Digital download – how to know if file has been downloaded?

[blogmeistress]

Hi there

Is there a way of seeing whether a client has downloaded a digital file purchased via eStore? One of my client’s customers bought a product, but is now asking for a refund, claiming he hasn’t downloaded anything. Is it possible to know whether the file actually was downloaded?

I have in the meantime read your article on refund fraud – and will suggest to my client that he includes more specific information in his T&C’s regarding digital downloads and refund policies.

[wzp]

Warning — Running With Scissors…

You need a copy of the e-mail that contains the download link(s) sent to the customer.

For each download link, is a “file=” followed by what looks link random characters. This is called the download key.

If it hasn’t been removed from the database yet, use phpMyAdmin to look for a database table named wp_wp_eStore_download_links_tbl. There is a download_key column that corresponds to the “file=” string of the download link sent to the customer. There is also an access_count column that tells you how many times the link was clicked on.

[blogmeistress]

Thanks, will give it a try. Any chance of adding something to the plugin that would allow for this kind of functionality without having to poke around in phpMyAdmin?

[wzp]

That would be up to Amin.

[blogmeistress]

Hi again. Well, perhaps you could suggest it to him for the wishlist.

I found that table as you suggested, and located the download keys. But there’s a snag: the access count shows as “0”, but it does so for every single entry in the table – and it can’t be possible that all entries had no downloads (the site has been going for several months, and has made a number of successful sales). Any ideas why this might be?

Thanks!

[wzp]

I’ll look into it

[wzp]

I examined my own copy of the table. The access_count values show a value from 0 to 5, which is the download limit I have placed on links. I have been running eStore since the first week of September, which I believe was the 4.2.8 version.

Try creating a download link, but don’t click on it. The value should be 0. If you clock on it, the value should be 1. If it stays at 0, perhaps it was something Amin fixed, and you should at least upgrade to the latest version. This is important. the access_count field is what limits people from sharing your links.

https://support.tipsandtricks-hq.com/update-request

[amin007]

There is no known bug for the access count field. It should increment by 1 every time the file is accessed.

[blogmeistress]

Hi Amin

I tried what was suggested, generating a download link for one of the products. It then appeared in the table, as expected, with value of 0. Then I clicked on the link and downloaded the file, but the value is still showing as 0. All files in that table have an access count of 0 at this point.

Am currently on v 4.1.8 of eStore.

Any advice?

Thanks!

[amin007]

Did you do a plugin upgrade and forgot to do the “Deactivate” and “Reactivate”?

Please get a fresh version of the plugin from here and let me know if you still see this after you update the plugin:

https://support.tipsandtricks-hq.com/update-request

[blogmeistress]

Hi Amin

I have now updated to a fresh version of the plugin (v4.3., deactivated, reactivated, then tried a download. But it’s still showing no sign of any access count other than 0 in the database.

Help!

Thanks

[wzp]

For clarification, the file actually did download, correct?

[wzp]

I just figured it out, why your counts stay at zero…

You are not limiting the number of times customers can download a particular file…

Under eStore -> Settings -> General Settings -> Digital Product Delivery Settings -> Download Limit Count, you either have left it blank or set to 999.

If there is no limit, eStore doesn’t bother keeping count, LOL!

Mystery solved

[gdwallen]

Let me add my vote to the suggestion that the number of file downloads made by the customer (which is already captured and stored in the MySQL database) be made available, probably with the customer record displayed under Manage Customers (there’s certainly room for another column). Seeing a “1” in the customer record would provide some level of proff that the verification email was successfully sent and received, and the buyer clicked on the link. All this information would provide some peace of mind that the plug-in is working correctly, but also to easily provide some back-up that, yes, you did download the product.

[admin]

The download link access count is stored in the following database table:

wp_eStore_download_links_tbl

This tutorial will show you how you can access that table and get any info you require:

http://www.tipsandtricks-hq.com/how-to-easily-import-or-export-any-of-your-wordpress-database-content-using-phpmyadmin-3415

[Author]

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