I'm proud to announce the release of the Last Release Candidate before mambo-phpShop 1.2 going stable. Although it might seem a small step from RC1 to RC2 now, a LOT of changes have been made to nearly the whole mambo-phpShop Code. So I wrote a detailled article below on what has changed and what is required to smoothely upgrade an existing installation of mambo-phpShop. I cannot recommend just to upgrade without having read all changes.
You can use the Remote Installer Component for Installing the required Component and module. The links /latestcomponent.php and /latestmodule.php have been updated and link to this latest version now.
These new features have been built in now:
- UPS Online™ Tools Integration (Rates and Service Selection XML)
- Product Filemanager (for multiple Images per product, datasheets, specs...)
- Compatible on all Mambo versions from 4.5 1.0.3
- Coupon Management
- Free Shipping mod
- Let the customer to agree to your terms of service on *every order*
Read on for the detailled description about all new features, changes and Upgrade Instructions.
UPS Online™ Tools - Rates and Service Selection XML
The UPS Shipping Module has been set up using UPS XML Services. The integration is finished - except calculating Shipping Taxes!To enable UPS Shipping, go to Configuration => Shipping and enable UPS!
The UPS Shipping module can be configured through an easy HTML Form that can be reached via "Store" => "Shipping Module List" => "UPS". There you have to fill in your Access Key, User ID and Password. Change the other settings or just leave them at default and now your customers can select out of the different UPS Shipping Methods which are fetched from ups.com on each checkout.
Requires cURL php extension or PHP compiled with OpenSSL support!
Product FileManager
The new FileManager can be accessed via "Products" => "FileManager". You'll have to click on "Add Image/File" to add/edit Images and Files for that selected product.
Images are automatically resized when possible. Resized images are put in the folder /shop_image/product/resized. Requires the new {more_images} Tag in the Flypage Templates to let the customer see additional images.
Files are stored locally wherever you want that. Requires the new {file_list} Tag in the Flypage Tempates to let the customer see and download existing files.
Images and Files are physically deleted when the File entry is deleted.
NOTE: Files for downloadable Goods have to be uploaded using the File Upload Form integrated in the Product Form!
Coupon Management
The Coupon Management is very basic indeed, but working. You can create Coupons via "Coupons" => "Add Coupon" in the Shop administration. Decide on wether the Coupon is a Gift coupon that is deleted after being used once, or a Permanent Coupon that can be used more than once (by everyone who knows ;-)). Note that Buying a Coupon is currently not supported. Thanks to Erich Vinson for working and inspiration on that!!
Free Shipping Mod
You can now set up an amount for Orders that receive Free Shipping. Just go to "Store" => "Edit Store" and fill in that amount. Note that the amount has to be *excluding* Tax!
Shipping Methods in General
Shipping Methods in mambo-phpShop are a sort of Plugins that can be easily switched from one to another. Note that you can only have ONE active Shipping Module! The Free Shipping Module cannot be activated, because it's automatically chosen when the free Shipping Amount has been reached. All Shipping Modules that fetch their Rates live from a remote server (UPS, InterShipper, soon FedEX, USPS and DHL) switch to Standard Shipping on Error. So be sure to set up the Standard Shipping Rates as well!
New Configuration Settings
- Let the customer to agree to your terms of service on *every order*
- Turn on or off the PDF - Button. (pdf-Functions have not been changed since RC1)
UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAMBO 4.5.1 (mambo-phpShop 1.2) Users
1. After having read the new Features- and Changes List you are sure to upgrade? Ok, then backup your existing files in the directories
administrator/components/com_phpshop
and
components/com_phpshop
Backup all Database Tables beginning with mos_pshop_
2. After having backed up you can now proceed to unpack the new Component Archive you just downloaded: com_phpshop_1.2_RC2.tar.gz. btw: Even WinZip is able to unpack tar.gz.
You see two new tar.gz files: frontend_files.tar.gz and admin_files.tar.gz. Now that the Installer in Mambo 4.5.1 doesn't support overwriting an existing component (that sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) you have to upload all new files manually via FTP.
2a. Unpack admin_files.tar.gz to a separate Directory.
Now Upload the files in that newly created directory AND ALL FILES THAT ARE IN THE ROOT OF THE ARCHIVE com_phpshop_x.x.tar.gz to:
mambo-root/administrator/components/com_phpshop
2b. Unpack frontend_files.tar.gz to a separate directory.
Now upload these files overwriting your existing mambo-phpShop files.
Upload
* phpshop.php
* phpshop_parser.php
* show_image_in_imgtag.php
* /shop_image/<everything>*
* /js/<everything>*
NOTE: This will NOT overwrite your old configuration file, but all other files!
AGAIN: Your configuration file is safe.
3. Ok. The files are there. But there have been massive changes to the Database/Table structure. Be sure to have a database manipulation tool - such as phpmadmin - at hand and execute the Queries contained in the SQL file /sql/UPDATE-SCRIPT_com_phpshop_1.2_RC1_to_RC2.sql. As you see there are various sql files that make it possible to upgrade your Database Sturcture Step by Step even from version 1.2 beta3.
4. Done? Hehe, not yet. Go to you "Admin" => "Configuration" and be sure to Re-Write your Configuration File. There could be Notices that some Contants are missing - but don't mind. You have an old configuration file that needs some refreshing!
5. You use authorize.net as Payment Method? You will have to re-type your settings!! Sorry - but mambo-phpShop applied for authorize.net's Shopping Cart Certification. This required a new implementation of that Payment Method. Be sure to fill in your Login ID and Activate your Transaction Key (which is now securly stored in the database, away from the Login ID). Showing and Changing the Transaction ID will require Filling in your User Password now.
Done. Wasn't that hard.
