Notes for Version 2
Finally found the time to revisit this script. There were a few bugs with
the html and the Credit Card form which I have fixed. I don't really know
if the work really deserves a new version number but I have to have some
way of telling which script is the most current and a V1b seemed pretty lame.
The new version is now the only version available to download. I suggest
you rename the script itself to scart.cgi if you except the default naming
convention in the configuration 'header'. I have tried to leave as much clues
as possible, about how to configure the Skinny Cart, within the script itself
but I still haven't got around to a formal 'how to'. Maybe next Xmas :)
* There were some problems with the way the Delete_Items routine worked
- a few fairly bland programming mistakes that had escaped my eye.
These have also been remedied - thanks to Dave Lewis for pointing it out.
Notes for Version 1a
The first posting of this script had some typo's and might not
have worked properly. Most of the errors had to do with unclosed HTML table
tabs that caused pages to 'disappear' - a trivial mistake that had quite
dramatic results !. The 'patched' version is now running as the demo and
the 'zipped' source code has also been updated. If you have previously downloaded
Skinny Cart, make sure that you are running Version 1a.
Notes for Version 1
Skinny Cart is a perl cgi implimentation
of an 'Online Shopping Cart' . Originally written for the Skinnyfish Music site
as a wholesale ordering form, it has been considerably extended and re-written
as a demonstration/study in the issues involved in writing such a full blown
ecomerce cart. It has been released under the GPL in case others have
a similiar need and/or to garner some feedback on how it could be improved.
A basic synopsis of the programs functions: A cookie-based
ecommerce cart (using Matt Wright's "Cookie.lib" for the cookie handling),
Skinny Cart takes simple form input, calculates total weights, quantity and
price of ordered goods; calculates simple postage costs, accepts credit card
inputs and uses email to notify both the customer and purchaser that a purchase
has been made. SSL is available via a SSL-capable server and setting the SSL
bit in the Cookie.lib (see the cookie.lib for further explanations.
Because of the nature of business everywhere, I
doubt if this program will suit everyone and I expect few will use it 'straight
out of the box'. Which basically means that you will probably have to tailor
it to your own needs. There are quite a number of configuration settings
in the 'header' of the script (the normal place you would find perl user configuration
settings) which allows a reasonable amount of customisation but any
further 'tweaks' will necessarily require a reasonable level of competence
with Perl.
Having said that, the bulk of the script is actually
straight html - the information and error screens that a program like this
requires.
To Do
When I get a chance, I plan to write a 'help' file for this progam and include
'automatic' error notification to the script administrator. At present,
this is almost a 'beta' release - just to get the script 'out there' and,
hopefully, generate some feedback.
Any suggestions or comments, please mail me
This program is released under the GPL -
make sure you understand what this means before you use the script !
SKINNY CART DEMO
DOWNLOAD
SKINNY CART
Thanks for your interest
Paul R. Ryan, Brisbane, Jan 2004
|