Multi-Part downloadable item(s) with time elapse

[notfarnow]

I read through this thread but couldn't seem to find the right answer:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35776

Here's what I'm looking to do:
1. User purchases downloadable instructional video/audio/pdf/etc. that lasts 3 weeks
2. Item is downloaded and used for a week
3. When 7 day period ends, an automatic email is sent to user saying, "Time
to download part 2" with a link to part 2 of the product.
4. When second 7 day period ends, an automatic email is sent to user saying, "Time to download part 3" with a link to part 3 of the product.
5. When third 7 day period ends, an automatic email is sent to user saying, "Time
to download part 3" with a link to part 3 of the product.
6. When part 3 is complete, user gets a congratulations email marking completion.

Question:
Once a virtual product is downloaded, do the links expire automatically?

This is a rough outline. If anyone knows any other sort of functionality like this
please let me know as I'm all ears. Thanks so much!!!!!

[Ajeh]

First, Downloads are NOT Virtual Products ... marking them as such will cause issues with shipping ...

NOTE: Downloads are NOT Always Free Shipping either ...

NOTE: Downloads by themselves in an order skip checkout_shipping if the do not, then they are not configured correctly ...

As to expiration, you can set that per Download on the individual attribute settings ...

To run something like you are requesting you would need something to update the Order to include the next Download at the given time interval ... this would require tracking of the Order by either a method similar to the Specials or Featured products where they are enabled/disabled automatically by activity on the Catalog or Admin ...

Knowing what Download to "add" to the order would also require some thought ...

This could be done via naming conventions such as:
my_file1.zip
my_file2.zip
my_file3.zip

where when the trigger is hit to manage this the records can translate the existing Download attribute to the new filename or add a new record to make it available (this is the suggested method) ...

While nothing like this exists for Zen Cart it would be an interesting project to write ... complicated, but very interesting ...

[notfarnow]

Ajeh, You are amazing. You and Zen Cart never cease to amaze me. I'll do what I can to make this happen. Thanks so much for your wisdom and guidance.

[Ajeh]

Let us know how it goes ... would make an interesting Contribution ...