Google Checkout module for ZC 1.3.x (beta)

[Woodymon]

Here is the issue.
Everytime in the customer order adim, when i try to email customer with update/pending/processing email I get this error:

"1146 Table 'massagel_zc1.google_orders' doesn't exist
in:
[select google_order_number from google_orders where orders_id= 48]
If you were entering information, press the BACK button in your browser and re-check the information you had entered to be sure you left no blank fields."

I also get this error message in payments admin:
"Fatal error: Cannot redeclare class googlecheckout in /home/massagel/public_html/bodyandbathshop/includes/modules/payment/googlecheckout.php on line 20"

Is there an easy fix? Will it destroy site if I remove all google files?

Best method to uninstall is to reverse the install process, as explained in the INSTALLATION document bundled with the mod. This would include re-uploading the backed up Zen Cart files which were overwritten during the mod installation.

BEFORE YOU PROCEED BACKUP BOTH YOUR SHOP DIRECTORY AND YOUR DATABASE.

You don't state the version number of the mod installed. Open the readme for that version and figure out which Zen Cart files had to be overwritten/edited during the mod installation. Probably two or three template files and /admin/orders.php. Then the other Google Checkout mod files you can just delete from the server. You should only delete the mod files AFTER uninstalling the mod via (Admin > Modules > Payment Methods.

It appears the errors you report are a result of removing some of the Google Checkout mod files but not removing others. Specifically it appears you have not re-uploaded a backed up copy of the original /admin/orders.php. If you have the backup file on your hard drive then upload/overwrite the same file on the server. If not then open the the Zen Cart zip archive (for whichever version Zen Cart you are using), extract orders.php and upload to /admin/orders/php on the server (this is assuming you made no other modifications to orders.php. In that case you should do a compare and merge).

And be sure to overwrite the mod template files in YOUR_TEMPLATE directory (again apply compare and merge if you customized the original core files). If you did not previously edit/customize the relevant template files, you can just remove those from your YOUR_TEMPLATE directory (no need to upload the originals).

The two tables created by Google Checkout 1.3RC2 mod install, are as follows.

TABLE: google_checkout
customers_id
buyers_id

TABLE: google_orders
orders_id
google_order_number
order_amount

By default, the two tables are NOT removed when you uninstall the mod (Admin >Modules > Payment Methods). But if you are VERY certain you want to delete (drop) those two tables then there are two lines of code near the bottom of /includes/modules/payment/googlecheckout.php, which you can comment out BEFORE uninstalling the mod. Or you can just drop the two tables via phpmyadmin. BACKUP your database BEFORE you do this.

If you have used the mod in LIVE Live production to process real orders, then I do NOT suggest removing those two tables unless you are VERY certain of the the ramifications. If you have only used Google Checkout in the sandbox testing environment then there should be no issue with dropping the two tables. But I have not tested removing the tables so I am not certain. Hopefully ropu can provide clarification on this important issue.

When you state you did not know SSL was required for Google Checkout, I ask which payment method are you using that does not require SSL? I do not understand how you can allow submission of confidential customer info or process orders in Zen Cart without SSL, unless you are operating insecurely. Beware!

Hope this helps,
Woody

[Woodymon]

ROPU-

Is there any news regards to status of fixes for 1.3RC2? Can you please provide follow-up to our specific inquires?

Sure, some report no problems after upgrading to 1.3RC2 but many others continue to have shipping config issues after the upgrade, including me.

I'm fairly certain the issues I've posted (with full details) could be quickly troubleshooted and repaired by a person of your caliber.

I can assure you there are many lurkers checking out this thread whom would like to install this mod, but whom are hesitant, due to the continued problem reports and the lack of support/responses received.

Is not Google funding your hours enough?

Is there anyone else working on your "Google Checkout integration team" whom we can refer our specific issues to, as it appears you are very busy with other things.

Seriously, must we start a fund to donate to Google (laugh) to promote further progress on this mod, to help a developer who can contribute more time to it's full development and support?

Thanks,
Woody

[Justwade]

You have accurately summarized above. However, what you've summarized is the easiest part to deal with. There are about a dozen or so issues with this mod that you need to be aware of.

Yes, I am aware of many of the issues being discussed at length here. I started to put a summery of D., E., etc. and edited them out to focus on my own concerns.

With all these other problems aside, many of my customers would "like to Log In" to keep track of needed related past orders in their account history. Some items are perishable over a period of time or have other related needs. And these customers may like to have Google as a payment option, such as the way Paypal Express allows.

So if a Google Payment option on Step 2 is to be "dead on arrival", then I can only request a strong wish towards Rupo or Google coders to please revive this feature when time permits. Otherwise, It would never fit many of my customers needs.

Login and shopping cart page express buttons is fine and a ok for those who do not want to have an account. But if repeat customers choose Google Express and the new order does not go back to their existing account, it will just frustrate them all.

[Justwade]

Correct on all accounts.

Regarding #3 in your list, the checkout template file posted today is the solution (or follow instructions to edit the same file).

Woody

Thank you for helping me (and I can only assume many others) stay on track and noting a solution.

[Justwade]

request a strong wish towards Rupo or Google coders to please revive this feature

Please accept my apologies for misspelling your name, Ropu. It was too late to edit the post again.

[Woodymon]

And these customers may like to have Google as a payment option, such as the way Paypal Express allows.

So if a Google Payment option on Step 2 is to be "dead on arrival", then I can only request a strong wish towards Rupo or Google coders to please revive this feature when time permits. Otherwise, It would never fit many of my customers needs.

Login and shopping cart page express buttons is fine and a ok for those who do not want to have an account. But if repeat customers choose Google Express and the new order does not go back to their existing account, it will just frustrate them all.

You will see many similar requests such as yours on the Google Checkout merchant discussion forum.

1. Google Checkout is not just a payment module it is a full checkout system, based on the Google Checkout Level 2 (XML) API. If you would like Google Checkout API to work like PayPal IPN as opposed to Paypal Express Checkout (PPEC)) then contact Google. The integrators are just supporting the API. The Google Checkout product managers are responsible for developing the API.

2. A new Zen Cart customer account is created, or an existing Zen Cart customer account is updated, when orders are processed via the Google Checkout mod. So your customers can access the order info via Zen Cart "My Account". Only hitch is new customers will need to be provided the auto generated password to access their new account.

Note many people only want an "express" checkout option and so Google tried to fit that need. Keep in mind that most new customers will be aware an "account" is being created in BOTH Zen Cart shop AND with Google when they checkout via Google Checkout, as there is no mention of that in the checkout process. There is a mention of creating a Google account only. And creating an account does not make for a true Express checkout.

Some customers might even be dismayed that an Account was created in Zen Cart w/o their express authorization.

Be sure to update your terms of service when employing different checkout options and payment methods.

I myself would like Google to support two different modes:
A. Google Checkout Express (checkout ala PPEC)
-and-
B. Google Payment (payment module ala PayPal IPN).

Beyond this I suspect Google has much higher aims than just wanting to be just another payment and/or checkout module for third party ecommerce applications. Rather Google wants you to host your full shop on a Google Server AND use their ecommerce application infrastructure and transaction service. In that way Google is a direct competitor to Zen Cart (PayPal does similar but is much less of a threat and now Zen Cart is partner with PayPal).

Woody

[Justwade]

I myself would like Google to support two different modes:
A. Google Checkout Express (checkout ala PPEC)
-and-
B. Google Payment (payment module ala PayPal IPN).

My wish exactly.

Beyond this I suspect Google has much higher aims than just wanting to be just another payment and/or checkout module for third party ecommerce applications. Rather Google wants you to host your full shop on a Google Server AND use their ecommerce application infrastructure and transaction service. In that way Google is a direct competitor to Zen Cart (PayPal does similar but is much less of a threat and now Zen Cart is partner with PayPal).

Woody

These thoughts have been a concern of mine as well. I am wondering if this is just one more reason to have (but may never get) the ability to regulate the individual Zen Store's "Conditions of Use" before a checkout is possible for "My Account" users.

[Woodymon]

I am wondering if this is just one more reason to have (but may never get) the ability to regulate the individual Zen Store's "Conditions of Use" before a checkout is possible for "My Account" users.

Are you saying you want the ability to force all customers, whom are checking out with Google Checkout (for the first time) on your shop, to first view/confirm your shops terms of service before the checkout process can continue?

Woody

[mbuttrey]

Best method to uninstall is to reverse the install process, as explained in the INSTALLATION document bundled with the mod. This would include re-uploading the backed up Zen Cart files which were overwritten during the mod installation.

BEFORE YOU PROCEED BACKUP BOTH YOUR SHOP DIRECTORY AND YOUR DATABASE.

You don't state the version number of the mod installed. Open the readme for that version and figure out which Zen Cart files had to be overwritten/edited during the mod installation. Probably two or three template files and /admin/orders.php. Then the other Google Checkout mod files you can just delete from the server. You should only delete the mod files AFTER uninstalling the mod via (Admin > Modules > Payment Methods.

It appears the errors you report are a result of removing some of the Google Checkout mod files but not removing others. Specifically it appears you have not re-uploaded a backed up copy of the original /admin/orders.php. If you have the backup file on your hard drive then upload/overwrite the same file on the server. If not then open the the Zen Cart zip archive (for whichever version Zen Cart you are using), extract orders.php and upload to /admin/orders/php on the server (this is assuming you made no other modifications to orders.php. In that case you should do a compare and merge).

And be sure to overwrite the mod template files in YOUR_TEMPLATE directory (again apply compare and merge if you customized the original core files). If you did not previously edit/customize the relevant template files, you can just remove those from your YOUR_TEMPLATE directory (no need to upload the originals).

The two tables created by Google Checkout 1.3RC2 mod install, are as follows.

TABLE: google_checkout
customers_id
buyers_id

TABLE: google_orders
orders_id
google_order_number
order_amount

By default, the two tables are NOT removed when you uninstall the mod (Admin >Modules > Payment Methods). But if you are VERY certain you want to delete (drop) those two tables then there are two lines of code near the bottom of /includes/modules/payment/googlecheckout.php, which you can comment out BEFORE uninstalling the mod. Or you can just drop the two tables via phpmyadmin. BACKUP your database BEFORE you do this.

If you have used the mod in LIVE Live production to process real orders, then I do NOT suggest removing those two tables unless you are VERY certain of the the ramifications. If you have only used Google Checkout in the sandbox testing environment then there should be no issue with dropping the two tables. But I have not tested removing the tables so I am not certain. Hopefully ropu can provide clarification on this important issue.

When you state you did not know SSL was required for Google Checkout, I ask which payment method are you using that does not require SSL? I do not understand how you can allow submission of confidential customer info or process orders in Zen Cart without SSL, unless you are operating insecurely. Beware!

Hope this helps,
Woody

Thank Woody!

I was able to reverse installation with success!

BTW! Do you know anyone that could install correctly?

Thanks,
Matt

Zen Cart 1.3.6

Database Patch Level: 1.3.6

v1.3.6 [2007-01-07 19:50:33] (Fresh Installation)

[Justwade]

Are you saying you want the ability to force all customers, whom are checking out with Google Checkout (for the first time) on your shop, to first view/confirm your shops terms of service before the checkout process can continue?

Woody

I believe this is against Google Checkouts own terms and conditions. I did, at one time, want this ability thinking it would protect our small stores somehow. Maybe just having it available and not as a regulated check off is good enough, as we have it now. I don't know for sure, me not knowing the legality of it all.

But my last thoughts to your post were more inline with the thinking of loosing the whole reason for independently building a Zen store. Paying your choice of a server, paying fees for transactions under the proper guide lines, paying for your own SSL, building a store reasonable the way you want it, and informing customers upfront the terms. Your very own store.

I can always try to adjust (so far), as a I learn the proper way to build and run a web store. Zen Cart and the support is great for that. I just hope that the adjustments from outside of Zen, someday, is not too much to chew on.

So, no, I am not wanting to push this idea, I guess I was just thinking too much out loud. There is bigger issues that you all need resolving.