e-Path Module Update

[jumbuck2]

Hi all,

Just a quickie for those who are using e-Path (http://e-path.com.au) to accept credit cards through their ZC for offline processing.

They have updated their ZC payment module to include a "cur" parameter value. This allows you to enter the currency code of the country your merchant facility charges credit cards in.

There appears to be a second optional value in there too (opt2) although I don't exactly know what it is there for.

They give this out freely so if you are using the e-Path payment gateway contact them with your gateway ID and they'll send it to you.

Cheers all

Jummy

[RodG]

Hi all,

Just a quickie for those who are using e-Path (http://e-path.com.au) to accept credit cards through their ZC for offline processing.

Please try to not take this the wrong way, but do you use this service (or know any ZenCart user that does), or is this mainly posted to promote the e-path services?

I ask because until now I've never heard of this mob (not that there's anything too surprising there), so I visited their website and followed the bouncing ball looking for the zencart module that would integrate with their API.

Although *their* website clearly indicates ZenCart support I couldn't find a downloadable module for it (or any other cart). Instead, it provides a link to "Charlies Garage" as the preferred/recommended 3rd party integration specialist.

The "Charlies Garage" website doesn't have ZenCart listed as one of the supported shopping carts. It does however have a module for OsCommerce, so a ZenCart port wouldn't be difficult. That's not the point though, the point is, at this stage it appears a ZenCart module may not exist, which is why I'm asking the question as to whether you or someone you know is actually using this service, or whether it is posted for promotional purposes only?

In the interests of public disclosure, even though "Charlies Garage" doesn't list ZenCart as one of the supported stores, the OsCommerce module (and all other modules listed on the site) appear to be of commercial nature. The osCommerce module for example, costing ~AU$110 (apparently reduced from AU$163).
If you want the module installed the cost is ~AU$330.

If you, or someone you know is using the e-path service, are you/they using the "Charlies Garage" integration method, or is their another/better/cheaper alternative?

Cheers
Rod

[jumbuck2]

Hi Rod,

I've been using e-Path for a number of years and have a few clients of mine with them too.

With e-Path you get a unique gateway system this is why I said to contact them quoting your e-Path gateway ID and they should send it to you without probs, free. They did for me and each of my clients.

I've suggested heaps of times they need to start coming in to forums like this to answer questions and to build a presence but their reply has always been that people will view it as spam and it will be a negative for them, just like what you are suggesting.

I don't know what Charlie's Garage is about but I can see it on their site. It looks like they do some of the other integrations but I know the Zen Cart module is free and so is the OSCommerce module and you can get these directly from e-Path when you quote your gateway ID number.

I'll email them again, they need to get off their butts and be the ones answering these questions.

Jummy

[RodG]

I've been using e-Path for a number of years

So you have a zencart module for it?

With e-Path you get a unique gateway system this is why I said to contact them quoting your e-Path gateway ID and they should send it to you without probs, free. They did for me and each of my clients.

What licence have they released this module under? If its GPL is there a reason why you couldn't upload it to the add-on section? Or is propriety, possibly with some kind of customer identifier?

I've suggested heaps of times they need to start coming in to forums like this to answer questions and to build a presence but their reply has always been that people will view it as spam and it will be a negative for them, just like what you are suggesting.

I knew you'd take it the wrong way. I'm not suggesting this at all. As I originally stated, I've never heard of this mob, and I'm interested in knowing more about them.

It was my hopes that since you've bought the topic up as something us Zenners could use, that you'd be able to fill in some of the missing details for us.

Yes, sure those of us that have an interest could independently contact e-Path individually, but if you could aswer the questions here it will be far more productive for everyone.

I don't know what Charlie's Garage is about but I can see it on their site. It looks like they do some of the other integrations but I know the Zen Cart module is free and so is the OSCommerce module and you can get these directly from e-Path when you quote your gateway ID number.

Therein lie my confusion/concerns. e-Path direct people to Charlie's Garage for both the module and the installation. It seems strange (to me) that they would do this if they have a free module of their own.

I'll email them again, they need to get off their butts and be the ones answering these questions.

Please do, but with respect, if you are using this service, and you do have a zencart module (supplied by e-path) you shouldn't need to have to email them to see if the module has been released under the GPL or some other licence. If it is freely distributable, as suggested/implied, then you should be able to upload it here so that other Zenners aren't being misled to use the Charlie's Garage integration services.

I'm not trying to put you on the spot or anything like that.. but we seem to have two services here e-path (potentially good), Charlie's Garage (a commercial integration service), and you somehow caught in the middle with the 'free' module from e-path.

I'd like to know a little more about what you have, because *that* is what us Zenners are going to be wanting/needing most in order to make use of the e-path gateway.

Cheers
Rod

[jumbuck2]

Hi Rod,

Yes I have a module for it. But it is coded with my unique gateway URL. I'm not comfortable with uploading a module that's been coded to my own gateway.

I don't think there is anything wrong with quoting your e-Path gateway ID number so they can give it to you. Without an e-Path gateway ID you would not be able to use it anyway. Do you have an e-Path gateway ID? If not then I can't see how anything would work for you.

I have read through their page on integration and I agree with you, there doesn't seem to be any mention about Zen Cart modules being free. But as far as I know their Zen Cart and OSCommerce modules have always been free I assume because they are released under the same GPL license as ZC is itself. They are free, that's for sure.

Anyway, I have emailed them letting them know of this thread so hopefully they'll come in.

Cheers

Jummy

[jumbuck2]

Just an update.

e-Path have emailed me back ....

Hello William,

Thank you for your email.

I appreciate your constructive suggestion and I have visited the mentioned forum.

We will be clarifying this on our site as a matter of urgency for the Zen Cart community. And I can confirm Zen Cart payment modules are free.

Generally we are reluctant to participate in these types of forums due to the risk that our involvement will be viewed as gratuitous self-promotion. It is very difficult to advise or assist people with answering questions on the online/offline method and not be criticized for promoting our own service.

By the same token, forum moderators also have the unenviable task to try to stop some individuals from shamelessly using their own forum messages to blatantly advertise themselves. Skyscraper window cleaners and online forum moderators, two of the world's most challenging jobs ;)

We will join up and carefully try to be of assistance to the community and see what unfolds.

Thank you for your email, it is appreciated.

Kind regards

Peter

---------------------------------------------------
E-PATH PTY LTD
Main Phone: 1300 661399
Representatives Direct: 07 5486 4982
Main Website: http://e-path.com.au
Existing Gateway Support: http://e-path.com.au/merchant_support.html
Contact e-Path: http://e-path.com.au/contact.html
Sales Email: [email protected]
Support Email: [email protected]

Cheers

Jummy

[e-Path]

Hello ZC community,

Our apologies Rod for any confusion in regards to the Zen Cart module plug-in for e-Path.

They are free and will always be free. In fact it was a very helpful "Dr Byte" from here who I believe cleaned up the code of them some years ago thanks to a keen customer of ours (Jumbuck2) seeking his assistance.

We have corrected our e-Path Integration page where we now make it very clear the modules are free and we have also included direct links to the main Zen Cart webste.

We have quite a number of Zen Cart users with us and we are very pround to be able to offer our service as an alternative method of accepting credit cards online to the world wide Zen Cart community. Zen Cart and Osc ommerce make up the majority of all shoping carts with e-Path.

If you have any questions about our service which enables accepting of credit cards online for safe processing offline in to your own merchant facility yourself, I would be very happy to assist.

Best regards

Peter Thwaites
E-PATH PTY LTD

[RodG]

Our apologies Rod for any confusion in regards to the Zen Cart module plug-in for e-Path.

No worries. Thanks for the clarification.

Generally we are reluctant to participate in these types of forums due to the risk that our involvement will be viewed as gratuitous self-promotion..

Quite understandable. There is a big difference between forum participation and self promotion though.

It is very difficult to advise or assist people with answering questions on the online/offline method and not be criticized for promoting our own service. .

I think I'll dissagree with this. There are actually a number of us that participate in these forums that also have a commercial interest (myself included), and we avoid this problem by not actively promoting our services, but concentrating more on the bigger picture of helping fellow zenners when and where we can, which obviously includes supporting our own services.

By the same token, forum moderators also have the unenviable task to try to stop some individuals from shamelessly using their own forum messages to blatantly advertise themselves. .

Exactly.

Skyscraper window cleaners and online forum moderators, two of the world's most challenging jobs ;)

Don't forget cat herding. :)

And I can confirm Zen Cart payment modules are free.

I gather from jumbuck2 that these modules are hard coded with a unique ID, and as such they aren't suitable to go into the free add-ons section. Is this correct?

If so, and you don't mind another suggestion, why not create a generic module that can be included in the free add-ons section, and keep its 'uniqueness' via a user input configuration field using a key/code that you supply. I can appreciate that such a module will be practically useless without an e-path account, but it will allow us to inspect the code for any possible security issues (a double edged sword, I know), and if you add a 'Demo' account that would also be a great boon.

Just for clarification, I have no official association with the ZenCart team or the forum moderators, and all my comments are personal opinion only.

Blatant commercialism is a definite no-no in these forums, but that doesn't mean there isn't a place where commercial services that would be of benefit to Zenners can't be made known and supported. Until this thread started I wasn't aware that e-path even existed, and although I have to admit it isn't for me/us, it is something I'd seriously consider suggesting to others, but I would probably only do so if I had a freely/readily available download module (that doesn't need to be specifically requested) that I can install on the clients sites so they can 'see' how it will function.

Having such a module freely available in the downloads section will also give you good reason to participate in these forums, above and beyond just for promotional purposes... In fact one of the rules when submitting downloads is that a forum thread must be created to support the module. Again, supporting the module isn't the same as being here to promote a commercial service. It *is* a bit of a fine line to walk though, especially for those of us that are responsible for both the modules and the end services.

If it were possible, I'd much rather have had someone else write the module code that connects to our servers/services, because this would avoid the conflict of interests, and for this reason I do make our API details availalble to anyone that needs it. Perhaps one day someone will write a *better* module than mine that will connect to our servers/services, but until then, I am responsible for both the server code and the client modules, just as you appear to be with e-path.

In short, if at the end of the day the benefits to the ZenCart community outweigh any commercial interests you won't have any problems or issues with the moderators. If your participation nothing more than promotion of the e-path services it will be severely frowned upon.
If you have a freely down-loadable module in the add-on section you'll generate a lot more interest in the service, and the module itself will negate the need to actively promote e-path. The mere existence of the module in the downloads section will do that for you. It's a win-win situation.

Cheers
Rod

[e-Path]

Hello Rod,

Nice comments and I agree wholeheartedly with what you say.

I hope we can be of assistance from time to time.

In regards again to the e-Path modules, I can upload them here for you and everyone else to inspect. Jumbuck2 is not correct about each module being hard coded for a particular gateway. We passed that barrier some time ago. Users enter two snippets of code in the Zen Cart admin when they enable the e-Path gateway in Zen Cart. Those code snippets combine to form the unique URL of that particular merchant's gateway. Everyone gets their own unique gateway system with it's own unique secure URL with us.

The new version of the modules now draw on the currency code in Zen Cart so the currency is displayed correctly on the merchant's gateway page. We have customers all over the world and previously our team had to hard code the currency in. Very time consuming.

You will need to help me out here, how does one upload in a message? Also, I can't seem to find where I can put a two to three line signature in my posts. Any help would be appreciated.

We encourage people testing e-Path BEFORE they sign up, this is what it's all about. We have set up a demo system for everyone to do just that and they can configure their websites or shopping carts to the demo gateway. There is nothing being encrypted on the demo system but it honestly simulates a real live gateway. For more info on this have a look at e-Path Integration page. You can add the modules to your Zen Cart right now and use the demo gateway as many times as you like to see the front end workings without even having to contact us.

I like your suggestion about the e-Path modules being available as part of the Zen Cart software, or available for download on this site.

Automation in online payment processing is much more desireable to the vast majority so our target market is very thin. But for odd person who wants a PCI compliant solution that enables them to accept credit cards online to safely charge them offline in to their existing merchant facilities then I believe we have a great little service going on.

Best regards

Peter
E-PATH PTY LTD

[RodG]

In regards again to the e-Path modules, I can upload them here for you and everyone else to inspect. Jumbuck2 is not correct about each module being hard coded for a particular gateway. We passed that barrier some time ago. Users enter two snippets of code in the Zen Cart admin when they enable the e-Path gateway in Zen Cart. Those code snippets combine to form the unique URL of that particular merchant's gateway. Everyone gets their own unique gateway system with it's own unique secure URL with us.

The new version of the modules now draw on the currency code in Zen Cart so the currency is displayed correctly on the merchant's gateway page. We have customers all over the world and previously our team had to hard code the currency in. Very time consuming.

You will need to help me out here, how does one upload in a message?

Modules are best served in the 'Plug ins' section. There is a link to these at the top of this page. When you click on the link you'll find a button to upload a new plugin.

Please read the following FAQ before uploading though.
http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?53

Automation in online payment processing is much more desireable to the vast majority so our target market is very thin. But for odd person who wants a PCI compliant solution that enables them to accept credit cards online to safely charge them offline in to their existing merchant facilities then I believe we have a great little service going on.

This is why I think your services have a place here. Although there are a few 'big players' using ZenCart, in my experience the majority of us are small to medium sized traders, and e-path appears like it could fill gap.

I will once again stress that I've no official capacity in regards to ZenCart, and although I'm encouraging/welcoming you here (even though there is commercial aspect to what you are offering) not all participants see things the same way as I do. At the end of the day it is the forum moderator(s) that draws the line between commercialism and support though. It isn't difficult to segregate the two.

Cheers
Rod

Disclaimer. To all others: Just to make sure there's no mistake. I have no association with e-path either. I am neither promoting or denouncing what they have to offer.