How can I Get the Zen Cart Version Using a Script?

[ciel_bleu]

Hi,

I'm planning to write a simple script that will check a customer's running e-commerce cart system (osCommerce, Zen Cart, etc.) and after determining their cart system they will be redirected to a link containing templates that are specifically for them.

I am trying to check how I can get zen cart version and redirect costumers to their specific templates with my script. I want to get the zen cart version the client's site is running.

How can I achieved it?

Thanks,
Ciel

[kuroi]

There is a big chunk missing from your question. If somebody is visiting your website, you wouldn't be able to see what e-commerce packages they may or may not be running elsewhere.

So presumably you must be asking them something about their site, so why not just ask then which package they're using and which version?

Or are you suggesting that they would need to install your script on their server, indeed within their site, in order to be able to use your site effectively? If so, then for Zen cart the information you are looking for would be contained in the project_version table. I don't know for sure whether osCommerce has a similar table, though it seems likely.

[ciel_bleu]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply Kuroi.

Sorry I forgot to mention they have to install the script to their server. You say it can be found in the Project_Version Table, you mean in the database right?

Is there any php file that contains the information where I can pull the information out? Was thinking the version might be a CONSTANT variable somewhere.

Thanks,
Ciel

[DrByte]

If you start installing scripts that will disclose software version information, you open up a can of security issues, since somebody could use that script to identify the software version and then target their site with hack attempts based on issues that may have been found in older versions, etc. That's one major reason why the version number is not displayed on the storefront side anywhere.

If you do intend to do such a thing, it is IMPERATIVE that you FULLY disclose EVERYTHING your script does, and what YOU will do with the information collected by that script ... because you're entering the territory of privacy rights. A script such as you propose encroaches on privacy matters since the script will be used to collect information about their site, which you will be storing somewhere, and conceivably using for targeted marketing campaigns and/or other advertising. I for one would never install such a script on my site because I think it's none of your business knowing what I'm using at a specific URL. I would want to reserve the right to tell you what version I'm interested in, and then you tell me what you offer in that area, rather than arming you with information you (or someone who hacks your site) could use maliciously or for purposes I didn't intend.

It's MUCH safer to simply instruct your customer to go to their Admin area and click on the "Version" link in the top right corner of their admin menu navigation bar, and have them TELL you what version information is found there. At least this is the right way to do it in Zen Cart.
The Other Shopping Cart doesn't have any such facility. Granted they've had no new versions in about 5 years so guessing the version there is easy.

[kuroi]

Have to agree with DrByte on this. You would need a very specific type of business (e.g. support) to make installing such a script appropriate and selling templates doesn't really fall into that category.

Customers capable of installing your script where it needs to go, should be equally capable of telling what cart and version they're using, without going to that trouble or exposing themselves to that risk.

[skipwater]

Agreeing with DrByte and kuroi
I think you should add code to your templates that checks the version. And if you need per sale info create a lite template that the customer could test.

[ciel_bleu]

Hi,

Finally got it.

I'm from the support group of our site.

It's just for the purpose of checking their product type and versions before they can be redirected to our available templates. After wards they are advised to delete the script.

Some shopping carts doesn't have the feature to check on what is the current product version they are using. It really is a hassle to ftp to a client's site download files related to checking the version then redirect them to our available templates for their specific product.

Thanks for informing me about the risk. Maybe an admin account can only run the script or something. Not sure how to tackle that problem yet.

Thank you.
Alain

[ciel_bleu]

Agreeing with DrByte and kuroi
I think you should add code to your templates that checks the version. And if you need per sale info create a lite template that the customer could test.

This could sure help too. I'll check around on this. Thanks.

Ciel

[barco57]

Might be easier to instruct the customer to goto their ZC admin, click on the tools menu, than click on server/version info to check their version and then input that on your site to be used to direct them to the correct templates for their version. I surely wouldn't be loading a script on to my server that does essentially the same thing when I can check it myself.