Downloadables: Why "Delivery Address: n/a" when "Shipping Address Required"?

On one hand, when configuring a downloadable product, one must set up the product to:

Product is Virtual? No, Shipping Address Required
Product is Always Free Shipping? No, Normal Shipping Rules
On the other hand, if all products in the customer's cart are downloadable, then the shipping address step is skipped and the order confirmation,say:
Delivery Address: n/a
Shipping Method: Free Shipping

Which leads, of course, to no delivery address in PayPal, which leads to... No PayPal Seller Protection eligibility. :(

Is this by design?

If so, what is the rational behind the confusing requirement to set up the product as 'Shipping Address Required' ?

First, you need to setup the Product correctly when it is a Download ...

Downloads are NOT Virtual Products ... :eek:

Downloads are NOT Always Free Shipping ... :blink:

You should never see the checkout_shipping on an Order of Download Products ...

Read through the Tutorial/FAQs on Attributes and Downloads and see if this helps to better explain things for you ...
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=71

Ajeh, thank you for your quick reply.

I am afraid that I didn't explain my question well. I know how to setup downloadable products. I have already done it and it works very well.

I know that downloads are not virtual products.
I know that downloads are not always free shipping.
I don't see the checkout_shipping on an Order of Download Products - and I know this is how the system is supposed to behave.

In short, it is already working well for me.

However, what I don't understand is: if delivery address is "n/a", WHY require setting the product as "Shipping Address Required"? :dontgetit

In other words, if delivery address is not applicable and not used, then why require shipping address?

Am I the only one finding this contradiction confusing?

Product is Virtual? No, Shipping Address Required
zcnb:

... if delivery address is not applicable and not used, then why require shipping address?

Am I the only one finding this contradiction confusing?

The wording of the field is just a collection of words. The specific logic is: "Is this product to be treated as a service instead of a product?".

While a "download" product is, in one sense, virtual, it is still a product, and not a service for which no product is received. Zen Cart's present logic treats downloadable items as a special kind of product, simply by the fact that a download-filename is attached ... and, for the rest of the download-fulfillment logic to work, the rules are: set "Product is Virtual" to "NO". That's why you're supposed to choose "No" for that field.

Maybe we'll look at changing the wording in a future release for you. :blush:

And, since downloads are treated as a special kind of virtual product, for which no physical delivery address is required, all delivery information such as shipping address, shipping cost, etc, is ignored.