J3.x:Install From Web (For Developers)

introduced the new Install from web feature that allows direct installations of extensions that are listed on JED. Making your extensions that are already on JED is a two step process:

1. Fill out the 2 new fields on JED

If you edit your extension listing on JED you will see the following new fields. Select the type of your extension from the list - there are four options:

1. None
2. Free Direct Download Link
3. Free but Registration Required at Link
4. Commerical Purchase Required at Link

Then in the second field put a link in to:

a) If your extension is just a free direct download link - then put in a link to the update XML you have or direct to the zip file

b) If your extension requires registration or is a commercial extension then you need to put a link to your site in (generally your sites registration page).

If your extension is a free direct download link then all your work is done and you can ignore the next step :)

2a. Setting your site and extensions up for a Free but Registration Required Extension

If you require a consumer to register or be using a commercial extension then you have to set up a plugin on your site to deal with the user registration. A good starting point is a plugin that was developed specifically for this purpose found here.

This plugin is specifically designed for the Joomla User Component however it will also integrate nicely with Community Builder simply by changing the entry point URL in the plugins parameters - generally it is recommended (but my no means compulsory) to point this to your login page. Note an empty value of this parameter will default to pointing to the Joomla User Component Login page.

The final parameter you have to set up is to point the plugin to your extensions update XML file or zip file. This is done in the Files to Download parameter

On each line put the JED number of your extension followed by the link to the extension for example:

30458=>http://www.example.com/updates/extension_update.xml

2b. Setting your site and extensions up for a Commercial Extension

This will need more work than the previous step. It is advised that you download the same plugin - however you will have to integrate into the plugin an extra check to see if the user has purchased your extension. As different extensions implement this in many different ways it is left to extension developers to implement this functionality.