AustPost for 1.3.8a ?

[FoneGuy]

Hi All.

I'm currently using ZC v1.3.7.1 and AustPost v2.0.1

Is there an upgrade of AustPost to suit ZC v1.3.8a ?

Thanks, Steve.

[RodG]

Why? are you having a problem?

Cheers
Rod

[FoneGuy]

No, but it looks like AustPost overwrites a couple of admin files.
If I upgrade to ZC1.3.8, those files will be overwritten and not include the AustPost code?

Thanks, Steve.

[RodG]

Hi Steve,

> No, but it looks like AustPost overwrites a couple of admin files.

If you take the time to read the various .TXT files that comes with the AP module you will note that the admin overwrites are purely optional.
If you DON'T overwrite them you'll not be able to take advantage of the dimensional aspects of your products or parcels, but you'll still get pretty accurate quotes based on weight alone.

> If I upgrade to ZC1.3.8, those files will be overwritten and not
> include the AustPost code?

Yes, they will. Which is why like any other module you'll need to re-install the AP module (or merge any changes) after any zen-cart upgrades.

The current version of the AP module has been checked and is fully compatible with zen-cart V1.3.7 and 1.3.8. I have no reason to believe any other changes are required for 1.3.8a.

Cheers
Rod

[FoneGuy]

So, I need to find the relevant ZC 1.3.8a files and edit in the AustPost code, myself?

[RodG]

Hi Steve,

> So, I need to find the relevant ZC 1.3.8a files and edit in the
> AustPost code, myself?

Only if you really want to. It'll probably be far easier to simply re-install though, and even that may not be necessary, it really depends on what files get replaced with your zencart update(s).

Rod

[pascalgaut]

Rod,

I've been struggling to find a way to make the latest version of AustPost work. Since it seems to work for everyone else it must be my specific server settings that don't work. I work on on a windows server with IIS 5, PHP 5 and the latest version of Zen Cart.

The symptom is that after installing austpost the shipping estimator window is empty (does not even show the other shipping methods installed such as flat rate) and that when trying to checkout it gives me the error: "ERROR:Unable to obtain a valid quote from the Australia Post Server.
Please try again later, or contact the store owner if problems persist.".

cURL seems to be loaded by PHP (it shows as enabled in the php info), so no clue as to what might be wrong.

If I deinstall AustPost then everything reverst to normal (without Australia Post rates of course).

Any idea?

[RodG]

G'day pascalgaut,

> I've been struggling to find a way to make the latest version of
> AustPost work. Since it seems to work for everyone else it
> must be my specific server settings that don't work.

I agree.

> I work on on a windows server with IIS 5, PHP 5 and the latest
> version of Zen Cart.

Windows eh. Obviously you aren't very concerned about reliability ;-)

> when trying to checkout it gives me the error: "ERROR:Unable to
> obtain a valid quote from the Australia Post Server.
> Please try again later, or contact the store owner if problems
> persist.".

> cURL seems to be loaded by PHP (it shows as enabled in the php
> info), so no clue as to what might be wrong.

OK, the first place to start is by elimitating cURL as the possible (and most likely) cause of the problem.
It has come to my attention that there doesn't seem to be a *reliable* way of testing cURL functionality without producing an error that can't be trapped by the AP module (at least none that I've found yet), so this means that in some instances we need to force cURL to fail in order to use the FILE method of access.
Keep in mind that there is no assurance that the FILE access is allowed on your server either, so even after disabling cURL you MAY still have a problem - but we'll worry about how to deal with that if/when the time comes.

Anyway, to disable the cURL code in the AP module, simply load
/includes/modules/shipping/austpost.php into a text editor.

locate the line that reads:
if (function_exists('curl_init')) {

(it should be line 758)
Change it to read:
if (function_exists('XXXcurl_init')) {

Resave the file, and let me know of your results.

Cheers
Rod

[pascalgaut]

Thanks Rod,

I figured out that the issue came from the fact that I was packaging a document (0 weight) with an item to be delivered. Managed to fix this through the admin side of things.

My only remaining problem is that the estimator still does not work. When I checkout and go to the shipping page all is fine but if I click on the get and estimate button on the shopping cart page then I just get a blank window.

Any idea of how to debug this?

[RodG]

G'day pascalgaut,

> I figured out that the issue came from the fact that I was packaging a document
> (0 weight) with an item to be delivered.
> Managed to fix this through the admin side of things.

As long as the *total* weight of the items being quoted for is greater than zero you should get a valid quote.

> My only remaining problem is that the estimator still does not work.
> When I checkout and go to the shipping page all is fine but if I click
> on the get and estimate button on the shopping cart page then I just
> get a blank window.

> Any idea of how to debug this?

Yes. The first question you need to ask yourself is what *else* did you change between the time you was getting this:
> when trying to checkout it gives me the error: "ERROR:Unable to
> obtain a valid quote from the Australia Post Server.
> Please try again later, or contact the store owner if problems
> persist.".

and your current problem of getting a blank page?
Simply "fixing the (0 weight) through the admin side of things" will not cause this kind of change in the symptoms you are reporting, so you must have done something else as well. Whatever it was, you need to undo it.

If you can't remember what you did, the easiest way to debug would be to start working backwards. Firstly disable the AP module. Next, enbale another shipping module, eg, the local pickup module. If you still only get a blank window (as I suspect will be the case) then you have something more seriously amiss than just the AP module. In which case I'd suggest you revert to a reinstall of the system files have been changed.

If it does turn out to be an AP module problem (ie, if the local pickup works ok) then do an uninstall and reinstall of the AP module. If this happens to be the case you may end up with your original error again.

Either way, I'll await your findings before going any further.

Cheers
Rod