tbontes Posted December 31, 2006 Share Posted December 31, 2006 My site uses downloads of items as an alternative option. I know I am an old bloke and not always too quick on the uptake but haven't been able to find out how to 'activate' download links (which occasionally but not always show up in orders) - there is no shipping, therefore no weight involved. Payment method is generally check/money order (for testing purposes, I don't want to keep paying for the privilege of testing) and I'm not sure if ALL downloadable items should first have the downloadable file added or if I wait until the order is lodged and then add it. I have exhausted all avenues I could find or think of but have been unable to find a simple answer. It would be of great help to newcomers like myself if a simple explanation of how the 'download' section of OsCommerce actually works and how to implement it properly. However, until then could someone please tell me how to 'unlock' download links so that I can advise clients that the download is ready for them and HOW to go about downloading it. Warm regards from 'down-under' and Happy New Year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_mcs Posted December 31, 2006 Share Posted December 31, 2006 Take a look at this thread. Jack Support Links: For Hire: Contact me for anything you need help with for your shop: upgrading, hosting, repairs, code written, etc. Get the latest versions of my addons Recommended SEO Addons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbontes Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 My site uses downloads of items as an alternative option. I know I am an old bloke and not always too quick on the uptake but haven't been able to find out how to 'activate' download links (which occasionally but not always show up in orders) - there is no shipping, therefore no weight involved. Payment method is generally check/money order (for testing purposes, I don't want to keep paying for the privilege of testing) and I'm not sure if ALL downloadable items should first have the downloadable file added or if I wait until the order is lodged and then add it. I have exhausted all avenues I could find or think of but have been unable to find a simple answer.It would be of great help to newcomers like myself if a simple explanation of how the 'download' section of OsCommerce actually works and how to implement it properly. However, until then could someone please tell me how to 'unlock' download links so that I can advise clients that the download is ready for them and HOW to go about downloading it. Warm regards from 'down-under' and Happy New Year! Your thread gave me fresh hope - I realised I wasn't the only one with a problem! I've now got the downloads down pat - I found where I was going wrong by scrubbing the site and starting with a fresh install then carefully checking to see how the test download was done. I was entering the full path of the download file instead of just the file name! Little things eh?! Unfortunately although the links are clickable and all seems really good the actual downloads are simply the file names - you know, all meat and no potatoes! For instance, it will download a zip file but it arrives empty! (I thought the downloads were super fast!). I seem to recall someone else having the same problem but can't recall where in this forum I read this. Can anybody point me in the right direction please? And oh .. Happy New Year to you all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_mcs Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 That could be a number of things. First be sure that you can download the file from without the shop. Go into the download directory and rename the .htaccess file. This will remove the protection and let you access the files via the web. Then go to http://yoursite.com/download/some_file_to_download.zip. Are you able to download it successfully? If not, the problem is in the file or your computer. If so, then talk to your host since it may be a problem on their end. Be sure to rename the .htaccess file again. Jack Support Links: For Hire: Contact me for anything you need help with for your shop: upgrading, hosting, repairs, code written, etc. Get the latest versions of my addons Recommended SEO Addons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 That could be a number of things. First be sure that you can download the file from without the shop. Go into the download directory and rename the .htaccess file. This will remove the protection and let you access the files via the web. Then go to http://yoursite.com/download/some_file_to_download.zip. Are you able to download it successfully? If not, the problem is in the file or your computer. If so, then talk to your host since it may be a problem on their end. Be sure to rename the .htaccess file again. Jack I am also having this problem. When I download it after renaming the htaccess file, it downloads fine. Any clues what else could it be? I've got a dedicated server, so I'll have make changes on my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbontes Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 I am also having this problem. When I download it after renaming the htaccess file, it downloads fine. Any clues what else could it be? I've got a dedicated server, so I'll have make changes on my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbontes Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 Same here .. I'm still working on it but seem to have reacbed a dead-end... Let me know if you solve it please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_mcs Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 You need to do some testing. Try creating a zip file on your computer and then unzip - does it work? If so, upload that zip to the download directory and then download it again (using an ftp program, not your shop) - does it work? If so, try uploading that file using your shop and downloading it using an ftp program - does it work? So the idea is to try to isolate the problem. Jack Support Links: For Hire: Contact me for anything you need help with for your shop: upgrading, hosting, repairs, code written, etc. Get the latest versions of my addons Recommended SEO Addons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbontes Posted January 3, 2007 Author Share Posted January 3, 2007 You need to do some testing. Try creating a zip file on your computer and then unzip - does it work? If so, upload that zip to the download directory and then download it again (using an ftp program, not your shop) - does it work? If so, try uploading that file using your shop and downloading it using an ftp program - does it work? So the idea is to try to isolate the problem. Jack Thanks for your help Jack .. I appreciate what you're doing . I followed your instructions : 1. I created a 5mb ZIP file and tested it on the computer. Worked fine. 2. I uploaded the file to the download directory on the server and then downloaded it back on my backup computer. It worked fine. Now this is where perhaps I am doing something wrong. I don't know how to upload a file using the shop or if this is the better way to do it. I have so far used the move command to shift them from the server echo to the shop download directory, or I simply uploaded them using cuteFTP. I have then used the FTP program to download them back to my computer and they seem to be OK. Could you tell me how to upload the files using the Shop? Then I will try that avenue. I know what you mean by isolating a problem - and I've been at this one for well over a week now and getting nowhwere at all which is why I posted a cry for help. The response has been heart warming! Best regards, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevo9999 Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Thanks for your help Jack .. I appreciate what you're doing . I followed your instructions : 1. I created a 5mb ZIP file and tested it on the computer. Worked fine. 2. I uploaded the file to the download directory on the server and then downloaded it back on my backup computer. It worked fine. Now this is where perhaps I am doing something wrong. I don't know how to upload a file using the shop or if this is the better way to do it. I have so far used the move command to shift them from the server echo to the shop download directory, or I simply uploaded them using cuteFTP. I have then used the FTP program to download them back to my computer and they seem to be OK. Could you tell me how to upload the files using the Shop? Then I will try that avenue. I know what you mean by isolating a problem - and I've been at this one for well over a week now and getting nowhwere at all which is why I posted a cry for help. The response has been heart warming! Best regards, Tom I had the same problem. all the downloaded zips files were corrupt. i turned off the download by redirect function in the donload controller options in admin and walla. no more corrupt files. hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbontes Posted January 3, 2007 Author Share Posted January 3, 2007 I had the same problem. all the downloaded zips files were corrupt. i turned off the download by redirect function in the donload controller options in admin and walla. no more corrupt files. hope this helps Thank you for taking the trouble to share your success with me. Sadly, I had already read your experience in this forum and checked redirection immediately, but it was turned to false by default and I haven't activated it since. (For one thing it's a complete mystery to me - I can't find anywhere what it is meant to do and how one would go about using it!).. No, I feel sure I am overlooking something quite simple (again) and that the fault lies with me but I've got to the stage where my mind won't function in the right manner on the subject any more so will give it a rest for a day and start afresh! Problem is that the shop is of no use for my purposes without efficient downloads, we distribute lectures etc. on DVD and need to at least provide the option of downloading instead of relying on postal services (and having to pay for it) Thanks again -- glad to hear you're getting it right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_mcs Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Thanks for your help Jack .. I appreciate what you're doing . I followed your instructions : 1. I created a 5mb ZIP file and tested it on the computer. Worked fine. 2. I uploaded the file to the download directory on the server and then downloaded it back on my backup computer. It worked fine. Now this is where perhaps I am doing something wrong. I don't know how to upload a file using the shop or if this is the better way to do it. I have so far used the move command to shift them from the server echo to the shop download directory, or I simply uploaded them using cuteFTP. I have then used the FTP program to download them back to my computer and they seem to be OK. Could you tell me how to upload the files using the Shop? Then I will try that avenue. I know what you mean by isolating a problem - and I've been at this one for well over a week now and getting nowhwere at all which is why I posted a cry for help. The response has been heart warming! Best regards, Tom Upload the file to the download directory as you did in step 2. You can't upload it using the downloads controller. It just points to a file already there. Did you read the thread I posted? Jack Support Links: For Hire: Contact me for anything you need help with for your shop: upgrading, hosting, repairs, code written, etc. Get the latest versions of my addons Recommended SEO Addons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodolfo6 Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 I had the same problem. all the downloaded zips files were corrupt. i turned off the download by redirect function in the donload controller options in admin and walla. no more corrupt files. hope this helps I am installing oscommerce and had exactly the same problem with corrupted downloaded files. When reading Stevo’s comments about turning off the ownload by redirect function. I did this and the problem was resolved. All files are now downloaded with the correct file size. Thanks for this very useful comment. Now the question is: what are the conditions (or required settings) for using the download by redirect function? rdolfo6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 You need to do some testing. Try creating a zip file on your computer and then unzip - does it work? If so, upload that zip to the download directory and then download it again (using an ftp program, not your shop) - does it work? If so, try uploading that file using your shop and downloading it using an ftp program - does it work? So the idea is to try to isolate the problem. Jack Okay, this is an issue with my oscommerce setup. I'm not an idiot. It's not the ftp, not winzip, not the file. Not my computer.... Does anyone have a clue WHY (something in the .htaccess file?) it's downloading EMPTY! ARGH! :'( :wacko: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbontes Posted January 5, 2007 Author Share Posted January 5, 2007 Okay, this is an issue with my oscommerce setup. I'm not an idiot. It's not the ftp, not winzip, not the file. Not my computer.... Does anyone have a clue WHY (something in the .htaccess file?) it's downloading EMPTY! ARGH! :'( :wacko: I hope you don't mind me bugging you again with the same problem : Oscommerce makes downloadable files available providing they are *.zip files. Any other file extension is not included in the download link area even if their categories are correctly set to the same as the identical but zipped file. Same file name in the appropriate box when assigning category details except for the extension which in this case is *.wmv instead of *.zip. Even assuming that it may be possible for me to copy all files over with a .zip extension I am still faced with the enigma which caused me to holler for help in the first place: the zipped files arrive empty, only the filename is apparently downloaded (it takes a split second to do).. Yet the same zip file when downloading it from the Windows Explorer command line comes across 100% and is all there. Ergo: the problem must lie within the oscommerce program itself. I have had a good look at the ZIP downloads add-on available through the community contributions section and although I realise it is intended to be used for a large number of smaller files it has occurred to me that perhaps I could implement it to overcome the current problem. It isn't the easiest of add-ons to install so I thought I would ask for your opinion. Do you think that it might fix the problem? If you, or any other member for that matter, have any ideas at all on what I can do to get downloads up and running I'd be most appreciative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 I hope you don't mind me bugging you again with the same problem : Oscommerce makes downloadable files available providing they are *.zip files. Any other file extension is not included in the download link area even if their categories are correctly set to the same as the identical but zipped file. Same file name in the appropriate box when assigning category details except for the extension which in this case is *.wmv instead of *.zip. Even assuming that it may be possible for me to copy all files over with a .zip extension I am still faced with the enigma which caused me to holler for help in the first place: the zipped files arrive empty, only the filename is apparently downloaded (it takes a split second to do).. Yet the same zip file when downloading it from the Windows Explorer command line comes across 100% and is all there. Ergo: the problem must lie within the oscommerce program itself. I have had a good look at the ZIP downloads add-on available through the community contributions section and although I realise it is intended to be used for a large number of smaller files it has occurred to me that perhaps I could implement it to overcome the current problem. It isn't the easiest of add-ons to install so I thought I would ask for your opinion. Do you think that it might fix the problem? If you, or any other member for that matter, have any ideas at all on what I can do to get downloads up and running I'd be most appreciative. I'm still at a loss about this. I'm going to end up just sending a link for them to download it and have it somewhere else in the directory as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 I'm still at a loss about this. I'm going to end up just sending a link for them to download it and have it somewhere else in the directory as well. BTW: For your customers to actually download it needs to be in a zip file. If you left it as a .wmv it will just start playing! Sorry, still on my first cuppa coffee... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New 
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.