Paypal: Membership Integration/ipn/subscription

[malesims]

Hello.

 

I'm in the process of putting together a Sims Skins site @ http://malesims.us (hosted on TCH).

 

What I want to do is have a subcription section and a free section. Free section is easily creatible.

 

Best "free" option I see is the PayPal Membership Integration. It uses Apache, IPN, and Perl. I'm a bit coding illiterate. I'm a bit lost when it comes to trying to attempt this. Has anyone else tried it and/or is it even possible on TCH Webhosting?

 

I see that aMember, from CGI Central, comes highly recommended on here but I don't have the funds to dish out $139.95 in one big lump and I don't think payment plans like $5.00/month or something would work.

 

If anyone can help or point me in a good direction, I'd be greatly appreciated.

 

Have a safe and happy holidays!

[TCH-Thomas]

First of all, Welcome to your extended family.

 

I dont know which part of the paypal site you are referring to, but if I understand the link "Subscriptions and Recurring Payments" on their site correct, you should be able to use it. I assume that when the user has subscribed he/she will get an automatic reply/welcome email in which you can give them a general username and password. Then you just have to create a password area in your account using cpanels webprotect.

 

There are downsides to this as I see it. One is that everyone is gonna use same info to enter the protected area. Another one is that no one will automatically gonnabe able to create user profiles if you want to use that.

 

But since its a free way, I think this would be an option.

[malesims]

Hi Thomas.

 

PayPal also has a Membership/Password generator type script that uses Apache (.htaccess and .htpassword) and Perl (simple script it looks like). Once payment is made, PayPal will automatically generate a username and password for the newly subscribed member.

 

I'm just lost when it comes to trying to configure it if it's even possible.

 

Here are a couple reference links that can be accessed if you're logged into your PayPal account and have a Premium or higher account:

 

Subscriptions and Recurring Payments

IPN and server modifications

[TCH-Thomas]

Here are a couple reference links that can be accessed if you're logged into your PayPal account and have a Premium or higher account

No sorry I dont have that so I can not check that part (I think), but I know someone will figure out how to do this. Just hold on.

[malesims]

Subscriptions Password Management

 

 

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With Subscriptions Password Management, PayPal can generate unique usernames and passwords for your subscribers, enabling them to access "member only" content on your site.

 

Note: Subscriptions Password Management is not required to use PayPal Subscriptions and Recurring Payments. This feature requires installing a Perl script on your server. If you are not comfortable writing or editing Perl, or installing scripts on your server, do not enable Subscriptions Password Management when you set up your subscription.

[TCH-Andy]

Have you had a look at alternatives like Locked Area? Would that suit your needs? (it has a free version as well )

[malesims]

The only problem I see is having a paid subscription with Locked Area. I'm going through the website as I write this and don't see anything in regards to having a payment made before the user recieves name/password.

 

I can see having a PayPal Subscription created then the Thank You page leads to the Locked Area signup. The only issue or problem I have is keeping track of when payments are recurring and the user decides not continue the subscription that I remember to discontinue their membership through the Locked Area account.

 

PayPal's service would keep track of this for me.