J2Store (Joomla! Extension)

J2Store (Joomla! Extension) integration

A shopping cart and e-commerce extension that extends articles as products and lets you to turn articles into full fledged products.

How to integrate PostAffiliatePro with J2Store (Joomla! Extension)

Offline sale

Open file:

plugins/j2store/payment_offline/payment_offline.php

and find function _postPayment and this line within it:

if ($orderpayment->save()) {

Add this code right above the line:

$vars->order_id = $orderpayment->order_id;
$vars->total_cost = $orderpayment->order_subtotal;

Save your work. Now open file:

plugins/j2store/payment_offline/payment_offline/tmpl/postpayment.php

and add this code to the end of the file:

<script id="pap_x2s6df8d" src="https://URL_TO_PostAffiliatePro/scripts/trackjs.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
 <script type="text/javascript">
  PostAffTracker.setAccountId('Account_ID');
  var sale = PostAffTracker.createSale();
  sale.setTotalCost('<?php echo $vars->total_cost; ?>');
  sale.setOrderID('<?php echo $vars->order_id; ?>');
  sale.setStatus('P');

  PostAffTracker.register();
  </script>

Save your work. This will create a pending commission for each offline transaction. You will have to approve or decline it manually later – based on the original transaction.

PayPal – step 1

Find file:

plugins/j2store/payment_paypal/payment_paypal/tmpl/prepayment.php

and find the notify_url input field. It looks something like this:

<input type="hidden" name="notify_url" value="<?php echo JRoute::_( $vars->notify_url ); ?>" />

and into that field add:

id='pap_ab78y5t4a'

The updated field is supposed to look like this:

<input id='pap_ab78y5t4a' type="hidden" name="notify_url" value="<?php echo JRoute::_( $vars->notify_url ); ?>" />

Right under that notify_url input field (so right under that line of code) place this code below:

<!-- Post Affiliate Pro Integration snippet -->
<script id="pap_x2s6df8d" src="https://URL_TO_PostAffiliatePro/scripts/trackjs.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
PostAffTracker.writeCookieToCustomField('pap_ab78y5t4a', '', 'pap_custom');
</script>
<!-- /Post Affiliate Pro Integration snippet -->

PayPal – step 2

Open file:

plugins/j2store/payment_paypal/payment_paypal.php

and find function __process() and this line within it:

$data = $app->input->getArray($_POST);

Now add this code below right above that line:

 /* Post Affiliate Pro integration snippet */
    $ch = curl_init();
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "https://URL_TO_PostAffiliatePro/plugins/PayPal/paypal.php?pap_custom=".@$_GET['pap_custom']);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, 1);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $_POST);
    curl_exec($ch);
  /* /Post Affiliate Pro integration snippet */

Do not forget to integrate you Joomla with the click tracking code and to activate the PayPal IPN Handling plugin in your installation of Post Affiliate Pro.

What is J2Store?

J2Store is a native, flexible, and modern eCommerce solution designed specifically for the Joomla Content Management System. It empowers users to utilize Joomla articles as products, simplifying the process of product creation and management within the familiar Joomla environment. With J2Store, setting up an online store becomes a seamless experience, as it integrates eCommerce components directly into Joomla, allowing for easy downloading, installing, and configuring without the need for external platforms.

Over the years, J2Store has established itself as a trusted eCommerce solution within the Joomla community. However, due to increasing development costs and declining revenue, its development has ceased. Despite this, J2Store remains open-source, inviting the community to fork and enhance its capabilities. This open-source nature has led to the creation of J2Commerce, a forked version that continues to evolve through community-driven initiatives, ensuring that the essence of J2Store lives on.

J2Store for Small and Medium Businesses

J2Store is tailored for small to medium-sized eCommerce businesses and online store owners who prefer managing their stores within the Joomla framework. By leveraging Joomla’s article management system for product catalogs, J2Store offers an intuitive and accessible platform for users already familiar with Joomla. This integration simplifies store management, making it easier for businesses to maintain their online presence without extensive technical knowledge.

Key Features of J2Store

J2Store stands out with a plethora of features designed to enhance the eCommerce experience within Joomla:

• Seamless Integration with Joomla: Utilize Joomla articles as products for a unified content and commerce experience.
• Customizable Shopping Carts: Tailor shopping cart functionalities to suit your store’s needs.
• Advanced Inventory Management: Keep track of stock levels with sophisticated inventory tools.
• Flexible Product Options: Offer various product variants and options to customers.
• User-Friendly Interface: Manage your store with ease using an intuitive interface.
• Payment and Shipping Integrations: Access multiple payment gateways and shipping methods.
• Robust Customer Support: Benefit from strong support and comprehensive documentation.
• Developer-Friendly Approach: Enjoy advanced e-commerce capabilities compared to other Joomla plugins.

Pricing Options with J2Store

J2Store offers flexible pricing models to accommodate different business needs:

• Yearly Knife Pack: $200.00 every year for 2 years.
• Deliver Earrings Monthly: $25.00 every month for 10 months.
• Weekly Magazine Subscription: $5.00 every week.

These diverse options highlight J2Store’s adaptability in providing pricing solutions that cater to various user requirements.

User Insights on J2Store

Understanding user experiences is crucial for evaluating any product. Here’s what users are saying about J2Store:

• Pros:
  • Simplicity and ease of use within the Joomla environment.
  • Intuitive integration that leverages existing Joomla knowledge.
  • Outstanding support and comprehensive documentation.
  • Ideal for small to medium-sized stores seeking straightforward solutions.
• Cons:
  • Limited development resources leading to fewer updates.
  • Occasional slow responses from support.
  • Lack of active community forums for user engagement.
  • Restricted features compared to more expansive eCommerce solutions.
• Overall Experience:
  • Users appreciate J2Store’s functionality and the convenience of managing everything within Joomla. However, there are concerns about the pace of development and certain feature limitations that could impact scalability for growing businesses.

Exploring J2Store Through YouTube Reviews

For a more dynamic understanding of J2Store, consider watching the following YouTube reviews:

• J2Store Review 2023 – Comprehensive Overview
• J2Store Plugin Review – 2023 Update

These videos provide in-depth looks at J2Store’s functionalities, user experiences, and practical applications.

Alternatives to J2Store

If you’re considering other options besides J2Store, here are some notable alternatives within the Joomla ecosystem:

• VirtueMart: VirtueMart
• Sellacious: Sellacious
• Phoca Cart: Phoca Cart
• HikaShop: HikaShop
• EShop: EShop
• Instant Pro Shop: Instant Pro Shop
• Quick2Cart: Quick2Cart
• Breezing Commerce: Breezing Commerce
• JoomDonation eShop: JoomDonation eShop
• J2Commerce (the forked successor of J2Store): J2Commerce