by Jim » Tue Sep 20, 2011 4:41 pm
When you installed the store (or had it installed) an authorization file was created that contains the store url. That url is used for setting where the store publishes pages and where the media files are located. In order to change that url you would need to get a new authorization file with the new url. That file would need to replace the file called <storeid>.auth in the data directory of your store. (NOTE: <storeid> in <storeid>.auth is the login name for your ShopSite backoffice).
After you have replaced the .auth file with the new one, you also need to edit the file <storeid>.aa and remove the /catalog from urls that contain it. The storeid.aa file is in the ss (or bo) directory on linux, freebsd and solaris stores and is in the sc (or sb) directory for windows stores.
Once you have made those changes you will need to go to the images section and do a Reset All Attributes for all image directories so that the new url will be used in the images. You will also need to change any hardcoded references in any text fields that contain links to the /catalog directory. The only location that the ShopSite install places the authorized url in a text field is in Commerce Setup > Order System > Thankyou >Information on the Thank You screen to return to storefront: . So make sure you change that one. But you may have included it in other fields so scan fields for the /catalog text.
After all those changes are made you need to publish the pages in your store again.
Note: since you reference "virtual URL" it leads me to believe that your store is installed on a Windows box. If that is the case you will need to be able to log into the server either directly on the machine or through remote desktop to make the changes. If you are on a linux, freebsd or solaris server you could probably make the changes through ftp or ssh.
If you are unsure of any of the above you should ask your host to make the changes for you or you could really mess up your site.