Frequently Asked Questions

Merchant OrderForm Web Based Shopping Cart System @ 2001
What do you want to order today ?

Table of Contents | FAQ | Installation | Security Issues | Building Input Pages | Formatting
Configurations1 | Configurations2 | About Configurations | Troubleshooting | Customizing

" After examining countless shopping carts, this was the only solution providing the flexibility to customize it precisely to my business needs." -- Comments: CGI Resource Index

"This is by far the best one in it's class, don't be fooled by the low price!"
-- Editor's Note, WebAttack.com Our Rating:

"A brilliant script and I've seen alot!" -- Project Manager, Getme Internet Solutions


Frequently asked questions

 

What is Merchant OrderForm ? Sections LIst How Do I ?

MOF is a Perl based shopping cart program. It can be installed on any server as a CGI program. It is a stand alone program that resides and operates on your server, so you don't pay monthly fees, and aren't limited to a certain number of products.

As a Web based shopping cart, MOF is in a class by itself with regard to flexibility, adaptability for varied ordering situations, payment methods, and design and layout.

MOFcart can accept unlimited product input and options for size, color, text, price.

With the Merchant OrderForm Shopping Cart ..

Web developers have :

    • a powerful tool for adding shopping carts to sites they develop

CGI programmers have :

    • clean, open source code
    • built in customizing potential
    • a core shopping cart to integrate with ecommerce projects

Online merchants have :

    • a very stable on site shopping cart
    • no monthly fees or product limits
    • a customer friendly process, from buying through checkout
    • a seamless look and feel with existing site design and layout

CGI students have :

    • one of the best hands on CGI learning packages on the net

 

What skill level do I need to install MOF ? Sections LIst How Do I ?

MOF is not a point and click windows program.

You do not have to be a cgi-perl expert to install and use MOFcart; however, the more HTML, CGI savvy you have, the more you can do with MOF.

For best results, you'll need :

    • some basic understanding of web Forms
    • ability to use a web page editor
    • ability to use an FTP program
    • ability to use an ASCII plain text editor


If you're unfamiliar with the above terms and concepts, and want the MOFcart on your web site, then you may want to consider having us do a professional installation.

If you want to do it yourself, MOF has great documentation, plenty of examples, and even a troubleshooting mode built in. If you catch on fast with computer stuff, web stuff, then you'll be fine. If computer stuff is a struggle for you, then you're probably in over your head.

Experienced Web professionals often find it a better use of their time to just have us do a complete installation for their project.

You're welcome to visit the installation instructions for specifics. In fact, the entire MOF documentation is maintained online. See > Table of Contents



What kind of servers can I use MOF with ? Sections LIst How Do I ?

Almost all commercial Web Space has everything that MOF needs to run successfully.

Here's a checklist :

    • ability to run independent Perl-CGI scripts on your web site

    • MOF's native environment is Unix/Linux servers

    • If NT/Win the Perl module Net::SMTP is needed (standard)

    • You must have FTP access to the web site,
      - or - a server control panel for uploading files to your site

    • Your server must have Perl v5.01 or higher installed (standard)

    • If taking live credit card numbers over your site :
      SSL (Secure Sockets Layers) must be provided by your server



Can I use it on Windows ? Sections LIst How Do I ?

Merchant OrderForm is a set of Perl scripts.  They are not Windows programs, and will not run as native Windows programs.

If you are new to installing CGI scripts for a Web Site, and downloading this package to your Windows PC, then your job will be to uncompress (unZIP) the package and follow the instructions in the documentation for installation on your web site's server.

Front Page does not edit or install CGI scripts. You should not attempt to use Front Page to install MOF.

Seriously, can I run it on windows ?

If you want to run Merchant OrderForm locally on your Windows PC, You'll need (1) Web Server software for windows, and (2) the Win32 Perl interpreter installed.  When you have both installed and operating on Windows, then MOF will operate from your web browser, as if it were actually on the Internet, but running on your Windows machine instead. 

Yes, you can use MS Personal Web Server, but configuring it to run Perl via the CGI is not a friendly process.  If you want to do this, consult the Usenet discussions for PWS.



Is it linked to any Authorization Services Sections LIst How Do I ?

As of this release, we have the following POST gateway connection kits for MOF:

  • AuthorizeNet
  • Bank of America
  • WorldPay
  • PayPal

Please consult the Updates Page to determine if additional gateway connection kits have been added.

Important note: PayPal's Web Accept link is built into MOF, so you can simply turn it on from the MOF configuration file. Integration of other POST gateways usually require intermediate technical skill with Forms and CGI.

MOF v2.4 has customizing support built in for adding POST gateways. The MOF documentation has more detail on gateways, and how to customize MOF for other gateways.

 

 

What features does MOF have ? Sections LIst How Do I ?

Here's a partial list of features:

  • Unlimited product options across your site using Forms
  • Accepts a wide variety of input types
  • Price adjusting product options
  • Price input fields for products or options
  • Unlimited number of store front pages
  • Built in PayPal submit feature
  • Ability to customize shipping options, sales tax, discounts, insurance, handling
  • Ability to match the look and feel of your web site
  • Smart-looking invoices, mail notices, & order confirmations
  • Allows for taxable or non-taxable items
  • Friendly and intuitive ordering process for online customers
  • Can compute sales tax before or after S. H. & I.
  • Can identify four separate or consolidated tax domains
  • Remembers your customers last shipping address
  • Presents a full preview of the order at anytime
  • Ability to Save an invoice copy to the Web
  • Onboard credit card validation algorithms
  • Eight credit types built in
  • Seven other payment methods available
  • Scrambles cc and check numbers for mailing
  • Almost all of its behavior is configurable
  • Clean open source code for plug-ins and additional programming
  • companion 2 tier Affiliate earnings system
  • database logging of orders

 

 

More kudos Sections LIst How Do I ?

"This [developer's store] is the best ordering Web site I have ever dealt with. Clear, orderly layout, and sequence of entering information, throughout. Congratulations. You did it right!" -- shopper comments

"I really enjoyed the ability to hack the code to suit my needs. Thanks for making 'readable' commented code flow." -- Shaffer Interactive

"Very nice job with MOF! The documentation is fantastic. And although I think the cart system itself is the best I've seen, the documentation really sets it apart from all the others out there."
-- Barracuda Magazine

"Over the years I have installed many cgi and perl scripts, and there's always a patch or a rewrite that needs to be done. Then of course, there's those scripts which deserve a firm toss in the recycle bin. I cannot begin to tell you how refreshing it is, to pick up a script that is superbly documented, well organized, and despite the task difficulty was easy to install and setup. Simply beautiful!"
-- MTDSnet.com

"Thank You Very Much for your professional and educational influence on the Internet with this very functional and highly usable product!"

 

 

 

 

These programs are copyright @ MerchantOrderForm.com, MerchantPal.com 2001