This marks my first entry on the status of version 5.0.0 development, so I'll do my best to bring the processes up to date.

I hope to be able to add updates as the project progresses towards the final release of this much anticipated release, so here it goes...

I've been working on the new version for over 2 years now. So far, it's been a very long development cycle compared to the quick paced release cycles circa 4.0k. I've worked on the core code, with the help of Eric, Mark S., Alan Young, and other volunteers over the past little while to bring probably the biggest AgoraCart overhaul in the history of our humble project. here's a quick list of what has been accomplished so far:

1) Sub categories using a userfield. can have multiple sub categories in same main category. mostly used in agorascript functions in header.
2) options pricing protection. validates options prices or errors out if different than what is in options file for the product in question.
3) negative price blocks. blocks negative priced options if desired
4) minimum order amount. errors out if minimum order not met
5) speed enhancements on searches... this includes looking up products in any form or fashion
6) non-taxable indicators. if not taxable, item will be skipped if turned on and indicated in a userfield for each individual item
7) USPS shipping updated. includes international shipping in real time.
8) UPS shipping updated. this is a bit more accurate now, but the members only file recommended.
9) UPS International shipping. can ship internaionally and from 14 countries. this is a members only add-on
10) only shipping types desired and/or installed are shown in manager config areas
11) custom shipping types config for cut and paste into your order forms added to shipping manager
12) main settings manager rearranged into topical areas
13) CSS compliance added to AgoraCart... no more digging thru core code to layout and design cart to match your site and/or to chnage display attributes of cart items.. this is a huge bonus.
14) Inventory tracking. members only though. allows inventory deduction at checkout or at add-to-cart, your choice.
15) inventory checking. members only. allows you to check status of all items below certain levels... but only on items that have inventory defined.
16) discount and coupon manager. this applies to jsut about any level of discounting. percentages, flat rates, etc all supported. members only add-on
17) order management. this is expanded and still being worked on. basically you can export, track, and update individual orders.
18) electronic deleivery. members only add-on. will allow for downloadable products. can set to expire in a couple hours or use one time download then it's not available.. your choice.
19) more codehooks added for flexibility for future custom code
20) headers and footers by category. drop in and go by naming a file for each according to product category name. displays them automagically or uses default stare headers/footers if none uploaded
21) same as #20 but basically custome productPage.inc files for layouts per category
22)more cart userfields. this is the shopping cart only, not the product database userfields. this allowed us to set downloadable, non-taxable, and multiple origins for shipping
23) multiple shipping origins. you can now ship or drop ship from multiple locations in realtime ratings. uses a product database userfield. nearly unlimited origins (too many will take a while to quote out)


as far as things we are still working on, we are working on ways to check for updates and actually install those updates to the core code only, new look for the managers, new look and skins for the cart shopping areas, and a few other features.

Well I am out of time to expand on this subject, so I'll try to keep folks up to date as I can

New designs and looks are being implemented for this next release. So far we have 3 designs with each available in 4-7 colors each.

New buttons sets will also be avaialable in many flavors from ugly to fancy to professional.

John has been working hard on as many new templates as he can. John is one of our in-house designers that started using AgoraCart for his own sales project involving custom covers for Dave Mathews Band CDs and DVDs

I am looking forward to the cool new templates for AgoraCart. The part I'm not looking forward to is trying to figure out how make these new themes and the implementation within the managers seem somewhat automated :) But I will prevail in this endeavor.

Call to Designers:

If you design solutions around AgoraCart and have templates you would like to share, we will place links to your design site in whatever managers we cook up for the theme(s) you donate and/or links inteh templates themselves to your site. This can result in some very big exposure for your services and skills as it distributed to the 500,000+ potential users of your design. If you would like to donate a design or button set, please contact me in the forums or by email: Mister.Ed at this domain name (AgoraCart.com), and tell me all about it.

I am also doing the intial steps invloved in redesigning a new look and feel for the manager areas. I also hoep that during the redesign that users will find the managers will also be easier to use and/or find. I've been working on making it also easier to follow the flow of links and where theya re located, however, I'm still finding that some managers need to be quite long in length until I can figure a way have all the settings available without a hundred settings buttons arranged by categories/topics. So in the meantime, there might still be some overwhelming pages during the store management process.

ME

For those looking for more gateways to be developed, below is a list some gateways that are being considered for release for 5.x.x versions:

AuthorizeNet AIM: Would allow transactions via their API without leaving your store. This will be a members only gateway.

AgoraPay XML: This would be a more advanced gateway using XML API with a lot of features and reporting possible. Some of that capability will be left to the imagination of individual developers that use the gateway. This will be a members only gateway.

BluePay: Another gateway. If they fund it, it will be free. So if you'd like to see this one added... ask them to develop it or fund it. Donations also taken.

iTransact XML: This would be a more advanced gateway using XML API. This will be a members only gateway.

NiftyPay: Another free gateway. This one will target folks that want a real CCMA and gateway but at pricing comparible to using PayPal and 2checkout... a great entry level gateway for those starting out without paying large setup/entry costs.

Nochex: A UK gateway. If they fund it, it will be free. So if you'd like to see this one added... ask them to develop it or fund it. Donations also taken.

PayMate: An Australia version of PayPal. this will be a members only file.

PayPal Pro: A real gateway by the PayPal folks. this will be a members only file.

ProTX: A UK gateway. If they fund it, it will be free. So if you'd like to see this one added... ask them to develop it or fund it. Donations also taken.

PsiGate: A Canadian gateway ... also serves USA and Canadian based business jointly. This is more of an update from 3.2x versions. If they fund it, it will be free. So if you'd like to see this one added... ask them to develop it or fund it. Donations also taken.

WorldPay: A multi-national gateway. If they fund it, it will be free. So if you'd like to see this one added... ask them to develop it or fund it. Donations also taken.

YourPay: A multi-national gateway. If they fund it, it will be free. So if you'd like to see this one added... ask them to develop it or fund it. Donations also taken.

If you'd like to see those needing donations, please donate to see the gateway developed... either code or funding. Money donations are taken at:

www.AgoraCart.com/donation.htm

Here's a list of what we are working on for gateways... fixes too:

2Checkout: needs some minor fixes. Update for discounts & CSS.

AuthorizeNet SIM: looks okay. Update for discounts & CSS.

AgoraPay: will be expanding greatly to cover design items like headers, footers, cards taken, and other setups that have been available for over 3 years. Update for discounts & CSS.

eWay: minor tweaks. Update for discounts & CSS.

Internet Secure: minor tweaks. Update for discounts & CSS.

iTransact: will be expanding greatly to cover design items like headers, footers, cards taken, and other setups that have been available for over 3 years. Update for discounts & CSS.

Offline: minor tweaks. Update for discounts & CSS.

PayPal v2: minor tweaks. Update for discounts & CSS.

PayPal IPN: minor updates, but for th emost part is working well. Update for discounts & CSS.

Plug N Pay: no status and no problems reported. Update for discounts & CSS.

Verisign PayFlow: Update for discounts & CSS.

We will also be looking at adding things like: agree to TOS, agree to Privacy Policy and oither items as required by some localities with "long arm" laws (ie: Europe, California, etc). I will also be looking to make affiliate program tie-ins a bit easier as time permits.

For information on upcoming & new gateways, see the listings in the Coming Attractions section of this blog.

ME