Dwolla Payments module

Does anyone know how to create/ integrate a Dwolla payments module? (Dwolla: U.S. based system which offers electronic payments for $0.25/ transaction vs. 3%+ for paypal).

mmwilcox,

Dwolla is something I just learned about by accident a couple weeks ago - they are here in Des Moines even! So not being much of a programmer, but a zen cart user (must have some programming skills for customizing ZC, right?) I went to one of their meetup events and was very impressed.

Anyway it looks like a fantastic service that will doubtless take off b/c of the awesome fee structure and ease of use.

Anyway, I'm 99% sure that I've successfully ported the oscommerce module to Zen Cart using the ZC wiki article on porting modules from osc. :clap:

Maybe this weekend I'll find out more. I just want you to know someone is working on it and I may be posting it soon.

John

Thanks John. I look forward to seeing it.

I'd like to offer a discount of 1 or 2% for using Dwolla. Its still less than the credit charges we pay. Anyway, being a remedial programmer, I was able to modiffy the Dwolla setup to allow the admin to set a discount amount. Then, when checking out, it would calculate the discount and net amounts and feed those to the Dwolla Hub for the user.

It worked perfectly except when a coupon was used. I was unable to grab the after-coupon total to determine the appropriate discount and net payment amount.

I would be happy to share what i've done thus far if you are interested in the discount feature.

Thanks,

Here it is. Okay it won't allow me to upload the files b/c they exceed the maximum.

I tested it and found it works with my version 1.3.9fp1.

It requires you to check your email and enter the random code that was emailed to you to complete the checkout. (I kept entering my Dwolla PIN number and it kept rejecting the transaction at first.)

Yes I'm interested in having the price discounted by 2% or something when users choose this method of checkout, but I really don't know where to start on coding this. Maybe in the 'orders.php' file? If you know anything more then I'd be interested in your approach.

Thanks!

John

Here it is.

EDIT:
*(Okay it won't allow me to upload the files b/c they exceed the maximum. So I uploaded the files I could as "languages.zip" and "modules.zip". These have the 2 files that need to be put in the "includes" folder while retaining the file structure. For this module to work it also needs the xml/SOAP library in the "includes/modules/payment/lib" folder, which can be downloaded here: http://addons.oscommerce.com/info/7732.
Extract the files, then only use the xml library "includes/modules/payment/lib") *

*Hint: There is one other thing to consider with this type module is that it is using SOAP so you may have to have your web host enable SOAP on your web server. *

I tested this and found it works with my version 1.3.9fp1.

It requires you to check your email and enter the random code that was emailed to you to complete the checkout. (I kept entering my Dwolla PIN number and it kept rejecting the transaction at first.)

Yes I'm interested in having the price discounted by 2% or something when users choose this method of checkout, but I really don't know where to start on coding this. Maybe in the 'orders.php' file? If you know anything more then I'd be interested in your approach.

Thanks!

John

Thanks and nice work.

Here are the two files that I worked on to create a percentage discount. Perhaps there are some pieces that you or someone will find helpful.

Good luck.

@mmwilcox:
I just wanted to say I forgot to mention that there is an edit to the 'dwolla.php' file that's in the "includes/languages/english(and/or other language name here)/modules/payment/" folder that needs to be made before it will work.

On this line:
define('MODULE_PAYMENT_DWOLLA_ACCOUNT_ID', 'Dwolla Account ID (xxx-xxx-xxxx):');

It needs your actual Dwolla id where the xxx-xxx-xxxx is and you'll be set.

Regarding your files. That's great that you got it this far. I'm curious what you used as a template to get started writing this module?

I don't know why the coupons would cause a problem, but you've got to be close if that's the only issue. Somehow I keep thinking I saw code for this stuff (how order calculations are done, in what order, etc.) in the orders.php file a long time ago when I was diagnosing another issue. But maybe it would need to be an 'if...then' statement in the dwolla.php file that checked if there is a coupon being used, then applying the coupon. I dunno.

I don't really have time at the moment to look into it further until my other work slows down, but I plan to look at the discount thing some more because I really think this is the key to getting customers to use Dwolla on our site because otherwise people are more willing to use their credit cards with cash back type incentives.

A few more things I found out about Dwolla:

1. You have to move the money manually into your Dwolla account before making a purchase and it can take 2-3 days for the transfer to take place. (big downside)
2. And as a business account (free upgrade) you can move $10,000 at a time as a maximum or $5,000 max per purchase if you have a personal account (free). (very good, b/c even a $50,000 purchase only costs $1.25 with 5 transactions!)
   Thanks for sharing what you've done,
   John

Hi, I got John's version working fine. I'm trying to understand this correctly on how to add in the discount functionality Matt has developed. Do his files need to be somehow integrated into or added with John's module files to provide the discount functionality? I assume that's the case. Thanks very much to both of you guys working on these, I'm a big Dwolla supporter and I really appreciate your taking the time to develop these modules.

Thanks, Jeff

Jeff,
Matt and I came at this module from different angles. I took an existing OS Commerce module and converted it to Zen Cart. (I don't know how Matt came up with his module.)

The one I converted doesn't have the discount feature in it, but I posted it for distribution because even though it would be nice, it's not critical for the module to work. So I thought it would be good to let others use it and get on board with accepting Dwolla on their Zen Cart stores right away.

Regarding the discount for using Dwolla - Matt does have much of it done it looks like, but I personally haven't tried it or tried integrating the two. I welcome anyone to try and get it working as I do not have so much time to devote to this right now.

Dwolla has a lot of upside potential, and giving people incentives to using it is probably the best way to realize this - so it's probably one of the most important features to add to this module. I welcome anyone to volunteer their skills to make this happen.

John

Thanks John and Jeff for the feedback and interest. My modules came from converting/ modifying the code from the "Invoice" module that is available for download. It is much like all of the simpler payment modules and provided the basic structure for the installation and other routines.

John, Dwolla sort of put this into prime time with their website link and email distribution. Hopefully, someone (maybe someone at Dwolla? hint hint) will be motivated to lend guidance towards getting the coupon incorporation to work. It is certainly in Dwolla's best interest.

Thanks.

Jeff12671:

Hi, I got John's version working fine. I'm trying to understand this correctly on how to add in the discount functionality Matt has developed. Do his files need to be somehow integrated into or added with John's module files to provide the discount functionality? I assume that's the case. Thanks very much to both of you guys working on these, I'm a big Dwolla supporter and I really appreciate your taking the time to develop these modules.

Thanks, Jeff

I took a good look at both modules about a week ago - both great but rather different approaches.

John's approach (found here) is, as he mentions a straight 'port' of the way the Dwolla plugin functions w/ other platforms like creLoaded , OSCommerce , & Magento. Meaning, the customer is not redirected to another site & then directed back to the cart - the whole purchase is done 'from the cart'.

Matt's approach, (the last time I looked), redirects to a Dwolla HUB page to complete the purchase & then returns to the shopping cart.

Given that , with a little work it sounds like the discount functionality is almost there, but I don't think it's going to be a straight case of merging the module files.

I've started a thread over in the Dwolla developer community forum on Zen Cart ; We'd love to see you over there if there's anything you'd like quick service or consultation on : http :// https://www.dwolla.org/d/forumdisplay.php?4-Shopping-Cart-Integration

I also posted a tiny update of John's module : http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&products_id=1894

Cheers!

I'm trying to get the Dwolla payments option intergrated into my Zen Cart store v 1.3.9h

I've installed v1.01 of the Dwolla payment module. When I try to get shopping cart api key and code Dwolla aska for a client application url.

Is this the http://my website/zencart/ipn_main_handler.php that I used when I added the AlertPay payment module or do I need to create an application at Dwolla? Thanks for your help.

exdmd,

It's been a while since I set up the Dwolla payment module, but from the way it's stated, I think that's what they are asking. I could be wrong, but your sites: http:// "site address here" should work.

If not, the Dwolla guys can help otherwise since they are the ones requesting the info. They are usually quick to respond and very helpful when you get in touch with them. Good luck.

John

Greetings All

exdmd - no problem! I'd recommend the URL of your checkout page (ex: http://www.exdmd-store.com/checkout). This setting will not limit you technically, its just another way for the API credentials holder to identify herself (or himself).

All - If any one's interested, Dwolla also has an elegant new payment gateway API . It's a redirect workflow similar to most standard Paypal checkout gateways.

new Dwolla API docs
new Dwolla API support

@karrie or others from Dwolla: please submit the Dwolloa payment module to the Zen Cart Free Software Add Ons - we'd like to see it there where more people will find it and have the most up to date copy.

http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=40

Just checked & a Dwolla module is still posted out there. Just search 'Dwolla' & you should find it. Also, credit where credit is due - this module was implemented & added by the Zen community not Dwolla folks.

http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&products_id=1894

Thanks for clarifying this - I must have fat-fingered the search. Go Dwolla! :)

Okay Im stumped.

I have the dwolla 1.01 module installed and configured, including my account #, api key and code. When I enable the module, my checkout payment page comes up blank. Turning off the module restores the page. Im using 1.3.9h, php 5 is turned on, according to my server info SOAP is installed and on, and Im using the purple shades template.

Anyone else have a similar problem or ran into this?

ps.

This link: http://www.dwolla.org/d/forumdisplay.php?4-Shopping-Cart-Integration

brings up a mostly blank page. Does anyone have an updated link?

MrSpiffy,

It sounds like you've done everything right, and unless there's been some major changes to the Dwolla API servers, then it should work.

I've also found with Zen Cart that when I get these 'blank pages' I usually look into the log files (zen cart root "cache" folder). Then I contact the web host tech support when I can't figure out what it means via a few web searches.

I also notice that some times when I have a php upgrade they (web host tech guys) forget to compile it with SOAP support so that has caused problems on my server too.

Good luck,
John

Eureka!

There is a bug! When you select a payment zone other than -none-, page 2 of payment confirmation goes away. And I do mean away..you get nothing, no html, no logging, just a blank page.

I don't believe its how Ive configured my payment zones, since I use them to discern us vs international customers for my other payment modules (paypal, ceon credit card) and that stuff is working.