What Egoods module does
The module Egoods enables you to sell software and any other goods whose delivery needs to be done using ESD method.
When Egoods module is enabled, a field 'ESD distribution' is added to the 'Product details' form. When creating ESD products in X-Cart, you will use this field to specify the location from which your customers will be able to download each of the products.
Downloadable products can be located either on the same server as your online store (preferable) or on a different server. For files located on the store server, the location should be specified as a filepath; for files located on any other servers, the location should be specified as a URL.
Note: Make sure you do not use spaces in the names of ESD products because in this case customers will not be able to download the files.
ESD product files can be uploaded onto the server where X-Cart is installed using X-Cart's file manager ('Files' section of the store's back end). Accordingly, ESD files of X-Cart GOLD administrator/providers and of X-Cart PRO administrators will be kept within the directory /files, files of X-Cart PRO providers - within the corresponding /files/provider_login directories.
Important: Be sure to protect your ESD products from unauthorized download. On an Apache web server, the /files directory can be protected by an .htaccess file with a 'Deny from all' directive; on IIS, reading from the /files directory can be disabled via the 'Access permissions' dialog box.
When an order containing an ESD product is processed, an email letter with a download key (a link like 'http://www.example.com/xcart/download.php?id=920e98f7d889eb7781a') is sent to the email address of the customer who placed the order. The customer then uses this link to download the purchased product.
Note: Download keys are generated automatically and are valid for a limited period of time. You can set the time period during which your download keys should be valid using the 'Download key TTL' field in the General settings/Egoods section.
Roles in Egoods module management
If you are an X-Cart GOLD administrator/provider or an X-Cart PRO administrator:
| ▪ | You can enable/disable Egoods module and adjust its configuration settings (See Enabling and Configuring 'Egoods'). |
| ▪ | You can upload files of ESD products to the /files directory on X-Cart server. |
| ▪ | You can specify the location of downloadable products in the 'Product details' of these products. |
If you are an X-Cart PRO provider:
| ▪ | You can upload files of ESD products to the /files/your_login directory on X-Cart server. |
| ▪ | You can specify the location of downloadable products in the 'Product details' of these products. |