---
title: "Advanced Cart"
description: "The Advanced Cart Module and Plugin are purchased together and are a great complement to the Advanced Checkout App."
url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/apps/advanced-cart/advanced-cart-guide"
markdown_url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/apps/advanced-cart/advanced-cart-guide.md"
last_updated: "2026-10-23T02:33:38+00:00"
version: "J2Store 4"
breadcrumbs:
  - title: "Home"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/"
  - title: "Apps"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/apps"
  - title: "Advanced Cart"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/apps/advanced-cart"
  - title: "Advanced Cart"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/apps/advanced-cart/advanced-cart-guide"
---

# Advanced Cart

The Advanced Cart Module and Plugin are purchased together and are a great complement to the Advanced Checkout App.

The value of the Advanced Cart:

## Download and Install the Module

**Step 1:** Go to our [J2Commerce website](https://www.j2commerce.com/extensions) > Extensions > Module

**Step 2:** Locate the Advanced Cart Module > click View Details > Add to cart > Checkout.

**Step 3:** Go to your My Downloads or My Account under your profile button at the top right corner and search for the module. Click Available Versions > View Files > Download Now

**Installation:** You can install this Advanced Cart Module using the Joomla installer. The following steps help you with a successful installation.

**Step 1:** In the Joomla admin, go to System > Install > Extensions

![Joomla System Dashboard with System in the sidebar and the Extensions link under Install highlighted](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/product-category-installer-1.webp)

**Step 2**: Click on the Browse button and select the Advanced Cart zip file you saved during the download process. You will receive a message of success once installed.

![Joomla Extensions: Install screen, Upload Package File tab, with the Or browse for file button highlighted](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/product-category-download1.webp)

## Setting up the Module

**Step 1:** Go to Content > Site Module > Find the J2Commerce Advanced Cart module

**Step 2:** Enable the module by clicking on the 'X' and it will turn into a checkmark

**Step 3:** Open the module by clicking on the title.

![Joomla Site Modules list with Content and Site Modules highlighted, and the enabled J2 Commerce Advanced Cart module in position j2c-checkout-sidebar highlighted](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/advanced-cart-site-module.webp)

### Module Tab

![Advanced Cart module, Module tab: Position set to j2c-checkout-sidebar, Status Published, payment icons MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, PayPal](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/advanced-cart-module-tab.webp)

\* **Position:** j2c-checkout-sidebar

**Loading Indicator:** The Bootstrap 5 spinner class is used when reloading the advanced cart contents.

**Store Menu Link:** Advanced Cart J2Commerce ajax-based cart module.

**Shopping Cart Menu Link:** Select the menu item for the shopping cart page.

**Checkout Menu Link:** Select the menu item for the checkout page.

**Show Payment Icons:** Select yes to enable payment icons (helps add additional trust endicia to the checkout process).

**Select Payment Icons:** Select all of the payment options you want to offer

### Menu Tab

![Advanced Cart module, Menu Assignment tab: Module Assignment set to Only on the pages selected, with the Checkout menu item checked](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/advanced-cart-menu-tab.webp)

**Module Assignment:** Only on the pages selected

**Menu Selection:** Select 'Checkout'

### Setting Tab

![Advanced Cart module, Settings tab highlighted: Show Shipping Progress No, Free Shipping Amount empty, product SKU, quantity, image and base price Yes](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/advanced-cart-settings-tab.webp)

**Show Shipping Progress:** Select yes to show the shipping progress indicator in the modal cart.

**Free Shipping Amount:** Enter the minimum amount needed to qualify for free shipping. No currency sign - only number value. (No free shipping message will appear if left empty)

**Show Upsell Options:** Future option coming in a later version.

**Show Product SKU:** Select 'Yes' to display the product SKU.

**Show Quantity Field:** Select yes to display the quantity field. Select NO if you are selling digital products or other items that don't require quantities over 1 per item.

**Show Product Image:** Select yes to display the product's thumbnail image.

**Show Base Price:** Select yes to display the product's base price when a lower (sale) price is offered.

**Show Coupon Form:** Show coupon form in modal cart?

**Show Gift Card Form:** Show gift card form in modal cart?

**Show Subtotals?:** Select yes to show cart subtotals.

### Advanced Tab

![Advanced Cart module, Advanced tab highlighted: Layout set to checkout, Caching Use Global, Cache Time 900, Module Tag div, Header Tag h3](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/advanced-cart-advanced-tab.webp)

**Layout:** Select Checkout

**Module Class:**

**Caching:**

**Cache Time:**

**Module Tag:**

**Bootstrap Size:**

**Header Tag:**

**Header Class:**

**Module Style:** Select None

## Setting up the Plugin

**Step 1:** Go to Settings > Manage > Plugins

![Joomla System Dashboard with System in the sidebar and the Plugins link under Manage highlighted](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/advanced-cart-plugin.webp)

**Step 2:** Search for System - Advanced Cart > Enable the plugin by clicking on the 'X' and it will turn into a checkmark.

**Step 3:** Open the plugin by clicking on the title

![Joomla Plugins list searched for "advanced", with the System - Advanced Cart plugin enabled (green check) and its title highlighted](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/advanced-cart-plugin-setup.webp)

Open the plugin and set up the parameters below

### Plugin Tab

![Advanced Cart system plugin, Plugin tab highlighted: Modal Type Sidebar, Items to Display Full Cart, Modal Trigger Bootstrap, Display Style Bootstrap 5](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/advanced-cart-plugin-tab.webp)

**Modal Type:** Select Sidebar for the modal type

**Items to Display:** Select Full Cart to display all items in the cart.

**Exclusion URLs:** Query strings of URLs to exclude from showing the pop-up window.

**Adding Behavior:** Select Yes to activate the cart pop-up window

**Modal Trigger:** Select Bootstrap for the Modal Trigger.

**Loading Indicator:** Class name for the loading indicator

**Enable J2Commerce Icons:** Select Yes to use the J2Commerce icon library (works with any template).

**Visit Store Link:** Enter the store link you want to display if there are no items in the cart. (No button will appear if left empty)

**Shopping Cart Link:** Enter the shopping cart link. Only enter a link if you plan on sending the customer to the shopping cart page before checkout. (No button will appear if left empty)

**Checkout Link:** Enter the checkout link to ensure the correct routing. (The checkout button will try to route to the default checkout page if left empty)

**Script Type:** Full Vanilla Javascript version coming in a later version.

**Display Style:** Select the style based on Bootstrap versions 2, 3, & 4 or Ultimate Style.

### Cart Items Tab

![Advanced Cart system plugin, Cart Items tab highlighted: Show Sku, Show Base Price, Show Discount Tag and Show Qty Buttons all set to Yes](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/advanced-cart-items1.webp)

**Show SKU:** Select Yes to show the SKU number with the product in the cart.

**Show Base Price:** Select No to hide the original price and only show the sale price; otherwise, select Yes to display both original and sale prices.

**Show Discount Tag:** Select Yes to show the discount icon in the cart.

**Show Qty Buttons:** Select yes to show the +/- quantity buttons instead of the item quantity.

### Cart Options Tab

![Advanced Cart system plugin, Cart Options tab highlighted: Show shipping progress No, coupon, gift card, checkout button and payment icons Yes](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/advanced-cart-plugin-cart-options1.webp)

**Show shipping progress:** Select Yes to show the shipping progress indicator in the modal cart.

**Show Coupon Form:** Select Yes to show the coupon form in the modal cart

**Show Gift Card Form:** Select Yes to show the gift card form in the modal cart.

**Show Checkout Button:** Select Yes to display the Checkout button on the sidebar cart.

**Enable Payment Icons:** Select Yes to display payment icons at the bottom of the sidebar cart.

**Select Payment Icons:** Select Yes to show the payment icons that match the payment options your store provides.

## Frontend View

The screenshot below shows the benefits of the module and plugin in use.

![Product page with the Advanced Cart sidebar open on the right, showing Gold Watch, Coupon Code and Gift Card sections, Subtotal, Secure Checkout button and payment icons](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/advanced-cart-popout1.webp)

**Pop-up Window:**

**Free Shipping Notice:** If this icon appears and you don't want it to show, you can disable it