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Shopping Cart Professional Contact Details
E-mail:  support@webgenie.com
Phone: +61 8 8339 1206, 9am-5pm; GMT+9:30hrs
Fax:  +61 8 8339 1206
Further Help:
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SHOPPING CART PROFESSIONAL - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Q: When I click on 'prepare the order' - the basket is always empty. No matter what or how much I'm ordering.
 
A: The main source of error in this case is that the Cookies are turned off on your browser. Please check under Edit|Preferences|Advanced (NetScape). Not required under MSIE but you can test if the cookie is being set by checking 'Warn before accepting cookies' under View|Options|Advanced
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Q: I have a problem with the currency symbol. The default in your program is $ but my prices are going to be in PTS and DKK. How do I do that? I have tried without the currency symbol but that doesn't work.
 
A: You can type in any currency symbol in the 'Currency Symbol' box under 'Build Catalog|Single Page|Listing Options' dialog or the 'Multiple Pages' dialog
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Q: I have had some problems sending the last email (unix server). I have tried to send an email through CGIstar Pro without any problems. The shopcart system gave me this command: The mailer specified in the CGI is wrong. Attempting to locate a suitable mailer program... Please recreate the CGI to avoid this message appearing again.
 
A: This means it could not find a suitable mailer in any of the usual places. If you login to your system and type 'which sendmail' or 'whereis sendmail' it should tell the location on your system. Alternatively, please ask your system administration for its whereabouts. Then type that in (e.g. /usr/sbin/sendmail) in the dialog box that creates the CGI
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Q: Are credit card transactions processed with this product or just validated?
 
A: No, the CC details are simply transmitted to the owner in an E_mail. Real-time validation is at the moment very expensive to setup.
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Q: Will WebGenie configure different shipping options?
 
A: There are options available for different shipping methods, and you can specify the total charges related to each method.
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Q: In terms of the taxes and delivery options... I want to go into the script and change the tax options and delivery options, but I don't want to mess up the script, so can you please tell me what I can and can not change in the script with regard to taxes and delivery.
 
A: The best is to choose the tax and delivery options while creating the catalogs and CGI. (under Listing Options). You can edit the CGI afterwards but please make sure that the control structure is not corrupted.
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Q: Is there any way to avoid people having to click the "Credit card via E_mail" button on the order page. Or at least have it default to that (in other words have it automatically clicked)?
 
A: You have to edit the CGI to change the following line: print "<INPUT TYPE=radio NAME=PayMethod VALUE=\"Credit card via E_mail\"Credit card via E_mail\n"; to print "<INPUT TYPE=radio NAME=PayMethod VALUE=\"Credit card via E_mail\" CHECKEDCredit card via E_mail\n";
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Q: My current problem is the dreaded "500 server error." What EXACTLY should I do to correct this problem? I am running an NT server.
 
A: The sever 500 errors, is the most difficult to track. Usually this means the CGI has a compilation error. It could also mean that a subroutine is missing, but this cannot be the case with an unedited CGI.
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Q: I am trying to check out the Shopping Cart and all goes well except for the part at the end when you send the order. The screen just sits there. I am trying to use postmail but I also have blat and wsendmail I am using it under NT Server 4.0, IIS 3.0 with Perl 5.
 
A: Looks like the server is trying to execute postmail but is unable to do so. Possible reason is that there is no SMTP or POP server running. Please ask your system admin
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Q: I want to put a simple "Continue Shopping" button under the "Update The Display" button on the CONTENTS screen... can you tell me how I can configure that line:
 
A: Print "<Input Type=Submit Value=\"Continue Shopping\" Action="http://www.......com/pages/virtual-store-2.htm"\n"; If this does not work try, print "<Input Type=Submit Value=\"Continue Shopping\" Action=\"http://www......com/pages/virtual-store-2.htm\"\n";
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Q: When a list of products are generated on a single page, the price is shown in the table. However, when a dropdown list is generated on a single page, price is not readily apparent. Can a field be added to the table indicating the price of the selected item?
 
A: A simple solution is to include the price in the name of the product itself (e.g. Shopping*Cart - $295). It is technically not possible to synchronise a dropdown list and an input box and hence putting these separately is not easy.
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Q: Can you add photos of each product?
 
A: Yes, if you select the "Separate pages" option.
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Q: What about secure transactions?
 
A: If you have SSL enabled on your site, then just specifying the CGI filename as https://www... will make it secure.
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Q: The mailer specified in the CGI is wrong. Attempting to locate a suitable mailer program... Please recreate the CGI to avoid this message appearing again. Tried sendmail, Mail and mail but could not find any. Please ask your sysadmin for advice. The web server I have this system on can't figure what's wrong with it. They are running sendmail 8.8.4. the directory path is /usr/lib/sendmail
 
A: The program should have located this mailer. Anyway, you can correct the error by simply specifying /usr/lib/sendmail when creating the CGI. If it still doesn't work, then the problem may be that yours is a virtual server and the root is actually your login directory instead of the real root. If so, try making a directory under your login dir, copy the sendmail program there and specify the new location in the CGI.
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Q: I want to add the tax for a state and the delivery. Is there a certain place in the cgi where I have to tell it how to pickup that information.. How and where can I embed the tax and delivery information .
 
A: When making the catalogues and CGI you can type in the tax and delivery charges and methods. Please look inside Build Catalog|Single Pages|Listing Options
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Q: As my catalog list is almost 800 items long, will your software handle it? Also, what character do I place at the end of each item line to indicate line feed?
 
A: It will handle any length of list. Your best option is to use the 'single page' and insert the list rather than make 800 separate pages. Just a carriage return at the end of line is enough. Please see the sample file, 'shopcart.txt' for the format of input file.
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Q: I am composing approx 600 WEB pages of different items, in order for all of this to "work" together, do I make a CGI for every main topic? Or can I just use one CGI (scart.cgi) for the whole project?
 
A: A single CGI can serve any number of catalogs. If the input goes out to different addresses, then you must ensure that the correct E_mail address is specified with each catalog.
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Q: Do we need our own server, or can we set it up on Internode?
 
A: As long as the ISP allows you to execute CGIs from within your directories, Yes. With shopping cart you need to be able to write the records as well as mail them to the owner and, for this, you must be able to set the directory protections right. (The CGI will do it automatically, but the ISP should not have put a block)
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Q: Our sendmail app is located in /usr/lib/sendmail. That is why I do not understand why it is not working correctly. Any ideas?
 
A: A probable reason is that your 'real root' and 'web root' are not the same. This is quite common on virtual servers. While you login via telnet the real root is shown but when a browser accesses the server your login directory becomes the root. In other words, /usr/lib/sendmail is not visible to the CGI unless /usr/lib is a sub directory of your login directory. Try making a directory and copy the sendmail program into it.
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Q: Do you need special programming skills to operate this program?
 
A: No, you can create the catalogs and CGIs by the Windows' interface. However, you must be able to upload the files to your server and, in the case of UNIX, be aware of basic workings to issue commands such as 'chmod 755 *.cgi', 'whereis perl', etc. in case they are required.
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Q: I don't know how to issue the unix command chmod755 do you name the script?
 
A: You can do this in two ways: 1. Login to your webserver via telnet 2. Change directory to where the CGI is. 3. Type 'chmod 755 *.cgi' (no quotes) or, 1.FTP to your webserver 2.Change dir to where the CGI is 3.Type 'site chmod 755 shopcart.cgi' (no quotes)
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Q: I made a catalog on the web and now I need to add another 4 items. How can I do that beside generating the all shopping cart from the start
 
A: You can insert a new list into an existing page by choosing "Your own Page" option.
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Q: I received an error that it could not find the "UNIX sendmail". I checked with my sysadmin and the address was correct.
 
A: This usually results if yours is a virtual server and the 'root' for the web browser is your login dir rather than the actual root of the system. The solution is to create a directory (say, /bin) under your login dir and copy the sendmail program into it. Then re-create the CGI with the pathname /bin/sendmail for the mailer.
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Q: I want to create separate pages or separate inserts for products without it adding the delivery charges to each item, just the whole order. I have images included that are together with different product letters and description but only one combined picture.
 
A: The best option is to disable the Tax and Delivery option from the CGI and add a line in your page(s) that Tax and Delivery charges are extra. Here is what to do: 1. Click 'Build Catalog|Single Pages|Listing Options| 2. Uncheck 'Calculate Tax.' 3. Uncheck 'Show Delivery Options' 4. Click 'Save' 5. Click 'Cancel' 6. Click 'Close' 7. Click 'Create CGI' and make a CGI. It should not show the tax and delivery for each item.
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Q: We need German headings and currency. Is it possible to adapt the program to our requirements.
 
A: Certainly! You can have the product catalog name and currencies in German by simply specifying in the dialog box's. Other headings may be changed by manually editing the CGI. Use a text editor (e.g. Notepad, not Word) and change the text within the CGI. Also, it is best to do the editing on a registered CGI, as you will have to re-do everything afterwards.
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Q: After editing your script, the script no longer checks for credit card numbers and expiration dates. People can leave those areas blank and the order will still go through. I think the script is supposed to stop orders that don't supply the necessary info. Can you please tell me what lines in the script to change.
 
A: The problem is likely to be in the HTML file. If you have a credit card via E_mail method, then it must be specified as "Credit card via E_mail" in the payment methods' section. Then the CGI will ensure that all card details are typed in.
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Q: How do people make secure purchases using Visa/Mastercard?
 
A: The secure server can be accessed by specifying the Action field of your Form declaration as 'https' instead of 'http'. With our Shopping cart you can do this by specifying the CGI filename as, e.g. https://www.company.com/cgi-bin/yourcgi.cgi
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Q: Could the application be revised to handle an electronic shop with multiple pages, each page containing multiple items. If so, how?
 
A: It certainly can! In fact, you can have as many number of catalogs (or groups of catalogs) to make up a particular shop on the web. Basically you can make a catalog by typing in the list of products and their prices. For each catalog you can specify a separate E_mail address, if desired, and put all pages together on the web. When a customer "walks" through the shop and pick up products, the CGI will remember which vendor each item belongs to and send the order(s) appropriately.
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Q: I can't seem to get the view cart and add to cart to work. If it is wrong I have to figure out where the problem is, If it's not supposed to work in its entirety I would like to know where to order.
 
A: It should be fully operational except for the expiry feature. Maybe your site has some CGI incompatibility. Did you try the "Smart Shopping cart" that was released a couple of days ago? Also, could I have the URL of the catalogs giving the problem?
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Q: You have that postmail is the only capability, we have postoffice. Will this work?
 
A: It should too. We haven't used "postoffice" and hence do not know the exact commandline. If you know it, please insert it into the box. Send the CGI to me afterwards if it still has problems.
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Q: What exactly do you put for the NT Mail Server. I read the help files but does webgenie have the capability to sum totals and subtotals?
 
A: The NT mail server must be specified. Usually your own webserver will do. If you use the order form template that comes with CGI*StarPro there are some JavaScript code that do the totals. Your best option for a shopping online order form will be our "shopping cart", as it does not only totals but tax, delivery, etc.
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Q: Are the shopping cart systems, both standard and 'smart' versions - secure?
 
A: The Smart cart is secure, as it uses WebGenie's secure server. As for the other one, it is upto you to install the secure server layer and call the pages via the secure server. If you need more details and prices on getting the secure server installed, please see http://www.verisign.com or ask your ISP. It generally costs around $350 per year to have the SSL. The SmartCart is therefore cheaper in comparison.
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Q: What happens if i choose to apply your smart cart shopping program to my web page. Do you actually end up hosting my whole site or just the ordering mechanism? If you just host the ordering mechanism does that mean possible delays when a customer wishes to check the contents of the cart as they must access your server to see this information.
 
A: Only the order CGI will reside on our system, while the catalogs stay on yours. This means you can add/modify the catalogs as often as you like. The users will not see any difference in performance, as any call to the CGI is an independent event and the time taken to access WebGenie is the same as it takes to access your own site. (In fact, WebGenie's server is often faster, as we are hosted by one of the best server providers in the world) There is an added benefit to using the Smart Shopping Cart, in that the CGI will be running on our secure server. This alone means a cost saving of US$349 per year if you were to have the secure server installed on your site.
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Q: I was on the "Order Form" page and sent the completed order and got the error message. It seems that I have wrongly set the "sendmail" program.
 
A: The error you are getting may mean one of two things: 1. The mailer specified in your CGI is wrong. You can check this by typing 'which sendmail' from a UNIX shell command and use that when making the CGI. 2. The CGI failed to create a directory called 'Tmp'. Please look for the following directories on your webserver: a. Wsc -- This may be either in the home dir or in the dir where the CGI resides. It should have the 'chmod 777 Wsc' set. b. Wsc/Tmp - It too should have 'chmod 777 Tmp' set.
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Q: Can it work with a database?
 
A: The orders are recorded as plain text file, ready for importing into any database you have. If your question is whether the files are created in any set database format, the answer is no. We wanted to make it as generic as possible.
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Q: When I hit the send order button it gives me a Server Error. Server Error The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.
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A: It is most likely to be a compilation error. You can do the testing as follows: 1. telnet to your account. 2. Type 'perl cgifile', where cgifile is the name of the CGI. If it does not give an error, type just 'cgifile'. If this gives an error then the perl pathname is not correct. 3. Type 'whereis perl' and use the correct perl pathname to make the CGI.
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Q: The shopping cart is empty.
 
A: There are tow possibilities for this. (1) you have turned off the cookies on your browser. (2) the dir on the server where it attempts to write has a protection against the CGI writing.
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Q: I was wondering whether it is possible to link the shopping basket over a whole site. So that someone can jump from page to page and add items to the one basket.
 
A: Certainly! It is the whole idea of a shopping cart. You can make several product catalogs and place them on your server. No need to do anything specifically to link them either. If they are all made by using the same program (e.g. WebGenie Shopping cart or Smart Shopping Cart) then the visitor can move from page to page and add things to the cart. S/he can even move on to other web sites and return, and the cart will still hold the items.
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Q: I have been trying the Shopping Cart where you host the CGI files, but it isn't asking for credit card info. I really like this program. Please help.
 
A: The credit card details and other payment options are included when you make the catalogs. Please do:1. Run Smart Shopping Cart on your PC. 2. Click on "Cart Options" 3. Type in the different cards you can accept. 4. save. Then go on to make the catalogs. It will then ask for credit card details when someone orders. Please get back to me if problem(s). Also, pls give the URL of your cart to test it.
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Q: I get a message that says that I do not have permission to access. This is even though I have chmod 755 the cgi so that it reads rwxr-xr-xr. When I pressed the add to shopping cart button it happens. I have also chmod 755 the htm programs. Please help, I know the program is good but I cannot get it to work.
 
A: The problem appears to be simple. Your server requires that the shopcart.cgi be placed in a separate directory. e.g. instead of <form method="POST" action="shopcart.cgi" in the HTML, it should be, <form method="POST" action="/cgi-bin/shopcart.cgi" and the CGI file should be placed in the directory specified as the 'cgi-bin'. Usually this dir is in the same root dir as your HTML files. Please ask your system admin if you cannot find it.
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Q: If I buy the smart shopping cart, can I use it for multiple customers? How would it work if I had one customer selling shirts and one selling tires and one selling clocks? Would they interfere with each other?
 
A: There should be no problem with that. You can make catalogs for each customer, giving a separate E_mail address for the order. Then, even though the same CGI processes them, each one can have different products. As for hosting, we normally expect each user to register separately. Since you are a webdesigner, it is possible for you to register one address (your own) as the contact and use the CGI for upto 6 customers (i.e. 6 different addresses). The advantage of this system is that each customer will get the hosting at a reduced price (whatever you charge; our suggestion is $150 each so that you get a profit of $300 per registration)
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Q: The requested method POST is not allowed for the URL /testshoppingcart/shopcart.cgi.
 
A: The problem is that your server is not configured to run CGIs from that dir. Try placing the shopcart.cgi in http://www.....com./cgi-bin/ and make the appropriate changes in the catalogs.
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Q: I Just got approved for Master Card and Visa. Are there any tricks I need to know when using the Shopping cart on my secured server ?
 
A: I am glad to hear that you have CC facilities now. To use the secure server all you have to do is call the order form via the 'https' tag instead of 'http' e.g. <a href=https://www.yourcompany.com/order.html
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Q: I'm have been unable to make the credit card part of the "list" part of the program work. All other areas
 
A: Do you mean the list does not appear? The way to configure it is as below:1. Click 'Build catalog' 2. Click 'Single Page|Listing Options' 3. Type in credit cards accepted into its own window. 4. save. 5. It should now include the cards. Please send me the URL of the page if you are still having problems.
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Q: Where on earth does the customer put his details, address credit card and all the other bits and pieces??
 
A: The above details are asked for only when the customer is ready to order. You will configure the CGI to do so, via the "Listing Options" under "Build Catalog|Single Page"
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Q: Does the server have to be a Unix or NT, what is with a BDSI, this too have CGI etc, is there problems there.
 
A: Either UNIX or NT will do. BSDI works just fine.
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Q: Can you send me a few demo files over? together with make up with say a jpg file etc,
 
A: The archive comes with the input text file(s) to make the demo yourself. It is perhaps better, as you get a tutorial in that way.
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Q: I am not quite sure what CGI files have to be produced for each part of the program. Also where the files should be transferred TOO, i.e. in a part of the program it give /usr/ etc, where is the reference to this written (in the cgi files)
 
A: A single CGI file carries out the whole task.
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Q: After the CGI program is created, does it need any further processing before copying to server's directory? (compilation processing or any sort)
 
A: No. Just set its prot by the command, 'chmod 755 *.cgi'
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Q: Does run on Windows NT and IIS ?
 
A: Yes. All you need is a perl interpreter. Most servers will have it. If not, you can download the free version at http://www.perl.com/perl.
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Q: Can it read our database for current prices ?
 
A: The current version does not take details from a database but requires them hardwired in while making the catalogs. We are looking into making a dynamic shopping cart soon.
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Q: Can it calculate shipping cost ?
 
A: Doesn't calculate but selects from different rates incorporated in while making the catalogs.
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Q: Does it accept credit cards ?
 
A: Yes. You can specify any number of cards.
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Q: Does it verify credit cards ?
 
A: No.
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Q: Will it run on our SSL ?
 
A: Yes. All you have to do is specify the CGI filename, when making the CGI, as https://www...
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Q: Does all software run on our server and is installed on our server ?
 
A: Yes. This is the default for "WebGenie Shopping Cart". For "Smart Shopping Cart" the CGI runs on our secure server.
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Q: Does it send the customer a verification of order ?
 
A: Yes. A copy is sent to the customer with your personal message, if any.
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Q: Does it send our sales department the order, and is it easy to track/manage ?
 
A: Yes. A mail is sent to the sales dept. To track and manage there is another set of HTMLs and CGIs created. See 'Admin Tools'
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Q: After filling out the shipping info, this is all that I receive on the server. What am I overlooking? test0000000000|TTT Test|test@.....com||Order received. Clearance waiting.|10 Brass Pull;5 Porcelain Handle;|
 
A: The above is the order record made on the server, and is in the correct format. In addition to that you should be getting an E_mail containing the order details. If it is not happening, are you getting an error message?
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Q: I have almost reached the end of the shopping cart and I now get a error.
 
A: Please recreate the CGI to avoid this message appearing again.
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Q: I was wondering if your shopping cart prog works on all browsers?
 
A: It should, though it works best on NetScape and MSIE. The CGI is server-based, not client based, and difference in browsers should not matter. However, without JavaScript capability there will not be any auto calculation and validity checking BEFORE sending to the CGI.
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Q: Your shopping cart software is W95/NT based, Our server uses Linux, Are they therefore incompatible?
 
A: As long as there is CGI execution facility it should work. The Win95/NT operating system applies to the program being run to generate the catalogs and CGIs. The CGIs themselves run under either UNIX (of which Linux is a variant) and NT systems.
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Q: How does Cybercash work? I have the basic info on Cybercash from my bank, but I'm am not sure how to receive the secured response the bank sends back to the merchant server.
 
A: The Cybercash people collects the money on your behalf and credits your **normal** bank account with it. I do not think you need to have a merchant account, but please check with Cybercash directly on this point. You may still need to convince them that you are authorised to charge customer's credit card.
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Q: I need to add to each product a scroll box so I can handle colors like red, blue,.. and so on in list box added to the each page and then when the customer clicks on the shopping cart , it picks up from the listbox the color the customer chooses and then it adds it to the display table.. does the shopping cart either the pro or the other ones handle something like that. an example of
 
A: Yes, the Pro version can add property selection to products. For this you must use the 'Build Cat|Separate pages' option. There is a check box on bottom left corner that allows you to add selectable list of properties.
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Q: Does web genie enable me to produce a page with "check boxes"? (or equivalent) to enable a user to buy multiple items on multiple pages?
 
A: The default action is to input the quantity. But you can choose to have an 'Add' button instead. Check box is not enabled, but we can customise your cart to do that, if desired.
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Q: What does the user with a Version 2 Netscape browser see?? Do I need to make a special pages for those people that don't have the latest browser technology??
 
A: NS2.0 can handle forms and cookies and hence I do not think it will pose any problem. Please check it to make sure. In our statistics, collected daily, the percentage of users still using NS2.0 is less than 1%
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Q: Will the Web Genie shopping cart (professional version) run on an Apache or Unix-based server (we don't have a Windows NT server)...
 
A: Yes, it works both under UNIX and NT servers. In fact, the UNIX server is the preferred platform.
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Q: Do you have any additional info about the professional version that supports multiple languages and CyberCash transactions...For example, how much is it? How does one integrate it with Cybercash??
 
A: The "Pro" version is released now, and is $495 for an unlimited time licence. To integrate the cart with Cybercash all you have to do is: 1. Have an account with the Cybercash people and have the URL of their CGI handy. 2. Check the button marked 'Cybercash Interface' in the 'Create CGI' module. 3. Type in the Cybercash CGI's URL and a few other params. When the customer comes to the payment desk the CGI will make a connection to Cybercash and ask for the card details.
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Q: I've tried changing the shipping as it is a flat rate of $2.95 per order. but, as you can see if you run a test on the site (site address below), it is giving me a drop down box with choices. I would prefer it just show the one choice of $2.95. Is this possible? If so, how do I set this up?
 
A: Under the 'cart options' module (left tool bar) you can specify the tax and delivery options.
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Q: How can I control the size of the form ? The width is to wide for the left side frame I'm trying to place it in.
 
A: The width of form is specified in the main HTML file. Please look for and change the "Cols=" field manually.
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Q: I want to have required fields. order preview by customer, automatic response, error message, and any other template which would enhance the order form. It would be very helpful if I receive only the items customers checked, not all the items as I do now.
 
A: All of the above enhancements can be customised. Please forward your CGI as well as the accessory files, if any, along with your order. I expect that the work will take 2 hrs to finish.
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Q: I need to have two products tracked by dealer numbers as well. but they cannot be paid by the cgi...I need to go in and credit the affiliates when the orders go through as both of these take time before I am paid (And one of them not all leads are paid for).

 

A: I am not sure what you mean here. Are the dealers sending the buyer to your site or selling on their own? If the latter the CGI cannot track it, but if sending the buyer to your site please ask them to register in the sponsor_register.html and use a banner link, with their ID, to send the visitor to your site. ALL crediting is manual via the sposnor_credit.html and is fully under your control. The Click CGI will record the clicks, and the order CGI will recover the cookie for a referral. But you decide when and how much commission to be paid.
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Q: Can we just run a similar cgi but without it requesting them for credit card details? (They don't need to give order information)?
 
A: You can use the same CGI and the same code to call it in all pages except the following change (if not required to use the secure server) Please change... <Input Type=hidden Name=useSecureServer Value="Yes" to<Input Type=hidden Name=useSecureServer Value="No"
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Q: can the catalog number be a word (or two or three words) or it has to be a number?
 
A: Yes, it can be anything but special chars like $, ", {, (, space or comma.
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Q: Can I add the book names to the each product line? that is absolutely necessary otherwise it will be very confusing for users.
 
A: Yes. The same rule as for Cat no., except that there can be spaces.
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Q: How do I convert files I've created in the WebGenie Shopping Cart program to ASCII before I ship them to my web server?
 
A: You do not have to "convert" to ASCII. All you have to do is select the ASCII or Text mode of transfer in your FTP program.
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Q: Frames: Would it be possible to create a site that uses frames? so the content of the shopping cart would be visible at all times, instead of coming and going from the shopping cart contents?
 
A: This is not implemented yet but can be customised into the CGI.
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Q: Is it possible to use icons instead of buttons?
 
A: Yes. Needs customisation of the CGI (minor changes)
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Q: Why is it that when I ship a product order (by pressing "submit" button), YOUR software sends MY clients to your WebGenie home page? I DO NOT WANT THIS! Please correct it immediately! I want MY customers to return to MY domain after their order is processed - not yours! This is very important to me ...... for obvious reasons.
 
A: This is to be defined when configuring the CGI. There is a entry are in the 'CGI|Options' module that says 'Page refresh to this URL'. Just type in the full URL of your page in there. The default is to go to our page.
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Q: How many CGI scripts can I put on your secure server?
 
A: The way the cart works is by using a master CGI to process all orders. Thus, no CGI of your own is uploaded on our server. With one licence, however, you are limited to 5 separate destinations (read vendors) for the order. If you are a web designer, this means you can register one licence for every 5 clients of yours and charge them accordingly.
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Q: Do I need to have CGI installed on my server?
 
A: If using the "Basic" or "Professional" version the CGIs stay on your server. The "Smart" version does not require a CGI on your server.
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Q: Can I use any certificate (Verisign, Thawte, etc...)
 
A: Yes. Provided you have appropriately installed the certificates, a call to the catalog or CGI via the 'https' instead of 'http' will run the CGI through the secure server layer. e.g. <a Href=https://www.../catalog.html or <Form Action=https://www.../cgi-bin/shopcart.cgi
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Q: Once I order the software how long will it take for me to get it?
 
A: If paying by credit card via our secure server it takes not more than 12 hrs (due to the time difference; often within minutes)
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Q: Is there some software or examples of how to actually write the HTML for the shopping cart on our site? Perhaps a downloadable example? I still don't have my registration number as well. Thanks for any support or help you can give me,
 
A: With the smart shopping cart you do not require a reg_code, as the program is non-expirable. What we do is enter your details in a file on our server so that the CGI can be executed. In order to activate the system you need to create a test (or real) catalog and test the system at least once. The following steps will help: 1. Start the program. 2. Click 'Build Cat|Single Page' 3. Type in the product name, Cat.No and price; Or, read in the products.txt as the sample. 4. Click 'Save' 5. Type in your E_mail address 6. Click 'Save' again and give it a filename. 7. Transfer the file to your web server. It is now a fully functional catalog. You can use other config options for building the catalog via 'Cart Options' or 'Post Order Options'
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Q: I need to be able to have drop down or radio button "options" for each item. These would not change the item cost but should be printed out on order form. Can this be done reasonably simply?
 
A: Yes. The Professional version lets you add any number of properties to each product. Please see 'Build Catalog|Separate Pages'. There is a button, 'Add Selectable Properties' on the left bottom corner. Click it and you can specify the type of controls you want.
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Q: Is there any way to print out the product list showing the catalog numbers with each product?
 
A: Just opening up the page with your browser and choosing File|Print... should do if your catalog is in table format. If not, look for the code inside the source file. It is fairly easy to understand. If problem(s) pls send the URL of the page to me.
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Q: Can I use real time checking? Is it possible to modify the generated cgi in order to make the transaction work only if the bank has approved the credit card data with the total cost of the transaction, sending the buyer an email with confirmation of the transaction?
 
A: Yes, but it may require more complicated changes than what you can do on your own. We will be quite happy to customise your CGI to use your Bank's ASP. Pls see the link at the bottom of this msg for details of the custom service. If you purchase the program at the same time we shall waive 1 hrs charge from the customisation, which I expect will take 3 hrs.
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Q: I have set it up as asked, checked the path for the perl on my ISP.. everything is ok. I even put the shopcart.cgi in the same folder as the test shopcart.htm. How much more info do you need? I need HELP :)
 
A: The error is due to one of the following reasons: 1. The correct protection is not set on the CGI. - Login to the server via telnet or FTP. - Type 'chmod 755 shopcart.cgi' (or site chmod 755 shopcart.cgi, if FTP) 2. The perl pathname is incorrect. - Login and type 'whereis perl' - Compare the line with the top line in the CGI. 3. The CGI must reside in the /cgi-bin - Recreate the catalogs and CGI by giving /cgi-bin/shopcart.cgi as the URL of CGI - Transfer the catalogs to the test dir and the CGI to the /cgi-bin
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Q: Have I missed a provision for such a tax to work in the calculation of the final price to the customer?
 
A: This can be achieved by specifying the 7.25% tax as the default. For this...1. Choose the 'Cart Options' and type in the tax rate in its box. Delete other lines in the box.. 2. Save. 3. Use the 'Build catalog|Single Page' to enforce the taxrate. If wanting to use 'Build Cat|Separate Pages' the procedure is different. I can send them if you wish.
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Q: Can you send me a German demo Version of shopping cart?
 
A: I am afraid there is no German version of the program, though the "professional version" will create the CGIs in German.
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Q: Do you have information on loading to an SSL server? Must the whole program be loaded in the SSL server or can the credit card portion be separated and be run on the SSL server alone?
 
A: In order to use the SSL all one has to do is call the HTML page and/or the CGI via the 'https' rather than 'http' link. Thus, a call to the catalog by e.g. <a Href=https://www.yourserver.com/catalog.html will call it via the SSL. Then the CGI will be automatically run via the SSL as well. Alternatively, you may call the catalog via normal server <a Href=http://www... but have the Call to CGI via the SSL. i.e. <Form Method=POST Action=https://www.../cgi-bin/shopcart.cgi
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Q: Can I get some info on how Credit Cards are approved through your shopping cart system?
 
A: Real-time credit card clearance requires special software and merchant accounts. Our software is not designed to do that directly. However, we do provide an interface to Cybercash, who do such online clearance. Our "Shopping Cart Professional" lets you interface with their CGI and "wait" for clearance before proceeding with the order.
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Q: How many CGI scripts can I put on your secure server?
 
A: The way the cart works is by using a master CGI to process all orders. Thus, no CGI of your own is uploaded on our server. With one licence, however, you are limited to 5 separate destinations (read vendors) for the order. If you are a web designer, this means you can register one licence for every 5 clients of yours and charge them accordingly.
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Q: I have been attempting to get a test version of the single page catalogue to work on-line. This error msg occurs when I click on "add to shopping cart" Method Not Allowed The requested method POST is not allowed for the URL /www...com/cgi-bin/mail.cgi.
 
A: This error means that the dir in which the CGI resides has not been given permission to execute CGIs. Your ISP has to give that permission.
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Q: Does it allow for a product to have additional information associated to it. In order to select a size that is attributed to that particular product that will be able to be viewed from the order page. Example: I buy a shirt and want to select Medium for the size and the store owner will be able to see my request? All of the sizes are the same price.
 
A: The "WebGenie Shopping Cart Professional" allows the insertion of properties. Please see the 'Build Cat|Separate Pages' module. At this point this feature is available only for the separate pages option. We are looking into implementing in other formats as well.
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Q: I use the dynamic catalogue option, but the mail program is not where it is supposed to be. Therefor I get internal server error. how do I change the path in the cgi in the dynamic. cat. option?
 
A: It looks like not the mail problem but some compilation error or incorrect perl pathname. Please try:1. Login to server or open an MSDOS window. 2. Type 'perl cgifile.cgi' and note down the error. 3. If no error, find the pathname of the perl program (if UNIX) and check against the top line in CGI.
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Q: Is there a possibility to download the shopping cart professional in German language - and if, how ?
 
A: Shopping Cart professional creates the CGI in German, but the program itself is in English. We are working towards translating the whole program into German but is not yet available. In order to make the CGI in German, please do... 1. Click 'Create CGI' 2. Choose 'German' from the dropdown menu under 'Language' 3. Click 'Save' to write the CGI
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Q: Their is a location that defaults to the shopcart cgi. Are you saying I should change to the complete URL https://www...com/cgi-bin/shopcart.cgi) ?
 
A: That is correct. If you specify the full URL in the "CGI:" input box when building the catalogs, it will use it throughout the catalogs and CGIs. The default is just 'shopcart.cgi'
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Q: How much is WebGenie to purchase?
 
A: The price is $495 for the Professional version
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Q: Where can I find info out to incorporate this with our Merchant Account.

A: Normally the card details are sent to you by mail and are processed via your normal methods. If you require online transaction, we shall arrange with one of our associates who can setup a Cybercash account for you.
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Q: How does WebGenie work with SSL? Our customer wishes to pass credit card info over the internet.
 
A: The SSL is used by specifying the 'URL' of CGI as 'https' instead of 'http'.
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Q: The mailer specified in the CGI is wrong. Attempting to locate a suitable mailer program...

A: Please recreate the CGI to avoid this message appearing again.
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A: You are very nearly there. The mail error msg is usually easy to fix. All it means is that the sendmail program is either not found or has a different syntax. Please try: Recreate the CGI with '/usr/sbin/sendmail' as the mail program.
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Q: When I press Add To Cart it gets caught in a loop. I get the hourglass but nothing else happens. Do you have any ideas what the problem is?
 
A: This typically means that the browser is not getting a response back from the server. It could be due to temporary network load, or the server is not setup correctly to call the CGI. Have you been able to get any other CGI work? Please try our CGI*StarPro and see if it does the same.
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Q: The CGI scripts sends the customer a e-mail after placing an order. The customers are unable to reply to e-mail due to being invalid address. What field places a valid e-mail address in the script?
 
A: The return address is the one you specify in the 'Query E_mail' field in 'Cart Options' from the left tool bar.
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Q: I would like to remove the acknowledge page from the script. I did not check the box "display acknowledgment", but continues to display before redirect to thank you page.
 
A: This needs changes in the CGI. We will consider adding that as an option in the next update. If you wish to purchase and setup the cart now, rather than wait for the new update, I shall be happy to customise the CGI for you.
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Q: I unable to perform minor edit functions to catalog page. I tried to change the price of an item, but I receive error messages. It was easier to re-create catalog page.
 
A: I am afraid there are more than one place in the catalog where the price and other details are referenced. It is, as you have discovered, easier to re-make the catalog. However, if you expect to have very frequent changes to prices and items, the 'Dynamic Catalog' feature available in the 'Professional' version will let you keep the product list as a plain text file on the server and update it. The CGI will create the catalog on the fly.
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Q: I was wondering if the Web Genie Shopping Cart can be used on a server that's configured for Front Page 98. I would like to use the software but I need to make sure it will work in this situation.
 
A: Though we have not specifically tested under FP98, there is no reason why it should not work there. The CGIs should be executable on any server. Pls do get back to me if any problem(s).
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Q: Does the software use "cookies" on the user's machine to keep track of their orders? How many orders can be going on at once?
 
A: I am not sure whether you mean how many items in one order or how many separate orders. The former is limited only by the max cookie length of 4KB. Therefor, if the product names are too long one may run into the limit. e.g. 80 chars in a product name will give room for upto 20 items (allowing for other fields besides name) As for the separate orders, it is not applicable, as the CGI will add all orders into the same cookie. Only at the end of actually sending the order it will separate the items for each vendor. Thus, the answer is that no limit to the no. of concurrent orders.
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Q: Would you host the whole Web site or just the CGI component? If I purchase the Smart version of WebGenie Shopping Cart for a retail Web site (yet to be built),
 
A: Only the CGI will run from our server. All catalogs will be on your site and under your control.
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Q: Am I able to create a "shopping basket' with multiple pages. With selections being made on each page and a single payment page?
 
A: Yes, it is possible to select products from any number of pages and all will be added into the cart. Finally, when going to the payment page a total price will be calculated.
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Q: Can Radio "Checkbox" be used instead of "Text" for selection of product.
 
A: This needs minor editing of the HTML and CGI files. We can point them out to you, if you send the finished catalogs and CGI to us.
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Q: I would like to create a catalog that has separate pages for each "category" of products? such that I might have 10 product pages, each with many items on each page. I would like ALL these pages to feed into the same cart.
 
A: Yes, it is possible. Here is what to do: 1. Make a separate list of all products to go into each catalog, in the following format: Cat.No <TAB Price <TAB Name <CR 2. Use the 'Build catalog|Single Page' option and read in each list and make a separate page for each list. 3. Create a link for each page from one of your existing HTML pages. 4. Make the CGI. All the catalogs will now be served by the same CGI and add to the same cart.
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Q: It only asks me for one page to open and insert items.
 
A: This is applicable to just connect your existing page with the catalog, and is typically used when you already have created a page to describe ONE product. If it is a list of products, then you must add the cart buttons to each of the items in the list.
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Q: I have 2 different stores selling different products on the same server with different domain names. Can I use this product and what if any are my limits?
 
A: Yes. You can place the CGIs on the server and call it with two domain names (both pointing to the same IP number?). Furthermore, the shopping cart CGI is smart enough to distinguish the catalogs based on the destination E_mail addresses. Thus you can have different catalogs on the server, each one for a separate vendor if you wish.
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Q: I have heard that there is a Norwegian brand of WebGenie Shopping*Cart Pro. Are there? I have the latest release of the program. Do I find Norwegian choices here?
 
A: Yes, the "WebGenie Shopping Cart Professional" has the Norwegian option. You can choose it via the 'Create CGI|Language' option. It will create the CGI-generated pages in Norwegian. You can even modify the messages to suit your own style by editing the file, 'Norwegian_strings.lis' that come with the software.
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Q: Does your software run on both Unix and NT servers?
 
A: Yes. Just choose the server type when making the CGI.
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Q: If someone presses the "show cart" button, the shopping cart table shows "0" and "0" for tax and shipping. Despite the fact that the default for shipping is $5 (which works correctly if someone just presses the "add to cart" button and never pushes the show cart button. The problem is that many people using shopping carts will finally become tired of shopping and will want to use the "show cart" option to check....I want to make sure that the $5 shipping appears automatically when the they do this (just like it does when they push add to cart).
 
A: It is quite simple. Please change in the catalogs, <INPUT TYPE=hidden NAME=sc_action VALUE=disp_sc to <INPUT TYPE=hidden NAME=sc_action VALUE=disp_sc <INPUT TYPE=HIDDEN NAME="taxRate" VALUE="0" <INPUT TYPE=HIDDEN NAME="delivery" VALUE="5"
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Q: I want to make sure that the Server Error 500 that I am getting is not because the proper Perl version and installation has not been followed by me. When I went to the site to download the Perl, I'm not sure which version I should download and also how to install it & where to install it on my system.
 
A: Best to install it in the Windows' dir so that it will always be found by the web browser.
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Q: when I hit prepare the order these items come up as a garbage on the final order page. Something inside the script changes the text of shopcart.txt and it comes up as garbage at the final order screen. Do you have any idea on how I can fix this or if it can be fixed at all.
 
A: This could be a problem unless the text is hard coded into the CGI. If you are willing to translate a few strings in the CGI it can be done. Pls do: 1. Run "Shopping Cart professional" 2. Create the catalogs. 3. Create the CGI by choosing 'Own Language' option 4. Edit the file, 'Own_Language_strings.lis' in the Shopping Cart dir and replace all English strings to Russian. You may have to cut and paste the string from where the Cyrillic chars can be displayed (e.g. Word for windows) 5. Save the file. 6. Re-create the CGI using the 'Own Language' option again. This time the CGI will show the Russian Chars.
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Q: We always get internal server error. We checked the script itself and it gives warnings only.
 
A: The most probable cause is the perl program's pathname. Please try...1. Login to your webserver via telnet. 2. Type 'whereis perl' and compare the pathname with the top line in the CGI. Another source of error is that the CGI is probably not in the correct dir. Try to recreate the catalog and CGI using /cgi-bin/shopcart.cgi as the pathname for the CGI.
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Q: If I buy WebGenie, does it come on floppies, cd, or either?
 
A: The program you download from the web is fully functional except for the expiry date. When you purchase the program a registration code will be issued to you which will override this expiry. No physical transfer of program on floppy disk and CD takes place.
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Q: Can I use it for more than one customer? or do I need to buy a separate one for each one (any discounts if this is the case)?
 
A: Under one licence you are allowed to use/resell to upto 5 clients. The 6-10th clients require a second licence and so on. If you expect a very large number of clients we can tailor special deals for you.
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Q: After the shopping cart is up and running how do the orders get processed, through a bank?
 
A: Normally the CGI sends the order details, together with the CC, to the vendor. It is then manually processed by the vendor like any mail order. However, with Shopping Cart Professional there is a built-in interface to Cybercash. If you are an existing client of Cybercash the shopcart.cgi can send the CC details to Cybercash for instant processing.
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Q: What happens to the credit card numbers....what I am asking is, if your on line and give your C/C number and get the "ok" in a minute or so to start downloading the program you just paid for, what happens do the C/C number? do they go to a bank, is there software on the server to handle this, is there commutation between banks and the server?
 
A: See above.
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Q: How does someone start a new business on the Internet taking C/C,
 
A: In Australia you need to apply for a merchant account that allows credit card processing via mail order. I believe that in US things are even easier.
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Q: What are the estimated costs for a year to run a shopping cart?
 
A: If using our "Shopping Cart Professional" that runs the CGI on our server you can have program plus a year's subscription at $565 and for two years at $630
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Q: You pay ONCE for the program that makes the shopping carts.. and then you can make as many carts as you want for different people with the same program ?
 
A: If using your webserver to run the CGIs you can use as many carts and CGIs as you want.
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Q: How do I change the catalog to update prices and inventory without starting the whole process over?
 
A: If using the "Professional" version there is a facility for "dynamic catalog". With it you can keep the product details as a separate file on the server and update it rather than re-creating the catalogs.
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Q: I need a shopping cart that can handle 7,000 items for my client. Will yours work?
 
A: Yes. The program and CGI are capable of handling any number of items. However, you may have to split the items and insert them in batches rather than all 7000 items in one go. The CGIs are to be installed in the cgi-bin. If you have permission to upload a text file in the same dir, then the dynamic catalog product list can be placed there. It does not matter where the files are kept, as long as the correct paths are specified in the CGI.
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Q: How can I get more detailed info on the cart?
 
A: Please read the Help file that comes with the program. We do not have any separate manual.
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Q: Whenever I try to add items to the cart I receive the error notice " D_M_Table is not defined". Is this normal for the trial version, or is there something I'm doing wrong? Also I'm going to be using the program with Microsoft FrontPage 98, are there any compatibility problems?
 
A: We haven't tested specifically with FP98, but it should work fine. We know that Word 97 corrupts the pages created with ShoppingCart, but Netscape's composer does not.
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Q: Can I use the software on a secure server?
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