Zen-Cart API: inventory control from Ebay

[nisdats]

I am working on an inventory control program that automates our Ebay listings with our website listings. Basicly if an item sells on Ebay we need to immediatly subtract it from our zen-cart database.

I know there is a Zen-Cart API but how do I run it? the help file just has a list of random commands/functions but no explanantion on how to launch the API itself...

What is the best way of automaticly decreasing the zen-cart quantity. I already know the products_id and the amount by which it needs to be decreased. We just need to automate this process.

Thanks,

Igor

[Ajeh]

There isn't a lot of magic to it ... you need to tap the products table ... and reduce the products_quantity by how many sold ...

If you know your database, username, password and you know the products_id and quantity ... you can then reduce this value ...

Now what triggers that is up to you ...

Using the Zen Cart code, you can look in the orders class to see how it is specifically done ...

[nisdats]

Thanks for the reply Linda.

Basicly I would do remote MySQL, get into my own database, execute the queries I want done and then get out?

Is this what the API is? (ie this technique is called API?)

thanks in advance,

Igor

[Ajeh]

You can get a better definition of an API from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applica...ming_interface

More or less you are trying to interface with your database for your Zen Cart shop and alter the quantities based on activity from another application or site, in this case, eBay ...

If you know how to interface with the database and the products_id and quantity ... then you should not have a hard time doing this ...

[barco57]

Is this not what the auctionblox service does?

The AuctionBlox connector for Zen-Cart provides all the functionality available on a typical eBay listing right from your Zen-Cart administrator screen, reduces the amount of valuable time you spend listing items on eBay as you can list multiple items by simply selecting all the items you wish to list using a pre-designed template. The AuctionBlox connector for Zen-Cart also includes the valuable ‘Checkout Redirect’ feature which allows successful bidders to checkout on your shopping cart instead of eBay. This feature will provide you with an opportunity to up sell to you customers ultimately increasing the invoice value whilst only paying eBay sales commissions on the original items value.

[kiddo]

Its my understanding that ebay is no longer allowing new access to the remote checkout function and are planning to withdraw access to current users in the near future.

[mteipe]

Is this not what the auctionblox service does?

Yes but they require you to use there hosted Zen Cart and they also take a fee per transaction. Not quite the same as getting the API's to connect yourself.