Shopping Cart & E-Commerce - User Guide¶
Overview¶
The Shopping Cart system allows visitors to request reproductions of archival materials or purchase digital copies. The system supports both free requests (Request to Publish workflow) and paid purchases (E-Commerce mode with PayFast integration).
How It Works¶
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SHOPPING CART WORKFLOW │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ │
│ │ BROWSE │───▶│ ADD TO │───▶│ VIEW │ │
│ │ ARCHIVE │ │ CART │ │ CART │ │
│ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────┬───────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ┌──────────────────────────┴───────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ ▼ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ │
│ │ REQUEST MODE │ │ E-COMMERCE MODE │ │
│ │ (Free) │ │ (Paid) │ │
│ └────────┬─────────┘ └────────┬─────────┘ │
│ │ │ │
│ ▼ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ │
│ │ Fill Request │ │ Select Products │ │
│ │ Form │ │ & Quantities │ │
│ └────────┬─────────┘ └────────┬─────────┘ │
│ │ │ │
│ ▼ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ │
│ │ Submit for │ │ Proceed to │ │
│ │ Review │ │ Checkout │ │
│ └────────┬─────────┘ └────────┬─────────┘ │
│ │ │ │
│ ▼ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ │
│ │ Staff Reviews │ │ Pay via │ │
│ │ & Responds │ │ PayFast │ │
│ └──────────────────┘ └────────┬─────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ │
│ │ Order Complete │ │
│ │ Download Ready │ │
│ └──────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
For Public Users¶
Adding Items to Cart¶
- Browse the archive and find an item with a digital object (image, document, etc.)
- Look for the shopping cart icon (🛒) in the action buttons
- Click "Add to Cart" - the button changes to "Go to Cart"
Note: You can add items as a guest or logged-in user. Guest carts are saved in your browser session.
Viewing Your Cart¶
- Click the Cart link in the navigation menu, or
- Click "Go to Cart" button on any item you've added
- Your cart shows all items with thumbnails and titles
Checkout Process¶
Request Mode (Free)¶
If the archive uses Request to Publish mode:
- Click "Proceed to Checkout" or "Submit Request to Publish"
- Fill in the request form:
- Your name and contact details
- Institution/organization
- Planned use of the images
- Motivation for request
- When you need the images by
- Submit your request
- Staff will review and contact you
E-Commerce Mode (Paid)¶
If the archive has e-commerce enabled:
- Select product types for each item:
- Digital Download (JPEG, TIFF, etc.)
- Prints (A4, A3, A2, etc.)
- Commercial License
- Research Use (often free)
- See real-time price calculations including VAT
- Click "Proceed to Checkout"
- Enter billing details
- Complete payment via PayFast
- Receive order confirmation and download links
Guest Checkout¶
You don't need an account to use the cart: - Items are saved in your browser session - At checkout, enter your email for order confirmation - If you create an account later, guest cart items can merge
For Staff / Administrators¶
Managing E-Commerce Settings¶
Access: Admin → E-Commerce Settings
General Tab¶
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Enable E-Commerce | Toggle between Request mode and Paid mode |
| Currency | ZAR, USD, EUR, etc. |
| VAT Rate | Percentage (e.g., 15% for South Africa) |
| VAT Number | Your organization's VAT registration |
Payment Tab (PayFast)¶
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Merchant ID | From your PayFast dashboard |
| Merchant Key | From your PayFast dashboard |
| Passphrase | Security passphrase (recommended) |
| Sandbox Mode | Enable for testing, disable for live payments |
Product Types¶
Configure available products: - Digital downloads (JPEG, TIFF Master, PDF) - Physical prints (various sizes) - Licenses (Research, Commercial, Editorial)
Pricing¶
Set prices per product type. Prices are VAT-inclusive.
Processing Orders¶
Access: Admin → Orders
- View all orders with status filters
- Click an order to see details
- Update order status as you process it:
- Pending → Awaiting payment
- Paid → Payment received
- Processing → Being prepared
- Completed → Ready/Delivered
- Cancelled / Refunded
Request to Publish Review¶
Access: Admin → Request to Publish
- View all reproduction requests
- Review requester details and motivation
- Approve or decline requests
- Contact requester with next steps
Status Reference¶
Order Statuses¶
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🟡 Pending | Awaiting payment |
| 🔵 Paid | Payment confirmed |
| 🟠 Processing | Order being prepared |
| 🟢 Completed | Order fulfilled |
| ⚫ Cancelled | Order cancelled |
| 🔴 Refunded | Payment returned |
Request Statuses¶
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🟡 Pending | Awaiting review |
| 🟢 Approved | Request granted |
| 🔴 Declined | Request denied |
Tips¶
- Save your cart by logging in - guest carts may be lost if you clear browser data
- Check product types carefully - different formats have different prices
- Research Use is often free for academic/non-commercial purposes
- Commercial licenses are required for business or advertising use
Need Help?¶
Contact the archive staff if you: - Can't find the cart button on an item - Have questions about pricing or licensing - Need special arrangements for large orders - Experience payment issues