PAYPAL LESSON 2

Using the PayPal code from the last lesson we'll take it line by line and explain what is happening. The normal HTML code regarding the TABLE generation is not explained as it is assumed understood by the viewer or else you're not really ready to sell stuff on-line.

The following is basic HMTL coding in Gold. The PayPal specific code is in Yellow and the explanation is in White. Remember anything in white is NOT part of the coding.

<form target="paypal" action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post">
--Opens the necessary FORM and tells you where it will go and how.

<table>
<tr>
<td>

<input type="hidden" name="on0" value="SHAPE">SHAPE
--Gives the PayPal name "on0" the value of SHAPE and not seen by the viewer.

</td>
<td>

<select name="on1">
--Creates drop down menu called "on1" to hold selected value of the three presented here.
<option value="Square">Square
<option value="Round">Round
<option value="Triangle">Triangle
</select>

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>

<input type="hidden" name="os0" value="COLOR">COLOR
--Gives the PayPal name "os0" the value of COLOR and not seen by the viewer.

</td>
<td>

<select name="os1">
--Creates drop down menu called "os1" to hold selected value of the three presented here.
<option value="White">White
<option value="Blue">Blue
<option value="Red">Red
</select>

</td>
</tr>
</table>

<input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/x-click-but22.gif" border="0"
name="submit" alt="Make payments with PayPal - it's fast, free and secure!">
--This gets the 'ADD TO CART" button image from PayPal, assigns the "submit" value to it and generates the proper alternate text to it

<input type="hidden" name="add" value="1">
--This is the number of items to be added to the Shopping Cart

<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_cart">
-- This line tells PayPal it is for the Shopping Cart

<input type="hidden" name="business" value="someone@somewhere.com">
--This identifies who's PayPal business account this is for, always an E-Mail address of yours.

<input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="FLOWER POT">
--Defines FLOWER POT as the name of the item

<input type="hidden" name="item_number" value="14"">
--Defines 14" as the item number. (" is code for the " character) This is a second item identification much like a part number or anything you set.

<input type="hidden" name="amount" value="8.95">
--Sets the amount as 8.95 (no dollar sign needed)

<input type="hidden" name="return" value="http://www.yoursite.com/thankyou.html">
--This is the path to the page your viewer will be sent to after the transaction is complete.

<input type="hidden" name="cancel_return" value="http://www.yoursite.com">
--This is the path to the page your viewer will be sent to if they cancel the transaction

<input type="hidden" name="no_note" value="1">
--I have no idea what this means but you need it!

<input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="USD">
--Sets the currency to be used for the transaction

</form>

It may look complicated but it is very simple once you understand what all of the required fields need and what they do. This code can be used for virtually any items you may wish to sell. As you can see for simple items like this example it works well. For more somewhat complex items this code will work just as easy and we will cover this further on.

A potential client on your Site would be presented a choice for the 14" FLOWER POT as to its Shape and Color. If the $8.95 price was agreeable they would click the ADD TO CART button and would be taken to PayPal's Shopping Cart to review their tentative purchase. The Shopping Cart would look like this:

You can see the various values set in the code and plugged into their proper places in the Shopping Cart. Take the time to match each Shopping Cart data to the values set in the code. You should be able to easily understand what is happening. By changing different values in the code you should be able to understand what will be changed in the Cart.

By cutting and pasting this code into any catalog page, changing required fields in the form, you are able to create a massive catalog of items for sale. This is wonderful, but there are downfalls and we'll cover them next. When you are ready click HERE