A Digital Object is a computer file such as a .zip file, .mp3, .pdf, etc. Any type of file may be used as a Digital Object. A Digital Object can also be a webpage. More on that below.
The Digital Object Editor page is used to create and edit digital objects for the store.
key concept Digital Products are the products customers purchase in the store and are created using the Product Editor. Digital products are not the actual file(s) the customers download; those are known in Modular Merchant terminology as Digital Objects. The Digital Objects that have been assigned to the digital products will be available for customers to access after their orders have been completed. Each Digital Product can have any number of Digital Objects assigned to it.
To create a new digital object:
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Go to Modules > Digital Delivery > Add a Digital Object.
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Configure the Digital Object.
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Click Save Changes when finished.
To edit an existing digital object:
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Go to Modules > Digital Delivery > Search Digital Objects.
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Click either the SID number or the
 icon associated with the digital object.
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Make the desired changes to the digital object.
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Click Save Changes when finished.
tip A Digital Object can be a file hosted on a remote file server, rather than your store's upload directory. The store's Digital Delivery system will never reveal the location of the file to customers, regardless of the file's location. The following article explains how to use the mm_fileserver.php helper file to save on bandwidth when hosting the files on a 3rd party webserver:
http://forums.modularmerchant.com/viewtopic/596/Using-the-mm_fileserver.php-Helper-File.
Digital Object Editor Fields
SID (System ID)
The SID (System ID) is a unique number that identifies the digital object to the system. This number is set by the software and cannot be changed.
Digital Object Name
The name of the digital object. This name will viewable by customers in the download area of the storefront.
Digital Object URL
Input the full URL to the digital object. To upload a file to the store's upload directory, select Upload a new file... using the dropdown menu, which contains an upload tool.
note Although the Modular Merchant shopping cart software does not have a file size limit, files over 125mb cannot be uploaded using the administration area upload tool. Instead, you'll need to use FTP, then specify the URL manually.
tip The Digital Object URL can be a web page rather than a file. If the URL to a web page is specified, the customer will get an Access Webpage button in the download area of the store. When that Access Webpage button is clicked, the customer will view the web page in a popup window, but the address of the webpage will not be revealed.
warning
warning There should never be any spaces in the Digital Object URL, including the file name itself. If there are spaces, the download will almost certainly fail when customer attempt to download the digital object.
Digital Object Type
Either manually specify the file type or let the server decide on its own.
tip The Digital Delivery system includes the capability of streaming flash video (.flv) files and .swf files. Customers will be able to view the videos directly from the store's download area through a streaming player, rather than downloading the files.
Shelf Life
Can be used to override the Digital Delivery settings option Digital Object Shelf Life.
Public Domain
Used to exclude other admins from adding the digital object to products.
Active
An active digital object will be available for download in the storefront by customers. Inactive digital objects will not be displayed in the storefront and will be hidden.
Display Order
The display order is used to designate the order that digital objects are displayed in the download area of the storefront. Lower numbers are displayed first.
Release Date
This is the date in which the digital object will become available for download. Ignore this setting to allow the digital object to become immediately available.
Display Zones
Can be used to restrict digital objects to certain customers based on their geographic location. Zip codes, states, and countries are all available for zone restriction.
Instructions
Any instructions entered will be displayed to customers in the download area of the storefront. HTML is allowed.
Notes
Notes are hidden and displayed to store administrators only.
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