Connect NetCat

ChatRex finds published NetCat products, retrieves product details and variants, checks stock and returns storefront links. In a Netshop store, it also supports order status lookup and order creation after the customer confirms. The integration does not charge payments or book shipments automatically.

The ChatRex module must be installed on your NetCat website.

Before you connect

The supported setup is NetCat 7.2.0 E-Commerce installed at the root of an HTTPS website, with PHP 8.0 or later and the OpenSSL, mbstring and cURL extensions. An administrator with permission to install modules is required. Other versions and editions need a separate compatibility check.

Ask the server administrator to generate a random 32-byte key encoded in base64 and make it available to PHP and cron through the CHATREX_NETCAT_KEY environment variable. Keep the key outside the public website directory and preserve it during updates. The module needs this key to store the connection securely.

Install the module and link your account

1. In ChatRex, open Integrations → Connect integration, find NetCat and click Connect.
2. On the Connection setup tab, follow the instructions and download the module for NetCat 7.2.0 E-Commerce.
3. Do not unpack the TGZ archive. Open Tools → Install module in NetCat, select the archive in Install module from local disk, and start installation. Skip this step if the module is already installed. Under Settings, open ChatRex AI Assistant.
4. If several websites are available, select the required Website and click Select.
5. With the automatic Netshop setup, the published product content blocks for the selected website are selected automatically. You do not need to select blocks or map fields before connecting.
6. Click Connect to ChatRex. This guide describes module 0.3.2; connecting without copying a code is supported from 0.3.0. By default, the native module controls are displayed in Russian; their names are translated here.
7. ChatRex opens. Sign in or create an account if needed. Check the website address, catalog language and ChatRex account, then click Connect. You do not need to copy a one-time code.
8. Wait for the Connected status. The NetCat module then shows Open ChatRex: use it to return to ChatRex without starting a new connection. A ChatRex subscription is arranged separately; opening ChatRex from NetCat does not activate one automatically.

Use Advanced → Product catalog if you need to restrict the available products or change the source, catalog language or field mapping. If several catalogs are configured, select the required Catalog inside Advanced. For Netshop, the name, price, stock, storefront URL and base currency come from the store. For Standard components, explicitly select the product content blocks, name field and currency; other fields are optional. Leave unknown stock quantities blank.

For an already connected website, click Save changes without reconnecting. A source that is not yet connected uses Save and connect to ChatRex.

Configure the assistant's behavior, conversation rules and NetCat actions in the ChatRex bot editor. The module connection does not add actions to the bot. Opening the module or reconnecting an existing catalog preserves its explicitly selected product blocks, permissions, connection keys and widget settings.

A product, its infoblock, the website and all parent sections must be enabled to appear in search results. If search returns nothing, check their publication settings first.

The server administrator must run netcat/modules/chatrex/cron.php once per minute as the website user, with the same environment key. This delivers catalog change notifications and checks for connection revocation. Product details and stock are read directly from NetCat.

Netshop order permissions

Order actions require ChatRex module 0.2.0 or later, Netshop store mode and a configured standard Netshop order component. Ordinary components support catalog actions only. A modified order component or additional required fields need a separate compatibility check.

Both permissions are enabled for a new automatic Netshop connection. Existing catalog permissions are preserved, including permissions that were explicitly disabled. To review or change them in module 0.3.2, select the required website, open Advanced, select the required Catalog if several are available, then open NetCat permissions. Earlier versions use the Netshop order permissions section. The following are the current control names:

1. Choose whether Read orders is allowed.
2. Choose whether Create orders is allowed after customer confirmation.
3. Click Save permissions. This preserves the current connection and widget; you do not need a new pairing code.
4. Add the required NetCat actions in the bot editor and save your changes.

These permissions determine which operations the NetCat module allows. Configure in ChatRex when the bot should check order status or offer to place an order. Opening the settings and reconnecting do not enable permissions automatically or reset saved values.

Status lookup requires the order number and a matching customer email address or phone number. Order creation requires products and quantities, plus the customer name, email address and city. The bot first calculates the items and total, then asks for confirmation. The editor preview only calculates a quote and never creates an order.

Storefront chat

1. Connect OnChat, the website chat integration, in ChatRex.
2. In its Settings, add the exact HTTPS storefront domain to the allowed widget domains.
3. In the bot editor, open Channels and launch → Add channel, select OnChat and save your changes.
4. In the NetCat connection, select this chat in Website chat and click Install widget.
5. Open a published store page and send a test message. Check the reply on desktop and mobile.

The module adds the widget without editing CMS templates. If the website uses CSP, the administrator must allow the script from app.chatrex.pro, requests to the ChatRex API and connections to socket.chatrex.pro. Clear the website page cache after changing the connection.

Update or disconnect

Before updating, back up the module files, its tables and the environment key. The update archive contains module files and repeatable SQL changes. A server administrator installs it: the regular NetCat installer does not accept reinstalling an existing module.

Updating preserves existing order permissions. After installation, check the connection, catalog and widget, then open Advanced → NetCat permissions if needed and save only the required permissions. Refresh the NetCat administration page to load the new module interface. Connecting without copying a code requires module 0.3.0 or later; order actions are available from 0.2.0.

Disconnect in ChatRex revokes access and disables this connection's widget. If the website is temporarily unavailable, revocation reaches the module on the next successful cron run. When removing the module, also remove its cron task and clear the page cache. Store products and created orders are retained.

Set up NetCat actions so the bot can use the catalog and permitted order operations. A ChatRex subscription is separate from a NetCat license.