
    • EMP => {
      description => "Standard Employee Mode",
      },

    Precedence

    • PROMO modes supercede USER TYPE and USER GROUP modes.
    • Can't have simultaneous PROMO modes.

    Other Cool Tricks

    SLC-JFK SLC-DEN SLC-MCO SLC to JFK
    Flight Depart Arrive Days
    100 07:30 PM 10:45 PM MWF
    120 08:00 PM 10:00 PM MWF
    201 08:30 AM 10:30 AM TT

    SLC to MCO
    Flight Depart Arrive Days
    100 07:30 15:45 MTW
    200 10:45 PM 15:45 PM TT
    300 10:45 PM 15:45 PM MF