What This Guide Covers
This help center is designed for Longhorn Print admins and staff. It walks you through every part of the admin panel — from receiving a new order to downloading customer files and updating statuses.
Admin Panel Usage
Navigate the dashboard, sidebar, and key sections.
Order Management
View, filter, and act on incoming customer orders.
File Handling
Access, preview, and download uploaded artwork files.
Status Tracking
Update order and payment statuses accurately.
Admin Panel Overview
The admin panel is your central hub for running the business. You access it by logging in at /vendor. Once inside, the left sidebar gives you access to every major section.
- Orders — all incoming and active orders appear here in real time
- Products — manage your product catalog and pricing
- Customers — view customer profiles and order history
- Dashboard — quick stats and daily overview at a glance
Good morning, Admin
Thursday, April 17, 2026
↑ Example Admin Dashboard — interactive sidebar (click to switch sections)
How Orders Are Received
Every time a customer completes checkout on the website, an order is automatically created and appears in your admin panel. Here's the flow:
| Order ID | Customer | Total | Status | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1042 | MR Marcus Rivera | $142.50 | New | Paid |
| #1041 | SC Sarah Chen | $89.00 | In Production | Paid |
| #1040 | JO James Okafor | $320.00 | Ready | Paid |
| #1039 | PN Priya Nair | $55.00 | New | Unpaid |
| #1038 | DH Derek Holloway | $210.00 | Completed | Paid |
↑ Example Orders Table — each row is a real customer order
When You Click an Order
Clicking any order in the table opens the full Order Detail view. This is where you see everything about that specific job — customer info, product specs, uploaded files, and current status.
- Review exactly what the customer ordered and what options they selected
- See the uploaded artwork file and preview image side by side
- Update the order status and payment status from this view
Order #1042
NewPaidPlaced on April 17, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Customer Information
Product Details
Customer Notes
"Please make sure the logo is centered and the background is white. I need these for a trade show on Friday."
Uploaded File
Order Status
↑ Order Detail View Example — everything about one order in one place
Product Preview & Downloads
Every order that includes a file upload gives you two download options. Understanding the difference is important before sending a job to print.
- Original File — the raw file the customer uploaded (PDF, PNG, AI, etc.) — use this for printing
- Preview Image — a web-optimized thumbnail generated automatically — use this to confirm the design visually
- Never print from the preview — always use the original file for production
Always print from the Original file. The Preview is a compressed JPEG for quick visual checks only — it is not print-quality.
↑ File & Preview Section Example — click Preview / Original tabs above to switch views
Order Status & Payment Status
Every order has two independent status fields — Order Status (where the job is in production) and Payment Status (whether the customer has paid). Keep both updated accurately.
- Order status tracks the physical production progress
- Payment status is updated automatically by Stripe, but can be overridden manually
- Do not mark an order "Completed" until both production and payment are confirmed
Order Status
Payment Status
↑ Status & Payment Example — click any badge above to see how it looks
The Checkout Page
The checkout page is where customers finalize their order. It is divided into three clear sections — cart summary, customer information, and payment. Every field the customer fills in here becomes part of the order record you see in the admin panel.
- Cart Summary — shows every product, quantity, size, and price before payment
- Customer Form — name, email, phone, and any special instructions
- Payment Section — powered by Stripe; card details are never stored on your server
Cart Items
Order Summary
↑ Checkout Page Example — click Cart / Your Info / Payment tabs to explore each step
Pickup & Rush Options
During checkout, customers choose how fast they need their order. This directly affects your production queue — rush orders should be prioritized in the admin panel immediately.
- Rush — highest priority; must be started same day it arrives
- Next Business Day — complete by end of the following business day
- 3–5 Business Days — standard queue; no surcharge for the customer
- Customers also select a preferred pickup date from a calendar — this date appears in the order detail
Select Turnaround Speed
Select Pickup Date
↑ Pickup & Turnaround Example — click speed options and calendar dates to interact
Shipping Options
Customers who cannot pick up in person can choose shipping at checkout. They enter a delivery address and select from available carriers and speeds. The chosen method and address are recorded in the order detail.
- Shipping address is validated at checkout — you see the full address in the order
- Carrier and estimated delivery date are shown to the customer before they pay
- Once you ship, update the order status to "Shipped" and add a tracking number if available
Delivery Address
Shipping Method
↑ Shipping Selection Example — click any carrier to select it and see the delivery estimate update
Full Checkout Flow
Here is the complete step-by-step journey a customer takes from product selection to a confirmed order in your admin panel. Click each step to see what happens at that stage.
Add to Cart
Customer configures product (size, material, quantity, uploads file) and clicks Add to Cart.
- Product options selected (size, finish, qty)
- Artwork file uploaded
- Item added to cart with price preview
↑ Click each step above to explore what happens at every stage of checkout
LongPoints Loyalty System
LongPoints is the built-in loyalty rewards program. Customers earn points on every purchase and can redeem them for discounts on future orders. This encourages repeat business and is fully automatic.
A. Earning Points
- Customers earn 1 point per $1 spent on every order
- Points are credited automatically after payment is confirmed
- Repeat orders accumulate points faster — loyal customers build up significant balances
- Points are visible in the customer's account dashboard
B. Redeeming Points
- 100 points = $5 discount applied at checkout
- Customer toggles "Apply LongPoints" at checkout to use their balance
- Discount is shown in the order summary before payment
- Redeemed points are deducted from balance immediately on order confirmation
↑ LongPoints Example — toggle the switch above to see how points apply at checkout
Final Summary
Here is the complete system at a glance — from the moment a customer places an order to the moment it is completed and delivered.
Admin Panel
- Access at /vendor
- Sidebar: Orders, Products, Customers
- Dashboard shows live stats
Orders
- Auto-created on checkout
- Full detail: customer, product, file
- Update status as job progresses
Files
- Original = use for printing
- Preview = visual check only
- Both downloadable from order detail
Checkout
- Cart → Info → Pickup/Ship → Speed → Pay
- Stripe handles all payments
- LongPoints applied at checkout
This guide covers the full system. Bookmark it for quick reference anytime.