Downloadables Importer
Oh boy oh Boy! So here we are, the latest and greatest, this is it folks the Downloadables Importer! Not only will it import your music files like the old Music Importer but it will also upload .pdf, .zip, .odt and any other file of your leisure (apart from jpgs as they are used for the product and category images) This is great news for those of you using wp-e-commerce to sell your downloads, no more fussing over adding individual products. This product is a must have for anyone planning on setting up a store with majority of download files. 
INSTALLATION
** This section requires users to login to their website using FTP to upload the module and music folders.**
1. Make sure you are running WordPress 2.9 and Wp-e-Commerce 3.7.6 (or Higher for both)
2. Unzip downloadablesImporter folder, copy the folder to wp-content/plugins
3. Create a folder called `wpsc_ftp_upload` in wp-content/uploads
4. Add your File Folders into the `wp-content/uploads/wpsc_ftp_upload` folder you have just created
5. Your File Folders should follow these conventions:
* Folder Name = Category Name (if applicable)
* File Name = Product Name
* One .jpg Image in each folder = Category and Product Image
6. Login to the back-end of WordPress and follow setup instructions bellow.
SETUP
** This section requires users to login to the back-end of their website as an admin**
a. Activate the WPSC Downloadables Importer Plugin from your Plugins page.
1. From the wp-admin sidebar choose the link called `-File Importer` in the Store Section (Note if you don’t see this please check you have Installed the Plugin as per Installation Instruction #2)
2. Select a Parent Category for your Folders (categories)
3. You should see a list of Folders you have uploaded to `wp-content/uploads/wpsc_ftp_upload` with checkboxes. Select the Folders you wish to upload (Try with a small amount say 1 or 2 Folders first, some servers might have low memory usage limits which will return errors)
4. Choose a price (Omit the $ Currency symbol, only use numbers, eg. 1.75.
5. Hit Import, don’t click twice, just wait a moment or two, you should be prompted with a ‘Success!’ message shortly.
Requirements:
Apache Servers only, I haven’t tested on IIS and don’t want to either~ Unless someones willing to pay me for the amount of stress and hair loss.
PHP5 (I don’t think its a DEFINITE show stopper, but I don’t check every php function I use to see if it works in php4).
WordPress 2.9 and Wp-e-Commerce 3.7.6 and above (what I developed and tested on, it also works with WordPress 3.0)
Basic Knowledge in WordPress, and FTP.
What are you waiting for Buy it Here!
on July 21, 2010
at 1:32 am
any demo sir? how about security of digital products/downloads?
on August 8, 2010
at 3:22 pm
Will this work with .WAV files? Can I see a demo somewhere?
on August 9, 2010
at 1:33 pm
Hi @ben and @bboy sorry for the late reply, been away on an overdue break from work. I’m doing some extra testing / evelopment for the Plugin however you can view a ‘demo’ on my presentation at wordcampuk here: http://www.vimeo.com/13509745 it’s not the best video but will give you some idea of how it was intended to be used..
best
jeff
on September 28, 2010
at 1:18 pm
@Ben – I took a chance on it… bought it… and it DOES work with .Wav files.
on January 17, 2011
at 9:12 am
So, i cannot use it for JPEG image downloads, is that right?
What about PSD files and PNGS, GIF’s, AI’s and HTML – and all zipped together?
I am thinking of selling templates and zipping the lot. Can i do this.
A reply would be appreciated thanks!
on January 17, 2011
at 9:28 am
Should be doable as a zip file (one per folder) Haven’t tested this unfortunately.
Best
Jeff
on January 20, 2011
at 9:45 pm
Hi, how big can the downloadable products be? I have downloadable sounds (mp3) about 30 MB. Is this importer the right extention for me or do i need soemthing else?
on January 23, 2011
at 4:41 pm
Memory Limits for Downloads is more a server configuration issue. No Plugin will be able to change that for you reliably, depending on the Hosting Provider you may be able to up this using a custom php.ini file.
My Plugin requires users to upload the files using FTP which means all it needs to do it copy the files into the correct locations, and associate them with a product, which means it by passes the upload limit, however when users try to download the file they will encounter problems unless you have set the memory limits..
For vorn and tommy’s website I have had to create my own php.ini files on my Dreamhost shared server…. it was fairly tricky and took me a day to figure out… I would contact your hosting Provider for more information…
best
jeff
on January 31, 2011
at 7:51 pm
Can the downloadable files be on another server, e.g., Amazon S3, on must they be on the same server as the site/plugin? Thanks.
on February 1, 2011
at 5:17 am
Does it provide the ability for customers to download the MP3 from a protected/hidden directory? Are they immediately shown a download link or are they emailed with confirmation and a link to download the file? Are the numbers of downloads limited per URL provided?
on February 11, 2011
at 8:06 pm
Hmm I think u are mistaken, my importer does not do any of that, all of that is handled by wpecommerce, my downloadeder only helps import products into wpecommerce,,
Best
Jeff
on February 11, 2011
at 8:08 pm
My plugin requires the files to be kept on the same server,, I believe dan is working on an amazon s3 integration plugin..
Best
Jeff
on February 28, 2011
at 5:01 am
Any further information on the S3 integration for storing the digital products? I’d be willing to pay for that! Also with the ability to have large file sizes. Some of my products are over 1.5 GB!
on March 1, 2011
at 8:04 pm
Sorry no info on that, you will need to talk to Instinct / GetShopped for that Plugin.
on March 3, 2011
at 8:00 pm
Have you had the opportunity to test the plugin with WordPress 3.1 and what are the results?
on March 3, 2011
at 8:20 pm
Hi there Alvaro,
I have tested with WP 3.1 and WP e-Commerce 3.7.8 Uploading 11 tracks and one zip album product = 12 products..
Seems to be running fine.
best
Jeff
on March 4, 2011
at 10:54 am
hi, Can this be used to group several mp3 files together to download as an album?
on March 7, 2011
at 7:35 am
Hi Jeff,
In your earlier post you stated that “Should be doable as a zip file (one per folder). If Folder Name = Category Name does it mean I can only upload one zip file per category?
Lets say I need to upload 3 separate car manuals (in 3 separate zip files called Acura.zip, Mazda.zip and Toyota.zip ) into a Subcategory called “sedans”, which should go into Category “Cars”. How do I go about that? Can your add-on handle that? Thanks.
Harry
on March 7, 2011
at 12:55 pm
Hmm from memory my plugin allows more than one zip file per folder, however I will test this tonight and get back to you..
best
jeff
on March 7, 2011
at 12:55 pm
Hi no it will not group several mp3 files into one zip file,, you will need to upload the group as a zip folder.
best
Jeff
on April 10, 2011
at 12:22 am
I sell mp3 recordings and most of the times people buy set of several recordings. I would like to be able to provide them separate link for each file after purchase but currently wp e-commerce doesn’t support that so I have to zip them. Would I be able to do this with your plugin?
on April 10, 2011
at 12:59 pm
Hi johny
That is a limitation in wpec itself and I believe some tickets and discussion is being had over this issue in the developers chat,
Until wpec supports these ‘multiple-downloads per product’, my Plugin will not be able to utilize the functionality,,,
Best
Jeff
on June 4, 2011
at 10:25 am
I have just found WP-ecommerce and this importer. I have a quick question, is it possible to allow a short preview of the .PDFs that are being imported? Such as the first 300 characters for example..
on June 12, 2011
at 1:22 am
hmmm sorry for the late reply,, I don’t think you can ‘automate that’ with out a super server with a few modules on it… you COULD by creating those preview files, and by creating a little plugin to do the job,, if your in a hurry talk to the consultants on getshopped otherwise, email me and we can talk,, I wont be available for a couple of months however (heading to the lands of no internet in 2 days… vietnam, laos, cambodia)
on July 21, 2011
at 11:01 pm
Hi, looks like great plugin.
But I would like to sell images… I guess I could zip them..but I will have the same pictures for all the zip that are in the folder…
Do you think it’s possible to add a different jpg to each zip that are in the folder…?
Or I need a folder for each zip..?
Thanks
S.
on July 25, 2011
at 9:29 am
Hi,
I m wondering if your plugin handle variations products…?
for example if I want to sell the mp3 in low or high quality..?
Could I use your plugin for that..!
Thansk anyway I watched the video and the plugins are great !
on July 26, 2011
at 9:02 pm
Hi there lambdaka, no my plugin does not handle variations sorry
best
jeff
on July 26, 2011
at 9:04 pm
Hi Steph,
Currently I do not support separate images and jpgs as products but if you want me to customize the Plugin to handle this, I should be able to do this for you for a fee.
best
jeff
on October 23, 2011
at 4:53 am
I looked here two days ago for the MUSIC IMPORTER which I left a reply to you about. Didn’t get a reply and now the website page to order Music Importer seems to be gone.
Does Download importer do the same function as music importer, having MP3 downloads and ZIP album downloads?
Can the built in MP3 player be “pointed” to a separate directory (for playing SAMPLES of songs only)?
thank you Jeff!~ MR
on October 23, 2011
at 5:22 am
Hi Mark, Sorry about the late reply, I just got a new full time job and I am very busy at the moment. Music Imporer does not exist because it has been super seeded by the Downloadables Importer which has the same functionality as the music importer and more…
Im not too sure I understand your question about ‘pointed’ to a separate directory. The MP3 player (which I do not sell here, but develop for the getshopped site – WPEC Music Player) associates music in the wp-content/uploads/wpsc/previews directory, your downloadables are stored in wp-content/uploads/wpsc/downloadables directory. Your downloads are protected under a .htaccess file, previews are not, that is why it is recommended you use snippets or lower bitrate files for your previews.
again sorry for the late response. I can’t really provide too much assistance for developers at the moment as I am just so flat out w work at my new job and commuting 3 hours a day..
best
jeff