Phil
(@owendevelopment)
Search the WP Plugin repository for digital download plugins.
I’ve looked on there, and the plugin that grabs my attention is Easy Digital Downloads. The only problem is that it still wants the user to enter their name and email, and it also adds it to a shopping cart.
EDD can handle free downloads perfectly fine, but due to the way download links are sent / verified, an email address is required.
I’ve uploaded a test document using EDD. I can navigate to the download page via the ‘All Downloads’ view button on the dashboard, but for some reason I can’t find the download when I open the website. There aren’t any buttons in the menu for downloads, and I don’t know where to find the download.
I’ve used this plugin with success before:
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/paid-downloads/
You can set it to be free or to charge a fee for downloads.
No email is required for free downloads, just click a link and get the file. And you can keep track of download numbers in the admin panel.
Thanks! I didn’t know those videos existed. Will use them now. 🙂
As I’m talking to EDD’s developer, I noticed on another forum you said to a user it’s possible to bypass the checkout completely. I presume I’d have to tinker around with the code? Is it easy? Recommended? Risky? You suggested the user install Download Monitor instead. I’d prefer to use your plugin if possible.
By the way, here’s where you said it:
http://wordpress.stackexchange.com/questions/73574/how-to-bypass-the-easy-digital-downloads-checkout-process
It’s definitely possible, but not easy 🙂
Oh well! I liked EDD, but I know that logins and checkouts will put my users off. I also tried Download Monitor, Paid Downloads and neither of those were what I wanted. I know that there are websites which offer lots of downloads without logins, but I don’t know what they are using to run those sites. 🙁
What about Download Monitor didn’t work for you?
It’s ok but I find it annoying how I have to create a new page for every download, upload the download separately, and then link to it with a shortcode in the page. What I would prefer is to upload a file, enter in the details and category and a picture, and then not have to create a page for each file. I think that’s why I’ve gravitated towards ecommerce plugins at first because they treat the files as products.
Every time I add a file, create an associated page, and link them, I keep thinking that there must be a plugin that doesn’t need me to do all this!
There is a short code in Download Monitor to display a list/grid of downloads automatically.
I think I saw that. I envisage my site having hundreds of files to download, and the user being able to click on one of the files in the grid you mentioned to bring up more information, plus a nice download button. Can Download Monitor do this?
Not the play button but it can handle hundreds of files. It has support for categories so you can separate them as well into multiple pages.
Download Monitor is best one in this case. If you want to offer a downloads only for membership people, then go for shopping theme and list the product for free.
