I want to collect some basic data from web visitors using eform (name, address, etc), have them select one of several membership types, and then send that selection to PayPal for payment.
No problem setting up the form in eform and sending the submitted data to myself in an email. But then I need to send the necessary "buy now" button data to PayPal since I’m using PP’s website payments standard solution.
Any advice about the best way to proceed? Is this a job for one of eform’s PHP Event Functions?
I suppose you could do that.
But when I use Paypal on a MODx site, I never use Eform, because it seems like extra work to me. I just generate buttons in Paypal, and grab that code (they’re nothing but HTML forms), and stick it on the MODx page. The buttons take them directly to Paypal to pay instead of sending an email to you, giving you more work.
If I only have a few pre-determined amounts, you just make several buttons with their amounts, and you’re done. If you want to make the amount variable, you just make that field visible instead of hidden, and the visitor can fill it in. Or you can specify no amount, and they fill it in when they are sent over to Paypal by the form. You can also instruct the user to add their address in the comment form, for instance, for more customer info.
This also eliminates the hassle of setting up encryption on your site, because it’s handled on Paypal’s end. You don’t need an Eform email anyway, because Paypal will send you an email recap of the transaction.
For more flexibility, I’ve used TV’s, Ditto, and chunks to set up Paypal buttons, this allows the site owner to add more products, change prices and product descriptions, and so on.
Thanks, @samba, I appreciate your advice. My problem is that I need to collect more info from a member than what PayPal requires.
I’m thinking it’s best to reverse the process--offer the PP buttons, then upon payment at PP, return the payee to a membership form page on my website for collecting additional member data. That way existing members can pay their dues but skip the membership form page entirely (since that data already has been collected), while new members fill out the form. This flow has the added benefit of ensuring new members pay before submitting a membership form.
Quote from: puffin at Jan 07, 2011, 11:41 AM
Thanks, @samba, I appreciate your advice. My problem is that I need to collect more info from a member than what PayPal requires.
I’m thinking it’s best to reverse the process--offer the PP buttons, then upon payment at PP, return the payee to a membership form page on my website for collecting additional member data. That way existing members can pay their dues but skip the membership form page entirely (since that data already has been collected), while new members fill out the form. This flow has the added benefit of ensuring new members pay before submitting a membership form.
I like this idea and sequence better. Then you can simply tell Paypal to go to a particular page on your site after the transaction is done, and this would be your Eform page. That page could say thank you for registering, and if you’re a brand new member, please fill in the form below.
