Downloads

The Downloads database can be used to add mp3s or other files to your website that people can instantly download. The files added to the database will appear on the Downloads page. You can list files for For Purchase, or Free.

If a customer purchases a file, after paying at paypal, they are returned to a page where they can download the file(s).

Before adding a file to the database, click Edit Categories to add any categories you want to use. You can use the default categories or change them.

If the file is Free, leave the Price, Paypal 'Add to Cart' button code, and Paypal 'View Cart' button code fields blank.

Before adding a file for purchase, see How to set up Paypal to work with skinAsite

If the file is for purchase, the Item Name entered at PayPal must exactly match the filename. Example: mysong.mp3 . (Do not include the full path that displays in the Filename upload box. Only enter the actual filename.)

The Price field in the Downloads database is only for displaying the price on the Downloads Page. (It does not effect the price in the PayPal button code.)

To generate the PayPal button code follow these steps:

1) Open a new browser window, and login to your PayPal account at paypal.com.(Leave your current database page open for pasting into later.)
2) Click the tab at the top that says Merchant Services.
3) In the Key Features box click the PayPal Shopping Cart link.
4) Enter the Item Name (This name must be exactly like the filename being uploaded.)
5) Enter an ID number (example MP3-1) or leave blank.
6) Enter the Price, Currency, and Buyers country.
7) Choose the default Add to Cart button. (Larger buttons will not fit on the downloads page.)
8) Click the Add More Options button.
9) Again, select the small Add to Cart button.
10) Under 'Customize Your Buyer's Experience (optional)' make sure that the Successful Payment URL is set to the PayPal Return URL (You can find the PayPal Return URL in your skinAsite control panel in the Site Info database under the Setup section.) Copy and Paste this URL to the PayPal field.
11) Enter a Cancel payment URL. This can be your main website link (example: http://mysite.com) or the link to your store page.
12) Under Miscellaneous (optional), select No Shipping Needed.
13) Click Create Button Now.
14) Copy and paste the Add to Cart Button Code to the Paypal 'Add to Cart' button code field (in the PayPal Store database, in the skinAsite control panel).
15) Copy and paste the View Cart Button Code to the Paypal 'View Cart' button code field (in the PayPal Store database, in the skinAsite control panel).


After you have entered all the information in, click Add to Database. Click once. Large files may take several minutes to upload.

It is recommended to purchase the file and test to make sure that all was entered correctly and you are returned to the Successful Payment URL. (This is where the file(s) will be displayed for downloading.) Click the file to test the download.

Tip

You can use the same button code for all downloads. To do this, find and change these lines in the code:

<input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="mysong.mp3">
<input type="hidden" name="item_number" value="MP3-1">

Change the item_name value (shown in bold above) to the filename that you going to use it for, and change the item_number value (shown in bold above) to another number.

You can use the same View Cart Button Code without making any changes to it.

See How to use Content Databases for more information.