How to set up downloadable products?

Hi all... newbie here.

Spent the last 4 days trawling through these forums without success on this question....(although a 1000 other problems have been resolved thanks to you chap and chapess)

I scan old books, convert them to pdf files.
Normally i sell the CD's at family history shows etc.
I'm setting the shop now and I am struggling with setting up a product so that once the customer buys it they can automatically download the pdf file of the book.

I know it it can be done because it says so on the zen home page.

Is there an idiots guide somewhere... please help



Steve

:cry:
www.wetherby-scanning.co.uk

Would suggest adding pdf's into zip file/s. then you must set up download attributes
for each product.. guidelines to attributes can be found at
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/faq.ph...l&titlesonly=0
i.e. How do I add attributes to my products at above url
:smile:

Thanks for reply... however

I must be a tad dim because I still don't get it !!

zipping the pdf is not a problem.. but where does it go then ?

../myshop/downloads ??

And I have read your missive, the link and the attributes configuration page several times now and still I don't get it.

I'm missing something obvious - I'm sure I am.



Arrgghhh


Steve

:down:

Quote:

---

but where does it go then ?
../myshop/downloads ??

---

Yes, zip file goes in your store download folder

Brainwave..if you install a test zencart, and on install, include the all ready made
categories/products etc option, there is a download zip file already configured in attributes for software/action/unreal tournament.
It is possible to copy that download attribute to other products.
See Ajeh's post re similar request at
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35781
HTH
:smile:

I'm trying to set up a free downloadable product, too. Previously, I just made a link to a PDF file in a document-information page, but I would like to collect statistics on downloads and handle it a bit more elegantly.

Right now, this is what I've got, but it looks like an upload, not a download:

(this is a test site)
http://www.coreknowledge.org/registe...roducts_id=131

I had the document-info product already created. (you can see my link hack at the top of the page, but it's not elegant.)

Procedure I used:

admin > catalog > option name manager

inserted:
option name: free download
option type: file

admin > catalog > attributes controller

selected my product, hit display.

Selected option name (Free download) and option value.
The only option value that made sense was TEXT (RESERVED FOR TEXT/FILES ONLY ATTRIBUTES).

Set up the download in admin > catalog > downloads manager.

I did not see any place in admin > catalog > options values to define the text value, but I could add text in option name text attributes. I put the filename in there for now, hoping it would show in the file download browse window, but it does not, it seems to be for description purposes.

I've been reading the thread in the archive subject Attributes HOW-TO but I'm still befuddled. Any clarification is welcome.

---Diana
---signature missing-in-action

I am also baffled at how to set up a downloadable product, been trying for days now, very frustrating.

My downloads manager has no option to add anything anywhere...just an empty list. Very surprised there is no documentation about this at all.

dbrewster ... download Option Names should be Radiobuttons or Dropdown ...

You picked TEXT which is a whole different animal ... that is for user TEXT input ...

Delete the Attribute first, then go change the Option Name to Radio Button or Dropdown ...

Then make appropriate Option Values ...

Now add the Attribute with the Option Name, Option Value and download ...

Progress! Thank you Ajeh/Linda!

Hmm... does this has to be an "add to cart" kind of thing, in order to actually download a file? I originally made this as a document-information product type.

I chose droplist but also select default, it looks like a radio button. (I only have one download value for now.)

http://www.coreknowledge.org/registe...roducts_id=131

By the time you look at this, I may have remade it as a document-product product type so it can be added to cart.

THANK YOU m'dear.

Yes, the options/values/attributes thing is probably the hardest administration feature to understand in ZC. There used to be an FAQ for it, wasn't there? It's desperately needed (but I'm not the person to write it, ha!) Something that also includes
1) An overview of the logic
2) An explanation of admin screen features for options/values/attributes, one screen at a time
3) And a few step-by-step procedures "for dummies," to do the two or three most commonly requested setups.

That would rock, and save a lot of energy all around.

---Diana
---signature missing-in-action

Exceeded my 5 minute time limit for editing my message! :huh:

IT WORKS!:

http://www.coreknowledge.org/registe...roducts_id=141

Thanks a ton.

Just want to mark this one and com back later..

Asp

Thanks for the update ... and glad you got things all glued and pasted together now ... :cool:

I've worked it out. I had to look at OScommerce but hey !

OK for the record... My answer to my question....

problem : I have a product called book1.pdf which I want to sell on the internet via zencart. It is a pdf file of a book.

Here how I did it.

1. zip the pdf file. Its now called book1.zip

2. put book1.zip into ../myshop/download

3. using a ftp prog (I use filezilla) I connect to my website, right click ../myshop/download and set the attributes to 775

4. I create a product in the store via the admin menu/cateories& products
I call my product "book1" and I tell the world how brilliant it is.

5. I then go to the products attributes menu.

6. stop counting the steps... it doesn't matter

I create a Product Option called (for example) downloadable
I move to the right of the page to Option values, select downloadable and give it and option value of (for example) 'Download: zipped pdf file'

I then go to the bottom of the page : product attributes.

select the product name (book1) set the option name to downloadable
set the option value to 'download:zipped pdf file'
I then put the file name in the filename box (book1.zip)

once saved I tested it by creating a payment method of check/money order and set the order status of this method to processing. Now when I do a test purchase of book 1 and choose check/money order I get the option to download the file straight away. Job done.

The live shop will need to ensure that the customer payment dowesn't get updated to processing untilll the money is the bank or the books can be downloaded for free !

This is my idiots guide... It works for me... please don't ask me to explain it.. it just works.

Thanks to all for pointing me in the right direction.


give me a week and then check out the store

www.wetherby-scanning.co.uk\ebooks

steve the happy bunny:smile:

Quote:

---

I've worked it out/IT WORKS!:

---

Well done scannerman and dbrewster.. great to
hear you both got your downloads sorted
:thumbsup:

How do I get to the product attributes menu?

I have followed your steps but when I scroll down the bottom of the screen it does not give me a place to list the url for the file. It just says downloads are disabled.

Ok, I got it where Downloads are enabled. However when I try to set the attribute to allow the downloads I get the following error.

Attribute Option and Option Value Do NOT Match - Attribute was not added - : TEXT

Set the Option Name type to either Radio Button or Dropdown and mark the default ...

You have set it to TEXT and it is not a TEXT attribute ...

Option Name:
Download

Option Value:
Zip File
Word Document
etc.

scannerman...did you get it worked out so that people can't download the file until payment is confirmed? I'd like to offer a zip file "free with purchase" so I'm having a similar problem.

Payment Orders Status control this ...

If you set the Orders Status to Pending, then the file is not available until it is released by you in the Admin via Orders when you change the Order Status to Processing or Delivered ...

Hi,

and thanks for all the instructions.
I set up a downloadable file as instructed. I get Error 500. My ISP says the .htaccess files in /download and in /pub cause the problem.
It looks as if there's a temporary address for the download but that the .htaccess will not let the customer download the purchased file.

What else can I do except remove the .htacess files?
I can't see the .htaccess files nor download them to my computer. I will have to erase the whole directory and reload it without the .htaccess to get rid of it.

The server is a Linux/Apache system.

TIA,

Marianne

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ajeh

Payment Orders Status control this ...

If you set the Orders Status to Pending, then the file is not available until it is released by you in the Admin via Orders when you change the Order Status to Processing or Delivered ...

---

Good to know! It's marked with a price of 0 though, so it goes right to it with no payment stuff. Maybe if I change it to .01 that would be enough of a pain since people would have to put in the cc# etc to get the file for "free" and I doubt anyone actually purchasing minds adding .01 for a pattern.

I solved this myself.
The problem was the .htaccess file in /pub. I made a backup, then deleted the pub folder and replaced it from the backup. I can't see the .htaccess files and they don't download either.
I then went back to the downloads folder and put the .htaccess back.
It works!

well i was testing the first download i setup, but the site is somehow chewing the zip file up on the download process... i set it to Documentation MS Word - English + 0.0000 + 0 0
$0.00 $0.00
Filename: ISBN0072253703.zip Days: 0 Max: 0

upon the download process it gets chewed up from 2.5 mb to 191 kb... not cool

Your Order Number is: 3
To download your files click the download button and choose "Save to Disk" from the popup menu. Item Name File Size Filename Link Expires Remaining
C++ Demystified: A Self-Teaching Guide 2.57 MB ISBN0072253703.zip 07/16/2006 5


its bringing up the correct file size but its still chewing up the file to 191 kb, leaving me with a garbage file

On the Attribute, there must be a number of days that the file can be downloaded and the maximum number of times a file can be downloaded ...

The download file should be uploaded to:
/download

/pub should be set to 777

Files should not have spaces or special characters in the filename and the files should be zipped ...

If you are on Windows, you need to turn off the Redirect on the Attribute Settings ...

If you are on unix, Redirect should be on ...

However, some hosting sites do not have the server setup to allow for the .htaccess symbolic link to work, and this is a problem ...

/pub/.htaccess

Quote:

---

#prevent directory browsing -- for security
IndexIgnore */*

Options +FollowSymLinks -Indexes

---

Either you need to get with them and see if they can change it, or you need to turn off Redirect if they will not give you control over your website ...

If you can turn off the Redirect and still cannot get the download, then you have hit a size limitation.

Depending on the size of the files, you could also be running into a limitation with your hosting site ...

To test a size limitation, set up a small download to test ...

.htaccess is not recognised by IIS 6.0 as im runnning windows server 2003 enterprise so i have already deleted the .htaccess those are not needed for windows servers, i hope you dont make your scripts require that file, did you?

My webserver is also setup to give eveyones files 777 upon creation so if someone ftp's into my webserver and they create a file, there all 777 anyway its still causing this which is unusual, if the script was reliant on using redirect from non windows servers am i going to have script a alternative wild card call function?

filename ISBN0072253703.zip

You are on Windows ...

Turn off the Redirect in Attribute Settings ...

When looking at the Download in the Account History, how many days and how many downloads are available to you?

manually entering the URL brings the full file

http://summersbookstore.com/download/ISBN0072253703.zip

downloading from the options manager does not, its been my experience the .htaccess is primarily used for security on apache/*nix servers to prevent sploits.... did you integrate the file names redirection into it?

Item Name File Size Filename Link Expires Remaining
C++ Demystified: A Self-Teaching Guide 2.57 MB ISBN0072253703.zip Unlimited --- *** ---


Unlimited days remaining for downloading

><

Make a small download, such as the test.zip that comes with Zen Cart ...

Do you have any issues with this following a checkout?

Just checked the PHP and Mysql Server there both working fine, the php is running on the ISAPI Module so its force redirection is disabled by default by i doubled checked just to make sure... the zen cart dl script is somehow limiting the the size or maybe its trying to verify zip file contents?

ill try standby

Physically go to your Zen Cart Admin ... Attribute Settings ...

Turn OFF the:

Quote:

---

Download by Redirect
Use browser redirection for download. Disable on non-Unix systems.

Note: Set /pub to 777 when redirect is true

---

Code:

---

Attributes Controller 
 
 
Products Listing for: Products ID#181 - in Category: windows test
test download 

EDIT PRODUCT
PRODUCTS PRICE MANAGER 
TO DEFAULT ORDER
PREVIEW ATTRIBUTES
DELETE ALL
PRODUCT
CATEGORY
Multiple Categories Link Manager

---

where is this option?

Where is what option?

The Attribute Settings located in the Admin ... Configuration ... Attribute Settings?

Got it its working now... this needs to be a sticky for people that own there own windows webserver...

http://phpnuke-uk.net/modules.php?na...ewtopic&t=4361

do you see this mailhack for smtp servers that was made for phpnuke? i would like to port that to zencart... is the creater of the code here somewhere so i can ask where the files are i would need to change the (mail function?

look down that page to see the post by henke_2005 i use that bypass the phpmailer functions and it works great... who can help me port this for zencart?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rockdrala

http://phpnuke-uk.net/modules.php?na...ewtopic&t=4361

do you see this mailhack for smtp servers that was made for phpnuke? i would like to port that to zencart... is the creater of the code here somewhere so i can ask where the files are i would need to change the (mail function?

look down that page to see the post by henke_2005 i use that bypass the phpmailer functions and it works great... who can help me port this for zencart?

---

Let's keep discussion on this in the other topic, as it's unrelated to setting up downloadable products:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40510

basically it forces a outside smtp server to send your mail.. which is ideal for webservers as mine, as i have not put mailing functions on my webserver in order to hone webserver speed

allrighty, will do

Hello,
someone ened up setting up my attutbuites for my last cart. So I do not know what I am doing here too much.
I added the download radio, but there are no products listed in the products options so that I have that second Download option to select when I am doing the sttutibuites.

Any help appreciated.
thanks
Candice

My downloads were working but then they stopped and I get a page not found error.

Where in the Attribute settings is the Redirect option? I don't see it.

Configuration ... Attribute Settings ...

Quote:

---

Download by Redirect
Use browser redirection for download. Disable on non-Unix systems.

Note: Set /pub to 777 when redirect is true

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Candice

I added the download radio, but there are no products listed in the products options so that I have that second Download option to select when I am doing the sttutibuites.

---

Can you type really slow what it is you are attempting to do here?

You have Option Name Manager, Option Value Manager, Attributes Controller ...

You have a Product ... you want to add 1 Download or Multiple Choice Download or Multiple Dowloads to it?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by misty

Yes, zip file goes in your store download folder

---

Does that mean that if someone types in the URL, for example
www.store.com/download/file.zip

that they won't be able to download the product?

If your site is properly setup, the .htaccess file forces a login first ...

This stops access to that directory to the files ...

Try it for yourself to make sure your site is secure ...

Ok, i have sell digita scrapbooking items in my store. So the customers need to receive a download after they purchase. I have read everything in here regarding attributes and download manger and option value manager. And I am lost. i have folowed it step by step, I think. And the download manager says it's a invalid file name. Now, I created a "DOWNLOAD" older insode the "zencart". As I thought I was suppose to. I don't understand any of this, and if you can hep, I will need a step by step directions. I will not know right where to go. Thanks a bunch!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pimptress

I created a "DOWNLOAD" older insode the "zencart".

---

I thought the default Zen Cart installs with a download folder in that location, and has sample download files, too. So you would not have to create a download folder. If you set up the "demo" store, I think that file download is configured in it. That would give you something to copy. You could set up a completely separate store with the Demo defaults, if you web hosting service allows it.

Are you using the current version of Zen Cart?

There could be a lot of reasons why the file name is invalid, starting with unacceptable characters. Be sure to remove spaces, hyphens, underscores, all non-alphanumeric characters from the file name.

Be sure that you have set the correct permissions on the folder and file.

Try setting up a download with a different file type, such as .zip.

If something doesn't work:

1) Retrace all your steps one by one, and retrace again
2) Try making minor modifications to get a clearer idea of what is and is not working.

Creating a Product with a Download ...

To prepare to use Downloads ... you must first build some Option Names and Option Values that will be used to make the Attributes for the Download ...

In the Option Name Manager ... create an Option Name such as either:
Version
Download

Make the Option Type a Radiobutton or Dropdown

Next, go to the Option Values Manager ...

You need to build for the Option Name the Option Values, such as:
Zip file
English Zip file

To do this, you would pick the Option Name that you created such as Download and then enter: Zip file

for the Option Value ...

Now, create your Product ... when done, click the A for Attributes or go to the Attributes Controller and locate your Product ...

Select the Option Name: Download

Select the Option Value: Zip file

Enter the filename - this should be a Zip file without spaces or special characters or extra periods in the name such as: myfilename.zip

Enter the number of days for the person to be allowed to download the file

Enter the number of times that they can try to make the download

If this is the only download choice, mark it as the default

When saved, you should see a green dot next to the filename if you have loaded the file to the /download directory

Set /pub to chmod 777

On a unix server, in the Configuration ... Attribute Settings ... you should turn ON the Redirect

If for some reason on your unix server you cannot download small or large files, then speak to your host and find out why you are not able to use the symbolic link set in the .htaccess file ...

If you can download small files but not large files, ask your host why you cannot download large files and have them fix your site so that you can ...

NOTE: On a windows server, in the Configuration ... Attribute Settings ... you should turn OFF the Redirect

NOTE: also ensure that you are using the latest version of Zen Cart ... at this time that would be v1.3.0.2 ...

Ok, I have the latest Zen cart. My problem is I have more then 1 ZIP file for some of my products. How do I figure out how to have more then 1 zip per file? I have tried doing 1, 2, 3 for file names. i.e myfile1.zip, myfile2.zip and so on. But it says that I can not have more then 1 zip attribute for the file. Any help would be appreciated.

When you have Multiple Downloads for the same Product ... you need to add Multiple Option Names, each with their own Option Values ...

Option Names (Option Type Radiobutton):
Download 1 Sort Order 10
Download 2 Sort Order 20
Download 3 Sort Order 30

Add the Option Value:
Pick the Download 1 and add the Option Name: of 3

Add the Option Value:
Pick the Download 2 and add the Option Name: of 3

Add the Option Value:
Pick the Download 3 and add the Option Name: of 3

When adding the Attributes ...

pick from the Option Name dropdown: Download 1
pick from the Option Value dropdown: of 3 [Download 1]
add the filename, days, max
set as default

pick from the Option Name dropdown: Download 2
pick from the Option Value dropdown: of 3 [Download 2]
add the filename, days, max
set as default

pick from the Option Name dropdown: Download 3
pick from the Option Value dropdown: of 3 [Download 3]
add the filename, days, max
set as default


All you are doing is building the parts to make this happen ...

I am having a problem... everything seems to work fine, after I followed the directions, but my site is not asking me if i would like to download the file or not (no Download link). what's up with that?:down:
any help would be appreciated!

Which Attribute is your Default attribute for the Product?

You do have a Default attribute and not just an unselected Radio button, right?

Do you have an URL to a Product that is not working?

i figured it out. it was an admin setting that i had messed with.

thanks for your help tho!

i do have one other question tho... how do i get rid of the product quantity above my "add to cart.?" ive tried a couple of different things and it still wont go away. im working with the latest version of zen cart and the "nifty zen" template.

thanks in advance for any help!

Best to use new threads on new topics ... :smile:

Catalog ... Product Types ...

Pick the Product Type and hit the Edit Layout button the turn off what you do not wish to see ...

[QUOTE=Ajeh]Creating a Product with a Download ...

To prepare to use Downloads ... you must first build some Option Names and Option Values that will be used to make the Attributes for the Download ...

<<

Hi folks.

I have found this thread to be very useful as I have gone through and set up my downloadable ebooks in my Zen Cart. However, I just noticed in my attributes controller that I have an "invalid filename" icon next to ALL of my files for downloading.

I went back through Ajeh/Linda's post here, and followed it step by step, and I still have "invalid" file name icons.

At first I assumed it may be because I was using .pdf file formats, but I converted them to zip files, and they still are listed as "invalid". I also attempted to purchase the "test.zip" file, and it also didn't work.

What am I missing, wise ones?

Thanks in advance!

What directory are you loading the Download file to?

What is the exact name that you see if you hit edit on the Attribute for the Download?

No spaces ...
No extra periods ...
No special characters ...
No subdirectories ...

Thanks, I think my problem was in how I typed in my file names. I was putting the whole path in there (/bookstore/download/filename.pdf) instead of just the name(filename.pdf).

Thanks for your help! :smile:

Hi there,
I've been able to add downloadable pictures to my Zen Cart, thanks to this thread.
But I'm not able to add a picture with different print sizes and with an option to download. If I try this, one gets to see the different options for print sizes and additionally a radiobutton for download which is always checked. So if someone orders a print he/she orders a download too. This means that for each picture I have to make two items : one item is a print in different sizes, the other is the download version. Or does anyone knows a solution?

Kind regards,
Eric

Can someone tell me what options I should use for the following when I am setting up downloads?

Product is Virtual:

Always Free Shipping:

Product Qty Minimum:
Product Qty Maximum:
Product Qty Units:
Product Qty Min/Unit Mix:

Also, how do I set downloads to pending until payment?

Thanks

I'm having a problem with the product quantities. I've got everything set up right (I think) according to scannermans post (#13) on page 2 of this thread. But when I go to add the product to the cart, it says it's out of stock. I have it set to a quantity of 1 with the
min value of 1
max value of 1
product quantity units of 1


Here is the product I'm talking about: http://store.tangleonline.com/index....products_id=23

would the product being free have anything to do with this?

Thanks for the help, this is all so foreign to me.

btw: the product is not marked as virtual.

I figured out what my problem was, I have Products with Attributes (That I still can't get to display the quantities on the products page, but that's another issue all together) installed and in that area the quantity was set to 0. When I set it to 1 I was able to complete the checkout.

Now the problem is that it's removing the item from stock. Ideas?

Check your Stock settings ...

If this is a Download make sure that you did not mark the Product as a Virtual Product ...

Downloads are NOT Virtual Products, they are Downloads ... they will not use a Shipping Address by default ... you do not mark them to not use the Shipping ...

Thanks for the quick response Linda.

The settings are:

Product is Virtual: No, Shipping Address Required

Always Free Shipping: No, Normal Shipping Rules

Products Quantity Box Shows: No, Do not show Quantity Box

It's not a huge deal because I just set the quantity to 100 and I'll just keep an eye on it, but it is sort of baffling.

Make sure the download has a green dot next to it on the filename in the attributes ...

And make sure the attribute is selected on the Product ...

yep and yep

It totally works to buy the file and download it, it just removes it from the stock.

Downloads are not removed from stock ...

Check to see if you have the Product marked as Product is Virtual YES and change to NO ...

Hi dear zenners, hello Linda,

for a special reason (partnership) I would have to realize an external downloadlink instead of pointing the downloads to the folder 'download'. (so i.e. I have to write 'http://www.xy-domain.com/somewhat/my_download.zip' instead of just 'my_download.zip') As the attribute-manager doesn't support this, does anybody has an idea for a workaround? (actually working on 1.3.5)

Thanks to all,

jens

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ajeh

Check to see if you have the Product marked as Product is Virtual YES and change to NO ...

---

NOW I am confused. This seems to contradict what Dr. Byte said here: http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpo...64&postcount=2

What is the difference between "downloads" and "virtual products"?

Yes, I did search for the answer :yes:

Thx!

Virtual Product is a loose term ...

While Downloads are "Virtual Products" they should be marked as:

Product is Virtual: NO

Always Free Shipping: No, Normal Shipping Rules

The Downloads already "know" that they are Virtual and do not need additional help ...

The only time a Download needs an extra setting is when it is a Combination Product which means the Product is both a Download and a Product at the same time ... as in, the customer will receive both a Download and recieve something Physical ...

Then you would use the setting:
Always Free Shipping: Special, Product/Download Combo Requires a Shipping Address

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ajeh

Virtual Product is a loose term ...


The Downloads already "know" that they are Virtual and do not need additional help ...

---

Thank You!
While we are on the topic, what exactly (in Zen universe) is a "Virtual Product"?

Is it something with endless supply and no shipping charges? Like love?
A service ( like "protection" payment to mafia)?

If you have a definitive answer, this one belongs in the FAQ.

Many many thanks in advance

A>

A Virtual Product is a Gift Certificate ... or a Service or something that does not get mailed or downloaded by the customer ...

There is no shipping on a Virtual Product as it is not "real" ... but there is a change of money ...

Gift Certificates use this setting plus one other setting to make them unique which is the products_model where the Model must begin with GIFT in all CAPS ... plus be marked as a Virtual Product ...

Services, while they cost money, do not need to be sent to the customer so they do not need a shipping address, in many cases ...

Many Memberships are another one where you do not need to send a shipment to the customer ...

Downloads while not a physical thing to ship are a physical thing to download ... and they are detected as such by virtue of having the download on the attribute ... so they are magically computed as no shipping required ...

Some Virtual Products do need shipping ... a Memembership with a card to be mailed to the customer ... so that is not really Virtual ... but maybe you do not charge anything for this for shipping ... so it would be an Always Free Shipping product or a 0 weight product where 0 weight means Free shipping ...

Or, if you charge a minimum fee for the shipping that is handled by most of the shipping modules such as UPS and USPS as neither take a 0 lb shipping package ... and the code is set to send at least 0.10 to get a quote ...

Thank you, Linda!
You are the best!

Some day, when you are re-designing downloadable product modules, you may want to make them Virtual, just to avoid the confusion ;-)

A>

Believe me ... the thought has crossed my mind to re-code all of that logic or do something with it to avoid this confusion ... :lamo:

I find options and attributes (including downloadable products) to be the most confusing part of ZC admin. They are very powerful, but for most users, the underlying logic is not obvious, thus these generate lots of questions on the forums. (see book "The Inmates are Running the Asylum" but -- some programmers are offended -- please don't be offended, I'm not at all hostile to programmers and their suffering! I'm married to one! Everyone has used interfaces that are confusing to users and make sense only if you understand the underlying logic.)

The underlying logic may be sound, but the interface is confusing.

There are user-centric ways of redesigning this interface, that might bear exploration, and could greatly reduce support time for you guys. Maybe some ZC users have some ideas about what such an interface might look like, and how the interactions in setting up product attributes might flow.

---Diana

When we have time to re-write all of that logic we will be ... :smile:

Suggestions are always helpful, but we do know that this can be confusing to use and will be re-writting the Admin in a future release ...

I just wonder what the customer should get and how to be able to download the file she/he buys. I have set up all here like said and the admin finds the file and the download details are also in the order information visible.
I'm trying to buy as a test customer the product, I confirm the order, get email about the order but no download link! As admin I go to mark the product Processing or Delivered but as customer I only get an email about the status change, no download link.

What shall I do?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ellivir

I just wonder what the customer should get and how to be able to download the file she/he buys. I have set up all here like said and the admin finds the file and the download details are also in the order information visible.
I'm trying to buy as a test customer the product, I confirm the order, get email about the order but no download link! As admin I go to mark the product Processing or Delivered but as customer I only get an email about the status change, no download link.

---

For security reasons, download link is NOT given in/via email/s,
but download file/zip should be available
when customer logs into their account,
after purchase, at your zencart site...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by misty

For security reasons, download link is NOT given in/via email/s,
but download file/zip should be available
when customer logs into their account,
after purchase, at your zencart site...

---

I can see only the product bought there but no links in it or anywhere in "My Account".

Hi there.

I have followed these pages as much as I can to set up music downloads. When I go to a product the attribute Download: MP3 appears as a radio button, but there is no add to cart button, so I can't go any further. I have the 'Display Product Price/Add to Cart' and 'Display Product Add to Cart Button' enabled in Configuration-Product Listing, but there is nothing.

Am I missing something obvious?

I've solved that by reinstalling the cart - I was only in the early stages anyway.

I can go through all steps now except when I choose 'download' after payment has been accepted it says:

Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /~Jemma/zen-cart/pub/.kcsdhrsefpdbdyxjsn/test.zip on this server

I've made the pub and dowload folders 777 to see if that changes anything but still get the same error.

Any suggestions?

couple of things...
ajeh you've been a HUGE help on this but things are still not quite functioning... i followed your step by step to the T and i'm still coming up with errors.. i have a feeling they are simple though.

1. everything comes up on the page fine. i.e. image, radio button etc

2. "add to cart", and continue brings me to a shipping page witch defaults to free shipping witch i would think is ok since its a downloaded file.

3. "continue to checkout" brings me to a page showing the total of the bill an underneath its giving me red text that says "we are not accepting payments from your region at this time" why does it say that?

4. "continue checkout" brings me to the last page with all the info... shipping address, quanity in cart etc.

5. "confirm the order" takes me to this

(Email Error: Could not instantiate mail function.)
and that is my last problem

A download should not go to the checkout_shipping unless there is a product that needs a physical shipping address ...

Be sure that your Products are NOT marked as a Virtual Product ...

Downloads do NOT get marked as Virtual as they know that they are virtual with the Download on the Attribute ...

Have you an URL to one of your Products?

What version Zen Cart?

Clean install or an Upgrade?

How did you install? How did you Upgrade?

What zones are set on your Shipping Modules?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ajeh

A download should not go to the checkout_shipping unless there is a product that needs a physical shipping address ...

Be sure that your Products are NOT marked as a Virtual Product ...

Downloads do NOT get marked as Virtual as they know that they are virtual with the Download on the Attribute ...

Have you an URL to one of your Products?
http://www.ransomapparel.com/store/i...products_id=15

What version Zen Cart?
1.3.7 on a windows server

Clean install or an Upgrade?
clean install

How did you install? How did you Upgrade?
install was by a friend who works for the server company i host on.

What zones are set on your Shipping Modules?

---

under modules/shipping nothing is enabled acept flat rate for shipping

I do not see any attributes on this product for a download ...

Did you add the download in the Attributes for this?

i added the attribute "dowload" to the product but im still getting all the same errors....
still going to a shipping address and still coming up with the "mail" error.
what im confused on is where to tell it what file to download. i imagine its in the "attributes" at the very bottom.
Downloadable products: Filename:
Expiry days: (0 = unlimited)
Maximum download count:

i typed in "test.zip" (using a file already in the downloads folder) 7 day and 1 count.
is this correct?

ok so everything is looking good.
option name = download
option value = zip
download file = unreal.zip (test)

still getting the shipping page
still getting this error on "confirm order"
Email Error: Could not instantiate mail function.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zerocrew

ok so everything is looking good.
option name = download
option value = zip
download file = unreal.zip (test)

still getting the shipping page
still getting this error on "confirm order"
Email Error: Could not instantiate mail function.

---

ok scratch the shipping page... thats not coming up anymore but under payment module im still seeing (in red) we are not accepting payments for your region at this time?????
what does that mean
and what is the email error?
Email Error: Could not instantiate mail function.

ok so it seemed that the source of all my problems was that i didnt have a price laid out for the product. (didnt want to charge myself for every download hahah)
but now i have a new dilema
i haven't recieved an email so i can download the file...
is there something i missed in setting all this up? is there email functions im supposed to set up somewhere?
any answers would be helpful thanks
JIM

Have you ever been able to email?

Can you email from the Admin ... Tools ... Send Mail?

Can you email from the Catalog ... Contact Us?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zerocrew

and what is the email error?
Email Error: Could not instantiate mail function.

---

That means your settings in Admin->Configuration->Email Options are incorrect.
You probably need to choose a different Email Transport method to suit your webserver.
Talk to your hosting company about the proper configuration.
Here are some things to consider if needed:
http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.p...Email_Problems

The email problems are unrelated to the attributes/downloads configuration that this thread is primarily related to. If you require further specific assistance on email matters, please post as much related info that you have on the problem to the Email/Newsletters area.

If I undestood this system, you have to go into the Attributes Controller anytime you add a digital product to your catalog, in order to "link" it to a downloable file.

My question : isn't it possible to have option fields directly added into the Add Product page ?

I.e.
Field 1 = zip file 1 url
Field 2 = zip file 2 url
etc...

This would be an interesting option when you have lots of digital products in your catalog. Maybe the function does already exist but I don't know where to find it ? Maybe there's an addon that does it ?

Many thanks for the help, and especially to Linda for your patience :)

Not really ...

Using the attributes where each attribute owns a download is a better method of storage ... :smile:

sweet thanks i got it all worked out and now am dowlnoading just fine.. im having an image issue though if anyone would like to comment on the post...
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...t=9114&page=17

Is it possible to have three download choices with multiple parts. Example: I would like to setup a product with 3 choices and each choice contains multiple downloads. If this is possible how would it be configured?

Thank you for any help.