downloadable products

[lime21]

Hi at all,

I like to sell downloadable products with VM 2.0, it´s a software my husband wrote.
I only can find a manual for VM 1.1 and there is a description how to enable the download-feature.
But in version 2.0 I can´t find it.

I found this thread: http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=94661.msg321259#msg321259

But I´m not sure, the download-feature does not exist in the new version 2.0 ??

Best regards

[JoelV]

Same question 
Who can help?
Joël

[luxuryvps]

If you look on the release notes, you will find this:

- media is now handling downloadables ( free download) and also files for sale in another directory then joomla, but uses thumbs in the joomla directory. This is extendable by a plugin. We are in the last testphase of it.

Sounds do-able, however I couldnt give you the steps required as I have only ever user Virtuemart for physical items. Also, it seems like by the next Release Candidate there will be a full and stable version of the download script/plugin. There is some noise of another Beta being released today, so keep your eyes peeled

Liam

[Milbo]

Here take a look on this one http://virtuemart.cloudaccess.net/extensions-virtuemart-2/shipment-for-virtual-products-detail  written by the coreteam. It is not with all feature we all wish, but it does what it says.

[darksoul]

So the downloadable media for sale will not be a virtuemart "core" feature? i will have to pay for having that feature?

[Milbo]

Yes. There are already other plugins for virtual goods in the pipe done by other developers. So instead of having one integrated possibility, you will have soon the choice between different plugins handling completly different solutions.
For example, with a link, with a stream, time based limited, hit limited, directly sent by email, connected to release systems (like ARS) and so on.

It is also clearly a feature which is not need by the majority of virtuemart users.

[darksoul]

Yes i understand.. Infact im waiting before upgrade to WM2. seems not so stable and some features missing. But for now version 1.x is great, and support downloadable goods. Hope some simple solutions like the previous VM will be free.

[rexel99]

Quite disapointing that this simple item that has been in VM for a while has been dropped.
While i like the idea of enhanced developement, getting a basic downloader module for an open-source product at 35 euro is pretty steep.
I just came back to VM because jshopping was withdrawn and VM now works on J2.5, but alas, the biggest reason for me setting this up is for basic downloadable/purchasable files.
There was a reason this was in earlier versions, because people asked for it and used it, now its been dropped and the function is now lost to people who will charge for this 'feature'.
Not happy.

[jenkinhill]

While i like the idea of enhanced developement, getting a basic downloader module for an open-source product at 35 euro is pretty steep.

This is something that the majority of VM users do not need, so is not included in the core. People installing VirtueMart are either developers who will be getting paid by their client or shop owners who are developing a store to make money. And as anyone in business will tell you, you need to spend before you start getting a return on your invesment.

Everyone involved in VirtueMart development is a volunteer, freely giving up their time to the project. So who pays for the site hosting, bandwidth etc? Hosting adverts on the site is not sufficient as most  web savvy people are resistant to these.  Having a partial business model is a good way of being able to maintain a free of charge stable and usable VM core while ensuring that the project can continue to pay its bills.

[Milbo]

And we do not mention at the moment, that these plugins will be developed further and you get free updates.

[lime21]

ok ok, I understand that I have to pay for the plugin maybe. I understand if it´s really not used by most users from VM.
But I don´t understand the last sentence from Milbo. Why should I pay for the plugin when it maybe will be not developed further??
I understand the wish for pay by the project, but then I like to have the insurance that this will be developed, could you understand?

[jenkinhill]

Milbo said:

"And we do not mention at the moment, that these plugins will be developed further and you get free updates."

Clear to me that there will be further development, but this has not been mentioned so far on the store site.

[tikos]

Yes. There are already other plugins for virtual goods in the pipe done by other developers. So instead of having one integrated possibility, you will have soon the choice between different plugins handling completly different solutions.
For example, with a link, with a stream, time based limited, hit limited, directly sent by email, connected to release systems (like ARS) and so on.

It is also clearly a feature which is not need by the majority of virtuemart users.

I'm very sorry to hear from you that this feature is not needed bey the majority of virtuemart users!!
Well, I believe that most of the sites does not sell downloadable products. On the other hand, I think that by ignoring the needs of the rest of us (and believe me, we are not 3-4% of total virtuemart users), you are admitting that you failed in that area!!!

At least, can you suggest an extension which will help me to deal with downloadable products through Virtuemart??
I'm that close to lose a 20.000$, deal because of the VM downloadable products dropdown!!!

[tikos]

And to be more specific, I spent the last 6 months in learning and testing virtuemart capabilities, in order to participate in a project, which deals with downloadable products.
Now that VM 2 is released without that feature...what can I do???

I don't say that I am not ready to pay for that feature!
But who is selling this extension? Can anybody help me?
At least someone who doesn't believe that this feature is not needed by most of Virtuemart users...!

[jenkinhill]

The extension was written by Electrocity, one of the core VirtueMart developers.

It is on the official VirtueMart Extensions site.  http://virtuemart.cloudaccess.net/extensions-virtuemart-2/shipments/shipment-for-virtual-products-detail