Export tool

[gorangrooves]

@Christoph-Hart The issue I am seeing with downloading the samples from within a plugin is that you have no control over how many times it is downloaded or who is downloading it. When you sell digital products using WooCommerce, you have an option to specify the maximum number of downloads.
While this is not a big deal for small files, it can become more crucial for 1GB archives if they are downloaded multiple times and you are paying for the download data. It becomes even more crucial if your plugin gets illegitimately shared. Then, not only are you not getting paid for it, but you will be forking the charges for large file downloads from non-customers.

In WooCommerce you can cap the maximum number of downloads per product, per customer. You are able to add additional legitimate downloads on a case-per-case basis if needed.

Where and when would this download dialog of yours appear? What if a user needs to re-download?

I am interested in hearing more about your overall concept for downloads from within plugins.

[d.healey]

@gorangrooves

The issue I am seeing with downloading the samples from within a plugin is that you have no control over how many times it is downloaded or who is downloading it.

Sure you do, there are a number of methods that you could use (these are all server side).

You can track the number of downloads from a particular IP.

You can limit downloads to only the IP that the customer purchased from (probably not a good idea).

You can limit the number of downloads in a set time period.

If you want to get fancy with some PHP (and this is what I intend to do). You can have your user enter login details in your plugin which connects to their account on your server to access the files they have purchased, at the same time you can check on your server how many times they have downloaded the files.

If you don't want the whole login details thing you can use a simple serial key instead.

There are other techniques and you can of course combine multiple methods.

Where and when would this download dialog of yours appear? What if a user needs to re-download?

The implementation if up to you. Christoph will (I assume) just be providing an API.

[Casey Kolb]

@d-healey I'm planning on using a shell script in the installer so the user can determine where to install the samples in the same installer as the plugin. Almost got it working, but need to play around a bit more. You just need the basic script to create the LinkOS file using the input from the user. Packages is not particularly inviting but it's definitely doable with some effort. Overall, I'm aiming for the most frictionless experience for the user

[Casey Kolb]

@d-healey I also love the idea of the user entering login details! However, most of the producers / composers I've worked with in Los Angeles are fairly opposed to this as it feels too intrusive. There needs to be a really good reason for it, but if you have a big line of products then it makes total sense. I plan to have this at some point down the line as well.

[d.healey]

@Lunacy-Audio

I'm planning on using a shell script in the installer

So it's possible to have Packages run a shell script automatically after installation? What about InnoSetup?

However, most of the producers / composers I've worked with in Los Angeles are fairly opposed to this as it feels too intrusive.

The system I'm thinking of is not much different to them logging into my website to access the download links as they currently do. The only change is they won't need to open a web-browser.

[Casey Kolb]

@d-healey Yup, Packages has post-installation script with some variables available http://s.sudre.free.fr/Software/documentation/Packages/en/Package_Settings_Customization.html

Re: Logging in - Nice! I dig that. Let me know how it goes.

[yall]

I would like packages to be able to offer to drop files in the user support application. because when we create a vst it is set by default in application support but in the library part of the user and it is annoying

[gorangrooves]

@d-healey All of that logging-in to download is clever.
I am wondering, though, if that would add extra steps. You would not want users to login for every single plugin that they need to download samples for (eg. 15 times). Also, this would also kind of limit that the only place you sell your plugins is your own store.

Perhaps a better-suited solution then would be to have a dedicated download/install manager which connects to your store and displays available downloads. Then user clicks on them to download and install them all in one go. I am thinking about what Plug Alliance has done.

[d.healey]

@gorangrooves said in Export tool:

You would not want users to login for every single plugin that they need to download samples for (eg. 15 times). Also, this would also kind of limit that the only place you sell your plugins is your own store.

If you use a serial code then it doesn't matter where it is sold. The user just enters the serial code, your server verifies it and provides the download link. This also means they don't have to log in each time, they just enter a serial code which isn't uncommon already.

[gorangrooves]

@d-healey hmmm Does a solution like that already exist for WooCommerce? Or would this be done outside of it, independently?

[d.healey]

@gorangrooves

Perhaps this - https://woocommerce.com/products/software-add-on/

I think I might use this myself actually, looks simpler than my original idea...

[gorangrooves]

@d-healey said in Export tool:

@gorangrooves

Perhaps this - https://woocommerce.com/products/software-add-on/

I think I might use this myself actually, looks simpler than my original idea...

I think that this is something completely different. Opens yet another can of worms It doesn't seem to solve anything new.

[Natan]

Just Migrate To Sellfy.com And Get The Whole Features For:

Limiting Downloads Per-Customer.
Generating Unique Download Links Per-Customer.
Tracking The IP To Avoid Spams And Frauds With Paypal.
And Yep, It Has Custom Domain Linking And Saves You Lot Of Time.

Note: Sellfy Will Automatically Do The Above Options Automatically, So No more Headache And Also Extra Charge For Your Storage Needs,
You Can Offer Big Files As Free, And Just Pay The Monthly Plan's Price, No Mattet How Many Downlaods Come On Your Way :) Good Enough?

Thank Me Later

[Casey Kolb]

@gorangrooves Yup a serial license solution exists for Woocommerce and I've already hooked this up in HISE with my server. Use this license manager https://www.licensemanager.at/. It's free and better than all of the other paid ones by far.

[d.healey]

@Lunacy-Audio Looks like a good solution, thanks!

[gorangrooves]

@Natanr Sorry buddy, but that's not an improvement over woocommerce, which also offers those features, plus it is customizable and there are tons of add-ons for it.

[gorangrooves]

I have broken down what I believe will be a good user experience for plugin delivery:
https://forum.hise.audio/topic/3069/what-format-do-you-use-to-distribute-plugins-samples/8#

[d.healey]

Well it looks like automated installer building on OSX is out (for now). There doesn't seem to be a tool available to generate Packages project files. The pkgproj format is xml so I could generate it manually but I'm not familiar enough with its layout and I don't have the time/patience at the moment to decipher it.

Searching whitebox packages on github just brings up HISE :p

[DanH]

@d-healey *sob

[Christoph Hart]

@d-healey said in Export tool:

There doesn't seem to be a tool available to generate Packages

I have created one Package template for PercX and Hexeract and then I just need to do a search and replace, that can be automated...