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

[Billspaintball]

Originally Posted by Boofo

I would also suggest adding another setting for the country code in the link (i.e., us, au, etc.) That will make this more widely versatile.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will look at doing that for the next update.
Im planning on changing the currency selection to make that simpler, so I will incorporate it in that.

Its late over here so I've just done a quick fix for now.

[Boofo]

I've also fixed the template query that someone reported. If someone can let me know if there are any other templates not cached I will add those too, but I only found one.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by Billspaintball

Sorry, I dont know how to manually cache it or even if that is possible.
My suggestion would be to try uninstalling then reinstalling the product to see if that fixes it.

Has anyone else experienced this issue, or is it a one off?

Also fixed! PM me and I'll get it to you.

[DJ XtAzY]

so how do u cache the template?

[Billspaintball]

Originally Posted by XtAzY

so how do u cache the template?

Template caching is now fixed and will be included in the 1.3 release.

1.3 is almost ready, should be out sometime in the next 2 days.

[DJ XtAzY]

yay... take ur time =]

im always patient

[Dr.Viggy]

this is a great hack and very simple to install and works like a charm. we can all use a couple extra bucks for domain renews or upgraded bandwidth. now, does anyone have a hack to make users feel the need to donate?

*clicks install

[Bubble #5]

Our skin does not have a navbar. Could someone please post the code for the donation link so we can enter it manually? Thank you.

[Bubble #5]

You have a typo in the xml.

<title><![CDATA[Bills PayPal Donate WOL Config B]]]></title>

Should be:

<title><![CDATA[Bills PayPal Donate WOL Config B]]></title>

Also is there supposed to be anything in the breadcrumbs at the top of the page? Ours is blank :surprised:

[cOuNtErFiET]

Originally Posted by Bubble #5

Our skin does not have a navbar. Could someone please post the code for the donation link so we can enter it manually? Thank you.

<!-- PayPal Donations -->
<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="billspaypal.php?">$vbphrase[billspp_donate]</a></td>
<!-- /PayPal Donations -->