WebsiteFee - v1.0 alpha

Author: Timothy Paustian

Zikula Version: PostNuke Phoenix .760

Category: Utility

API Compliancy: Yes

pnRender Compliancy: Yes

Description:

A module for collecting subscriptions for content on a PostNuke website. The module is set up to work with PayPal's Instant Payment Notification (IPN) so that subscribers are automatically added to groups without administration intervention. The function that performs this uses security measires to prevent hacking.  

 In my testing, this module is ready to go, but I need other people to test it and give me feedback.



Have you ever wanted to have users pay for the cool content you are creating on your PostNuke site? Do you wish a PayPal Instant Payment Notification service that was integrated with PostNuke existed? Have you felt that an open source solution should be available? WebsiteFee may be the answer to these questions.


WebsiteFee is an open source module for integration with PayPal's subscription service that is capable of using IPN to automatically manage subscriptions. After setting up the service, users can click on a PayPal subscription button that you create and sign up for a specific PostNuke group. By using the PostNuke permission module you can the grant this group access to your restricted content. The steps need to make this work are..

1. Register with PayPal to use the subscription service.

2. Create an appropriate PayPal button that contains a custom field configured for the WebsiteFee module. This custom field must specify the username and a unique tag that identifies what the user is subscribing to. You should also specify the IPN notification function that PayPal sends the notification to. This is normally WebsiteFee_user_paypalsubscribe.

3. In the WebsiteFee module, create a subscription item that identifies the item's price, the email that is registered with PayPal for the seller, The group ID to which a subscriber should be registered and the tag that identifies the item that is to be subscribed. This tag matches the unique tag in the custom field of the button.

4. Create the permission rule that gives a paying user access to your restricted material.

5. Place the button in any spot in your website. When a user submits a payment using PayPal, the WebsiteFee module is automatically notified, checks to make sure the transaction is legitimate and records it. It also adds the user to the specified group.

This module has been designed such that it can be expanded to include other payment services by writing the appropriate functions in the pnuser.php file.


System Requirements:

pnRender is required. This interface to this module is Admin only. The admin must create a merchant PayPal account, sign up for the subscription service, and turn on the IPN service. A button must also be created with a custom field.


Support Information:

No support is offered except the PostNuke forum


Supported Languages: English, but other languages can be added


Change Log:

First release


 

Comments

Comment by:
billchopher's Avatar
billchopher
24 May 2007 - 04:41AM
Ok, this seems to have the potential to be an easy to use and effective module, after it is fully installed and set up. Thanks heaps for that!

I have it installed as a module and it all looks OK, But how do I set up the paypal side of things? Can you expand on this:

2. Create an appropriate PayPal button that contains a custom field configured for the WebsiteFee module. This custom field must specify the username and a unique tag that identifies what the user is subscribing to. You should also specify the IPN notification function that PayPal sends the notification to. This is normally WebsiteFee_user_paypalsubscribe.

???

Regards

Bill
 
Comment by:
Carogue's Avatar
Carogue
12 Jun 2007 - 09:03PM
I have the same question as billchopher -- can you give an example of what such a "custom field" would look like in the PayPal button code?

My button is working, but not with WebsiteFee module, apparently. I'm sure it's because I have not completed this step correctly -- because I'm a NEWB!!!

Help, help. This is an awesome module!! Please help me make it work!

Graciolas!

 
Comment by:
Carogue's Avatar
Carogue
12 Jun 2007 - 10:23PM
I found the post in the Forum that details the button code. However, I'm not sure how to write the first custom field. Can you give me some idea of what the code is supposed to point to? Specifically:

<input type="hidden" name="custom" value="a:3:{s:9:" />

I have a group, Members, with a Group ID of 6 in PN site. I am not sure about "tag ID" or the use of "paustian" in the code -- is that the admin username?

Thanks!
 
Comment by:
gmdistributor's Avatar
gmdistributor
02 Jan 2008 - 03:51PM
I install this modual on my PN and when i went to click on the icon i got this :Additional technical information
In WebsiteFee module module, main function returned.
In WebsiteFee module, cannot find template websitefee_admin_main.htm

the template in there i do,nt get it icon_confused treied reinstalling dose no good
 
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