Key Codes
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Key-codes are typically used to unlock trial software, activate phone cards, distribute passwords, or to send unique information with the purchase of a product. When a product that has key codes is purchased, a key code is sent to the customer by email. Key codes can be distributed with any product in the AShop catalogue.

Note: Key-codes can be distributed in the original key-code text file list order or in random order. This order of distribution is set within Store Configuration > Shop Parameters.

To set a product to distribute key-codes:
Within Add Products or Edit Products, click on the browse button next to the Unlock Keys File box and upload a keycode.txt file.

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Note: This file must be a text file where each line contains exactly the text that is to be sent to each customer who purchases the product. This information will be stored in a database table called unlockkeys.

A key code product will display Direct Email Delivery next to the product name in the store catalogue and will display Email delivery next to it within Edit Catalogue. When a customer buys a key-code product an unused key-code is selected from the database and included in the customer's receipt. If manual payment processing is used, an "activate order" link will be included in the administrator's order notice. Upon receipt of payment, the administrator may then click the link to complete the order and send the key code to the customer.

The number of remaining key codes is listed in Edit Catalogue next to each product that has key codes. clip0049

The text is a link. Click on the link to view the list of used and available key codes.

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Each time a key code is ordered, AShop checks how many unused keys are left in the database. When there are less than 4 keys left a warning message is sent telling the shop administrator to upload new keys to the database. If there was no keys available at all the warning message tells the shop administrator to send one manually to the customer and includes a link to the customers email address.

The key codes may be distributed in random order or in the original text file list order. Select random or list order in Shop Parameters.