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

[Riccardo83]

Originally Posted by Billspaintball

Im not sure If PayPal allow you to change your language when you register to a specific country or not.
A Way around it may be to set up another PayPal account under PayPal UK, or just PayPal.com and select Euro as your default currency there.

damn, there should be a way around it, same as u can create ur own paypal link, and you can choose language. disappointing!

[xLYNZx]

Originally Posted by Fireproof

Are you using a custom skin? If so, you need to put the images in the images/misc folder for that particular skin.

ah thanks!!

[Riccardo83]

Is there no way to set up my language for donating to english, after clicking on donation button.

Paypal said it will use the language you create the paypal button with, the one u set in paypal.

But the thing is i didnt create the button in paypal, its ur script. is there no way to set the language for the basket?

http://alizee-forum.com/billspaypal.php?


>> FIXED

What I did is i specified the country of origin > added

<input type="hidden" name="lc" value="US">

to your script!

Maybe you can add a option to the control panel to be able to set the origin of country as well.

Problem is if you dont set it, the country you signed up from will be choosen, in my case german. But most people using my website are english so...

[Billspaintball]

Originally Posted by Riccardo83

>> FIXED

What I did is i specified the country of origin > added

<input type="hidden" name="lc" value="US">

to your script!

Maybe you can add a option to the control panel to be able to set the origin of country as well.

Thats something I didnt know.
Thanks for the info

I will add that to the troubleshooting guide and look at doing a better solution next version.

[tarionyx]

I want to use this donation on my forums, but is there anyways to determine automatically if a user has donated, and then add them to a "donators" usergroup, so I can put something on the postbit?

Also, a module or something where you can set a goal to achieve and have it update it as people donate would be nice.

Both are things that I could do manually, but it would be nice to be integrated!

[DementedMindz]

nope not in this one soon hopefuly

[AScherff]

Hi,

nice plugin.

It is possible to write donators in a MySql Table after donation with a flag that they want to be listed in a "hall of fame" ;-) ( some tiny hack)

regards

Alfred

[Billspaintball]

Originally Posted by AScherff

Hi,

nice plugin.

It is possible to write donators in a MySql Table after donation with a flag that they want to be listed in a "hall of fame" ;-) ( some tiny hack)

regards

Alfred

Next version does that.
Currently under test here http://www.billspaintball.com

Not quite finished yet, but if anyone wants to test it, PM me.

[tekguru]

Guys probably the wrong thread to ask in, but looking for a donation mod for my new vB forum which uses vBadvanced and can't decide between this and the 'Cyb - PayPal Donate' Mod.

I'm looking for reliability, latest vBulletin compatability, regular updates as well as vBa CMS integration.

Any tips on which way to go?

[djbaxter]

I tried them both and I prefer this one. However, I don't use vB Advanced.

Try both of them and see which works best for you.