Miscellaneous Hacks - PayPal Easy Donate - vB 3.6

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!

Also includes a vB CMPS Module so you can use this hack on your vB CMPS pages. - Note: Module has not been updated to add latest currencys.
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
  

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 3.7 Beta 3
• vB 3.6.7PL1
• vB 3.6.7
• vB 3.6.6
• vB 3.6.5
• vB 3.6.4
• vB 3.6.3
• vB 3.6.2
• vB 3.6.1
• vB 3.6.0
• vB 3.6.0 RC1
• vB 3.6.0 Beta2
• vB 3.6.0 Beta1

Add Ons
Colonel Ingus has made quite a nice flash addon for this hack.
Full details of this addon are here - http://www.vbhackers.com/f76/audible...144/#post51661
Well worth checking out and seeing if it can enhance your donations page.

Known Bugs
vB Donations Hack - None on a standard vB 3.6.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.
vB CMPS Module - Wont work with Euros for some bizare reason, under investigation.
- Not updated to add new V1.32 currencys yet.

This has been tested in a totally clean install of vB 3.6 and in my live and hacked site as well.

Changelog

Version 1.32.366 (26th May 2007)

• Changed - Uses new template hooks instead of modifying cached templates.
• Will only work with vB 3.66 or newer

Version 1.32 (9th January 2007)

• Added - 9 new Paypal supported currencys.
• Added - Version checking in vB Product Manager.
• Added - Product URL in vB Product Manager.
• Fixed - Heading in AdminCP not displaying correctly.

Version 1.31 (6th August 2006)

• Initial vB 3.6 Release

Upgrade Instructions
The 1.31 release for vB 3.6 is identical to the 1.31 vB 3.5 release.
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=113159
No upgrading is necessary if you were running the 1.31 version on your vB 3.5 board.
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/bd_donate.php

[USAMustangs.com]

Originally Posted by DementedMindz

where is the icon at in the navbar? if so you need to add that to your Replacements (billspaypal.php) in vbadvanced in the admincp.

i added the code that puts the donate icon right next to welcome user.

it works fine on forum page, but not on vbadvanced home page(404 error).

and i'm not quite sure what exactly i need to do with adding to my replacements?

and also i attempted to upload donations.module and i got a my sql error?

[USAMustangs.com]

ok...i just fixed it by putting in the full url to the forum paypal donate into the navbar template.

that works, but if there is a better way to do i would definitely like to know.

thanks.

[DementedMindz]

you need to add billspaypal.php in the replacements in admincp then vBa CMPS ---> Default Setting ---> Navbar Replacements or Header Replacements and add billspaypal.php and see if it works if not let me see a link I can help you more as for the donations module I would have to see the sql error to see what is wrong with it. did you upload it through vBa CMPS ---> Download / Upload Module

[USAMustangs.com]

Originally Posted by DementedMindz

you need to add billspaypal.php in the replacements in admincp then vBa CMPS ---> Default Setting ---> Navbar Replacements or Header Replacements and add billspaypal.php and see if it works if not let me see a link I can help you more as for the donations module I would have to see the sql error to see what is wrong with it. did you upload it through vBa CMPS ---> Download / Upload Module

i added billspaypal.php to navbar replacements in cmps and saved.

i went to add new php module and went to select the billspaypal.php it s not displayed?

i got it working temporarily by adding the full url to the navbar template, but i would definitely like to make it work properly.

thanks

edit: yes, i did upload donations.module through CMPS

[DementedMindz]

Originally Posted by usamustangs.com

i went to add new php module and went to select the billspaypal.php it s not displayed?

the paypal module is different you have to upload it through download/upload modules.

[DementedMindz]

what is the error it gave you?

[USAMustangs.com]

Originally Posted by DementedMindz

what is the error it gave you?

i'm sorry, i didn't read the error because i just backed out.

i tried to just start over and reinstall, but you can't uninstall donations.module of the ftp?

[DementedMindz]

you just delete the php file or the module

[USAMustangs.com]

Originally Posted by DementedMindz

you just delete the php file or the module

how do i add this to different skins? and make the buttons appear correctly in different skins?

thanks.

[USAMustangs.com]

i have an interesting problem.

i need to remove this from my navbar template.

<!-- PayPal Donations --><td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="billspaypal.php?">Donate</a></td>

however, you can not see this line of code in my navbar template anywhere(double checked), but if you view source code on the forum page you can see that line of code.

how do you remove invisible code?