Using PDF in cart ?

[maperr55]

Hi,
I do not have a problem just more of a how to OR can I question. I was unable to fine this answer in the FAQ.
The question I have is if I can use/place a PDF document in the cart Product Description area box?
This PDF document has 22 pages. Will is work corectly of have problems and issues?
The next question is will it still print the document?
Thanks for the help...
Mark

[DrByte]

You can put in a link to any file that you've got on a server accessible by your visitors, such as your own site. Just like you'd put a link to anything else.

If you want the PDF document to open and be displayed in its entirety and be printable, that's a lot more complicated and usually involves loading a bunch of Flash code to manage displaying and navigating the PDF document.
So, if your real request is whether you can replace/augment the entire page's "content" with a PDF, the answer is: yes but it's complicated, and is up to you to add in any additional tools or HTML code to make it happen.

PDFs are generally "documents", not "website content". And usually they're provided via A HREF links that customers can click to view on their own PC using whatever PDF reader tools they have on their PC or smartphone.

[maperr55]

HI Doc,
Thanks for the quick reply.
Good to here from you!!! Hope you have been well. Dealing with all this cold weather as we have here in Michigan. I'm ready for spring.
I was just wondering if their was a way and if I have to completely redesign everything to make it work. I am currently using a link from within one of the pages of the cart to it. The document is a members list to a private club and they do not want it public. Thought I hade it tucked away but the bots found it anyway and made it searchable and findable. So now my option is to password protect the document which is not what we really wanted to do. I could paste the contense into the product description area. Then I'm not sure that I can print it from that page I put it on. Can that be done?
Thanks again Doc for help, insight and time.
Peace.
Mark

[DrByte]

Your post gives more insight, but I'm still not clear about what exactly your questions are.

If you're asking whether you can print the contents of a PDF from an HTML page, the short answer is No. The long answer is: it's rather complicated, and would be worth using another approach.

If you're asking about whether you can restrict access to certain information based on customer's login name or group-membership, yes that can be done with some coding, and would still be better-controlled by making the restricted content be text-based instead of PDF-based. Text-based would be easily printed.

[maperr55]

HI Doc,
Thank you for your time and reply.
That is kind of what I thought I had played around with trying to make a PDF work in the Des. Window without much success. The reason I finally posted the question so I would not burn up much more time trying to make something work that won't anyway and not know it.

So for forum knowledge, as well as my own curiosity.
Is the content that is placed in the description window secure or encrypted?
Protected from bot searches?
What would be best way be to be able print the content placed in the product description window from the users side, a Word Doc or straight text from like notepad with no formatting? (Formatting applied in the window after entered I assume).
Then the $1,000,000 question what needs to be done to setup the pages and print content from the users side?
Zencart add on for this?
You are welcome to place links to questions answers I asked but, I always welcome you knowledge and insight on the cart software's working and abilities. Thanks again for your time I know it is precious for us all. Peace.
Mark

[DrByte]

Is the content that is placed in the description window secure or encrypted?

Only if visitors are accessing that particular page via https

Protected from bot searches?

Not unless you put it behind a password so the bots ignore it, or for 'friendly' bots add the noindex header to the specific page.

What would be best way be to be able print the content placed in the product description window from the users side, a Word Doc or straight text from like notepad with no formatting? (Formatting applied in the window after entered I assume).

Text marked-up with HTML markup.

what needs to be done to setup the pages and print content from the users side?

The user presses the Print button in their browser.

[maperr55]

HI Doc,
Thanks for the reply and your knowledge. You are Tops!
I will try your suggestions and report ti back to this Thread my results to improve the forum knowledge ase.
Thanks again, Peace.
Mark