how to configure Downloadable ebooks from ecommerce (Drupal Ubercart)
I've just got the most excellent Ubercart ecommerce system to work with Paypal for paying and then auto-downloading digital media in the form of an eBook.
I thought I would jot down the process, as a memory jogger for me and if it helps anybody out there in inter-web-cyber-highway-net-land then it's worth the wasted minutes of typing ;)
So lets start with the basics, obviously replace http://www.projex.com with your own website name... duh!
- Install ubercart - a simple download and upload to your server into the ../SITES/ALL/MODULES folder
- enable ubercart and related modules Workflow-NG, Token, Content, CCK Image field, and the Imagecache modules.
- enable the ubercart modules components (/admin/build/modules) and activate cart/order/product/store and filedownloads/notify/payment and a payment method like Paypal
- setup the store with your details (click STORE ADMINISTRATION from the admin menu /admin/store)
- import all the country code address formats from /admin/store/settings/countries/edit
- configure the payment settings admin/store/settings/payment/edit/methods and select Paypal standard - enter your paypal account name and select LIVE
Finally, make sure the FILE DOWNLOAD option is active in the MODULE LIST (note that I have 3 different columns for User authority in my configuration (Admin, AnonUser and Registered) just make sure Anonymous user can download.
Note: if you are getting ACCESS DENIED messages when trying to collect your digital media (as a customer) then you've probably not done this step.
- define the folder that will contain the digital media (ebook, file, ZIp or whatever) that is being sold and automatically downloaded to your buyer. Note: I created a folder in my website called stuff and a subfolder called ebook for this example and uploaded my digital media to this folder: dont worry we will link the product to this item in a minute.
- You can upload/download files into your digital media folder (that you have just defined) using Drupal here admin/store/products/files
Link your product to a downloadable object
This is the bit that had me stumped for ages. Turns out its the easiest bit - simply edit your poroduct and you will notice a little tab at the top saying FEATURES click thyis and enter the name of the file listed in the folder. job done. (duh!)
Last (but not least) you need to setup the notification settings so that your customer is emailed a link for the download of the digital media they have purchased. So goto /admin/store/settings/notify/edit/file and click the send email check box. By default, the file download (and email) is sent once the order moves to "completed" status. But I have found with Paypal it's better to have this email sent immediately that it's paid for so change the setting here /admin/store/settings/products/edit/features.
Basically THATS IT!!!
[[[CAMTASIA VIDEO COMING SOON]]]
It definitely works but when I purchased the ebook it created a Login Account and then emails the details to me. I then had to check my email and then it let me log in (here I am!!) and I can see all the digital products I've purchased in my account details and, it looks like, can download them as many times as I like now that I've paid the price. Excellent!
Very neat but it could do with some kind of explanation of this when the order is complete... something along the lines of
Order complete - check your email and LOGIN to download the ebook
or something like that.
Cheers.
Iso is right. Ubercart should have a better explanation to the customer of how digital downloads work. On the latest version of Ubercart's file download module (as of Dec. 6th '07) the email sent to your account has a direct link to download the file. The administer can also set a limit on the total number of downloads, IP addresses, and a time limit for downloading the file.
We thought about emailing the file directly to the customer, but you never can tell how spam blockers and file size limits will apply. In the near future the customer will be able to download the file at the end of checkout, but this is a little complicated for sites which accept checks or batch process payments.
Thanks for trying Ubercart. We are working hard to make it the best shopping cart software available.
Peace,
Andy
Thanks Andy - I know uBercart is still in Alpha, it's definitely the most promising Drupal module I've played with.
I'm just in the process of configuring it for another website (as I type this it's FTP'ing up) so will try to give as much feedback as possible.
Great stuff....
you can create your own custom checkout completion page that thanks the user for buying your stuff and gives details about how they get their download
for more details or ideas see http://www.ubercart.org/comment/9265/Re-Kinda-got-things-working
Hi,
I'm trying to get Ubercart beta2 to work, but can't find out how to associate the file to the product. I can create each, and I would have expected a field on the create product page to enter the downloadable file, but can't find anything.
Can you post a screenshot of where the association is made?
Thanks,
Gareth
Thanks, this is a good intro to using files with ubercart.