[This is an automated response sent once every 360 days]
Hi,
If you are a friend or a client (or both 8-), be assured I will answer this
as soon as possible. My location today is:
IN -- you can always phone me at my office, or
page me in an emergency
OUT -- email is the best way to reach me -- you could
try my pager if urgent
--> AWAY -- I am not reachable, but will be checking email
VACATION -- I am not reachable, but clients can get support by
sending email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Clients need not read the rest of this message.
***** ******
***** If you have asked a question about MiniVend ******
***** ******
I would like to answer all well-presented questions about MiniVend, but
that is impossible.
I usually respond to:
- real bug reports, meaning well-analyzed with concrete symptoms
- suggestions for MiniVend enhancements
- contributions to the code
I usually don't respond to:
- questions about how to make your HTML or minivend page work
how you want it to
- installation questions
- compatibility or capability questions
- tutorial requests
- partnership requests
- any question about NT
- general cries for help
If I don't answer, please don't be offended. MiniVend has gotten so
popular that if I answered all questions I would have no time
left for myself. Or for anything else, for that matter!
If you have not already thoroughly done so, I encourage you to browse
and search http://www.minivend.com/minivend/ and http://www.minivend.com/
and read the documentation, mail list archive, FAQ, and other information
located there. You should be able to find the answers you need on the
web site or via the mail list. See http://www.minivend.com/minivend/faq/
for common problems.
Top 5 current questions answered
--------------------------------
1. How much does MiniVend cost?
MiniVend is FREE. NO CHARGE. NO HIDDEN CHARGES. But no free technical
support, either. (Except from the various user mail lists with over
1200 subscribers.)
2. I can't unpack your file. Is it corrupted?
The archive files available on Minivend.com have been unpacked and
used thousands of times. If you have trouble getting it unpacked,
make sure you are unpacking the .tar.gz file on a UNIX machine for
use there, or the .zip or .exe file for use on a Windows machine.
If you are trying to unpack on a Windows machine and upload
individual files to a UNIX-based virtual server, this will
not work. Upload the .tar.gz file and run tar(1) from the UNIX
server. MiniVend will not be usable without telnet access.
3. Should I use MiniVend?
Probably not if you only have a few items. MiniVend is designed
for handling larger catalogs; it uses databases and can get quite
complex. On the other hand, no free e-commerce system is more
powerful.
A note on the complexity issue; many people from all skill levels have
created MiniVend catalogs. However there is a fairly steep learning
curve. Perl knowledge is not required but is helpful; basic understanding
of databases is more helpful yet. Bottom line: if you are expecting
to "point and click" your way to happiness, you should probably go
elsewhere.
MiniVend also requires a stable, high-performance server underneath
it. Not all ISPs handle it well. And if you are using Windows NT or
any other Windows, I don't recommend using MiniVend in a production
environment.
4. Where is MiniVend 3 at?
MiniVend 4 is now the release version of Minivend. You can still
get Minivend 3 at the main site on the download page.
4a. Where are all the old versions?
The old versions of Minivend contained a file where there was a
copyright problem. They cannot be distributed any longer.
5. Can MiniVend do....
Probably yes, almost no matter what it is. In the words of one experienced
user:
"I start out by assuming that if there is something I want
to do, there is a way to do it with MiniVend."
The virtually unlimited extensibility of Perl means that most
things are possible. MiniVend tries to live up to the Perl creed:
Make the routine things easy.
Make the difficult things possible.
Sometimes it even succeeds. 8-)
-------------------------------
Two subject lines guaranteed not to win friends and influence people
1. HELLLPP!!!!
2. Bug?
------------------------------
There is no tutorial or other documentation that is being hidden
away somewhere. There *is* almost a megabyte of HTML-based documentation
available with MiniVend -- unfortunately only in English. There is
also an extended documentation package that contains the FAQ and
an alphabetical tag reference.
There is no PostScript, Microsoft Word, or other version available,
but the POD source file can be made into several formats
with tools that you might find in the net. The pod file is at
http://www.minivend.com/minivend/minivend.pod.) and is included
with Minivend 4.
MiniVend support is handled through the web site:
http://www.minivend.com/minivend/
or the MiniVend users mail list:
http://www.minivend.com/minivend/maillist.html
In particular, try using the search feature at
http://www.minivend.com/minivend/
to direct you to common questions. (The search engine uses MiniVend
and Glimpse, by the way.)
Good luck with MiniVend!
Regards,
Mike Heins [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___
Internet Robotics |_ _|____
Few blame themselves until they 131 Willow Lane, Floor 2 | || _ \
have exhausted all other Oxford, OH 45056 | || |_) |
possibilities. |___| _ <
-- anonymous http://www.minivend.com/ 513.523.7621 |_| \_\
