After extracting the files you should have two directories; ppalstore--cgi-bin
ppalstore--html

1. Make sure the first line (#!/usr/bin/perl) is pointing to Perl correctly.

Escape all special characters! Do not use programs such as Word, Frontpage, Dreamweaver, PageMill etc since they may add hidden characters which can corrupt cgi scripts. Use as simple a text editor as possible.

2. Create two directories named ppalstore. One in your cgi-bin the other in the directory where you install HTML files. (http://www.your.domain/ppalstore/)

3. Change all variables as described within the script (designated by CAPS) The paths for the included files are okay IF you followed step 2. Skip Font Attributes, Email Subject, Email Body, variables for now. This is pretty much all done already, just change "yourdomain.com" to your real domain for initial installation.

4. Upload all ppalstore--cgi-bin to your cgi-bin/ppalstore in ascii/text format.

cgi-bin --> ppalstore --> ppalstore.cgi
cgi-bin --> ppalstore --> carts
cgi-bin --> ppalstore --> db --> db.file
cgi-bin --> ppalstore --> db --> order.log
cgi-bin --> ppalstore --> manager --> manager.cgi

5. Upload all ppalstore--html to your other ppalstore directory in ascii/text format.

ppalstore --> button --> all button image files (binary format)
ppalstore --> html --> footer.html
ppalstore --> html --> header.html
ppalstore --> html --> help.html
ppalstore --> html --> index.html
ppalstore --> html --> orderform.html
ppalstore --> html --> store.html
ppalstore --> html --> thanks.html
ppalstore --> options --> all option files (i.e., name.txt)
ppalstore --> images --> all image files (binary format)

Do not use Binary format and do not use Frontpage extensions to upload the file. Do not use "all-in-one" web programs. Keep it simple and use a program such as CuteFTP or WS-FTP for Windows or Fetch for Macintosh.

6. Call the store script using your full URL to ppalstore.cgi:

http://www.your.domain/cgi-bin/ppalstore/ppalstore.cgi

7. Place an order to check that you have sendmail set properly.

8. Change the Font Attributes, Email Subject & Email Body skipped in step 3. Use default settings as a guide.

9. Continue configuration of the appearance and links for your store by modifying store.html, header.html, footer.html and orderform.html. Make sure you change the links back to your store in the header. Please leave my copyright information in the footer but feel free to add your own information above it. Create your own button images following my naming scheme or use the buttons provided.

10. Since the option files are critical to your store, please understand how to modify them by following any of the existing option files provided. They are pretty much self-explanatory but here's a quick review:

<SELECT NAME = "option|1|%%PRODUCT_ID%%">
<OPTION VALUE = "No Gift Card Selected">Gift Card
<OPTION VALUE = "No Gift Card">- - - - - - - - - -
<OPTION VALUE = "Gift Card + $|2.00">Yes +$2.00
<OPTION VALUE = "No Gift Card">No
</SELECT>

You can use as many options as is practical, always remember to increment the option by changing the number between the hash marks (|1|)

<SELECT NAME = "option|1|%%PRODUCT_ID%%">

Note how this formatting adds $2.00 to the purchase price when selected:

<OPTION VALUE = "Gift Card + $|2.00">Yes +$2.00

Note how this formatting subtracts $2.00 from the purchase price when selected:

<OPTION VALUE = "Gift Card - $|-2.00">No -$2.00

12. Create links on your store.html for any new categories you would like to use. Follow this format:

<A HREF=ppalstore.cgi?product=CATEGORY&cart_id=>CATEGORY</a>

Note that you can use a text link, image link or both.

Remember to protect your manager script with .htaccess!