PayPal Easy Donate

Hack Description

This hack is the easiest way to add the ability to accept PayPal donations for your site.
You simply upload 2 php files, and a couple of images and then import the product XML and thats it!
No messing round with template edits or anything like that, its all done for you!

:banana: Also includes a vB CMPS Module so you can use this hack on your vB CMPS pages. :banana:
The vB CMPS is basicly just a straight port of DementedMindz excellent Paypal Module (dropdown) On vBa CMPS modified so that it can be setup from the AdminCP.
Many thanks to DementedMindz for allowing me to mod his module.

Some features of this hack are:

• No need to modify or edit the standard vB files!
• Automaticly adds 'Donate' link on Navbar next to the FAQ link if desired.
• Simple once off setup in the Admin Control Panel.
• You can change all text and headings from the Admin CP.
• All PayPal settings such as preferred currency are set in the Admin CP.
• The Donors forum username is on the emailed receipt from PayPal.
• People do not have to be registered on your site to donate.
• You and toggle the PayPal Verified seal on or off.
• Its a product so no need to redo hacks when you upgrade vB next time.
• Works with default IE settings!
• vB CMPS Modue Available
• Configurable Thank you page for donors
• Default / suggested donation amount if desired
• Works on vB 3.6 without any modifications
  

Well thats about it for the moment. I may add more features later, if there is a demand for them.

Please note that you have to have either a Business or Premiere PayPal account, else you will need to upgrade to one of these before you can accept donations. Its easy to do, just follow the guide on the PayPal site.

Also note that this is a product, not a plug-in. You must import it using the import product feature in the Admin CP.

I will try and offer support, but work and family commitments mean I dont have much free time.

This is a work in progress and currently a beta version.
This script has been confirmed as working on

• vB 3.5.3
• vB 3.5.4
• vB 3.6.0 Beta 1
• vB 3.6.0 Beta 2
• vB 3.6.0 RC1
• vB 3.6.0

It should work on earlier versions of vB 3.5 as well, but I have no verification of that.

Known Bugs
None on a standard vB 3.5.X install. However, if you use custom templates the automatic donate link insertion may not work. If thats the case, you will need to edit the navbar template manually as listed in the 2nd post.

This has been tested in a totally clean install of vB 3.5.4 and in my live and hacked site as well.

Changelog

Version 1.31 (5th August 2006)

• Added - Ability to choose default donations amount if desired.
• Added - Thankyou page for donors.
• Added - Ability to choose if donations open in same or new page.
• Fixed - XML compliance.
• Fixed/Added - A couple of things that slip my mind at the moment.

Version 1.30 (9th May 2006)

• Added - Ability to choose different PayPal submit donate buttons
• Added - Ability to choose to display payment type accepted icons on donate page
• Added - One setting now controls Currency, Currency Symbol and Country
• Added - All images are now local, not called from PayPal
• Fixed - Breadcrumbs not showing correctly
• Fixed - Various minor template bugs
• Fixed - Typo in Where On Line plugin
• Fixed - Template Caching

Credits: I've had a lot of help and advice from Boofo on this version.

Version 1.21 (28th April 2006)

• Fixed - PayPal verified link was not working

Version 1.2 (16th April 2006)

• Added - Admin CP selector for Navlink, Button, or nothing
• Added - Donate button in header on right (selectable on/off)
• Added - Couple of tweaks for vB CMPS module addon
• Added - Grouped templates in style manager
• Fixed - Couple of minor changes to make it 100% HTML compliant

Version 1.1 (16th April 2006)

• Added - Ability to enter default currency symbol in Admin CP
• Added - Display default currency code on donations page
• Added - Display default currency symbol on donations page
• Fixed - Firefox centering issue
• Fixed - Typo on donation page

Version 1.0 (16th April 2006)

• Initial Release

Upgrade Instructions
To upgrade from 1.2x to 1.3 just download the zip, it contains the latest files.
Then upload the billsdonate.php and image files then import the XML file again.
Make sure you select overwrite when you import.

Credits
Huge thanks to DementedMindz who made my V1.31 code XML compliant

I have been inspired by Cloudrunners PayPal Donations and Cybernetec's Cyb Paypal. Both have their good points, but neither were quite what I wanted, which is what inspired me to write this.

Thanks also to Paul M and hambil in helping me work out how to insert the donate link without any manual edits.
Also, espically to DementedMindz for his assistance, advice, and use of his vB CMPS module.
Much appreciested guys

And finally, a huge thanks to Boofo who was a great help in making the 1.30 release and supplied the new template, and much help.


Click on Install
If you have this script installed then please click on the install link because;

• You will get notified if any security issues are reported.
• You will get notified when there are any upgrades to this script
• It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling and motivates me to develop more

Donations
First of all, to be clear. This script is 100% free.

However if you feel an urge to donate I'm not going to say no.
Donations can be made at http://www.billspaintball.com/vb3/billspaypal.php

[Darwa]

Originally Posted by jswanson

I just installed the mod and it works great! :-) Except the images aren't showing up on one of my templates... The images show up on 2 out 3 templates. Anyone know of a reason why this would happen and how to fix it? Also, what exactly does the module do and how should be installed...? Thanks!

Is this problematic template installed into its own directory?

I just installed this hack (which works a charm), but one of the templates had its own directory on the server. If so, just upload the images there as well, and you're good to go!

[jswanson]

Originally Posted by Darwa

Is this problematic template installed into its own directory?

I just installed this hack (which works a charm), but one of the templates had its own directory on the server. If so, just upload the images there as well, and you're good to go!

That's just what I did, so it works fine now. :-)

Do you know what the "Module" file does? I downloaded 2 zip files from here....one contained the module file. What do I do with that...?

[Billspaintball]

Originally Posted by jswanson

Do you know what the "Module" file does? I downloaded 2 zip files from here....one contained the module file. What do I do with that...?

The Module is for users of vB CMPS.
It allows them to add a donate block on their vB CMPS pages.

If you dont have vB CMPS installed you dont need the module.

[jp30]

Originally Posted by jswanson

That's just what I did, so it works fine now. :-)

Do you know what the "Module" file does? I downloaded 2 zip files from here....one contained the module file. What do I do with that...?

Admin CP -> vBa CMPS -> Download/Upload Module

[DJ XtAzY]

just wondering .... is this hack still in development?

[Billspaintball]

Originally Posted by XtAzY

just wondering .... is this hack still in development?

Yes, but at a slow pace.

V1.31 (adds a thankyou page and lets you enter a default suggestion amount) is ready to go right now except for a few XML validation errors I cant seem to fix

Im running it on my site at present cos I really dont care about XML validation errors myself, but people here tend to complain about them.

So I can either release it right now with XML validation errors that you can either ignore (like me) or fix yourself, or, you can wait to I learn the finer points of XML validation.

[DementedMindz]

If you need help fixing them be sure to send me a pm or else you can release it and ill post a fix

[Billspaintball]

Thanks mate
You have a PM

[DementedMindz]

I have rewrote alot of that template send me a pm and ill send you a link so you can check out what I have so far... This Page Is Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional! I have a few suggestions to also... Im checking it out also on a few different templates to make sure it works well..

[DementedMindz]

Let me know if you want the template so i can send it to you... Also let me know how you feel about adding what I said in pm