Chapter 10 - Troubleshooting

Successful troubleshooting is the result of careful observation, deductive reasoning, and an organized approach to solving the problem.
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How do I upload files?
All .ini files should be uploaded in ASCII mode.
All .class, .cab and .jar files should be uploaded in Binary mode.
JSCCGI.cgi should be uploaded in ASCII mode.


I don't have a picture for each item can I use "*" as a place holder?
No. You must provide some type of image. You can use generic image like a company logo. This is much better than no image at all. You can use this generic image for any item that does not have its own image. This is how it was intended to be used.


Why can't I run the JSC cart locally?
Try a different browser. It seems that IE 3.0 will not run it locally. It is the security feature of Internet Explorer 3.02.  Try to use Netscape 3.0. It will work. If you are using FrontPage 98 try to run it through Web server that comes with FrontPage. If you upload it to your server it should work fine.


Can I change the language in the program to Swedish, also to Swedish currency?
Yes you can change the language and currency to Swedish with Deluxe 1.1 version. Change JSCStrings.ini file. It contains all character strings that JSC displays. You can change '$' to anything you like.


I'm interested in your shopping cart system. But my Webpresence Provider runs Unix on the server. So will it work also with Unix?
Yes, you can run it on Unix. Java is an independent system and runs on most platforms.


Can we buy one copy and use it on multiple sites ?
You need to buy an individual copy for each storefront/domain/client. You can not get one copy and use it on multiple domains. Please read the License agreement in jsc2.zip.


Is it possible to implement a COD/Prepay payment option?
The Deluxe version 1.1 supports this already. When you describe credit card type in the JSCChkOut.ini file put "*" in front of each description. If you have "*" the JSC will validate credit card number. If you don't have "*" it will not validate it. This way you can have other payment methods like COD. We describe all this in the new updated user manual.


Does your software allow importing from a database such as MS Access?
It should be relatively easy to import from MS Access into JSC. You need to create Tables in Access that have the same fields as JSC catalogs (See User Manual). You can do all of your data entry, sorting, etc. in Access. When the data ready, export it into a text file. Use Export Delimited Text option in Access specifying '|' as a field separator. Access will extract data into regular ASCII text file that you upload into JSC Cat directory. I have done this before. Works great. I think this is the way JSC was intended to be used. MS Access (or similar) on you local PC and ASCII text extract on the server.


I have a catalog defined, and have a * in the description text field, it still tries to go out and find a file - it then returns an error saying it couldn't open the file. The error window doesn't go away.
The JSC is stricter about text files than other items that is why it insists on having a text file. What I suggest is to create a sample text file with generic message. Use this file anyplace you don't want to specify long description.


Can your cart system handle several hundred catalog items? I have several hundred items that I want to make available to my customers through use of online search function.
The best approach is to create several catalog files by category. Update the menu file to point to each catalog depending on the menu option. When customer selects specific menu option only one catalog will be loaded and displayed. This way the customer can search the menu and find items that he needs quickly. The ViaJCart cart can handle thousands of items this way.

There is actually no limit to how many products this cart can handle. We have clients with catalog around 10000 items without any problems. Actually, this cart can handle a lot more. The key is to organize data into small catalogs that will be loaded as needed. The CGI search can search 10000 items database in few seconds.

When I select a catalog, as the catalog comes up a small Error Message on the screen comes up.. the message is: "CannotLoadCat:java.util:NoSuchElementException" and then the catalog opens...
There are several possibilities why you get "CannotLoadCat:java.util:NoSuchElementException" error message.
1. There are extra lines in your cat file. JSC checks these lines for data and does not find any.
2. There is a missing field. Price for example.
3. Make sure to keep the same upper/lower case for all JSC subdirectories. For example "Cat" instead of "cat" directory.
4. Cat file does not exist.


I get a similar error when ordering some of the products: "ErrorReadingCatText java.io.FileNotFoundException....."
1. Check to see if upper/lower case is the same in cat and txt file.
2. Text file does not exist.


Do I have to put my web page in "jsc" folder?
You don't have to place the web page in the same folder but you need to add codebase parameter to the applet statement. We have this is Chapter 1 of the manual.
*Note: If you place your html page with an applet code in the previous level of directory from "jsc" directory you will need to add codebase parameter to an applet code. Replace first line above with the following line:
<applet archive="jsc.jar" code=JSC.class codebase="jsc" width=50
height=50>


Since my domain does not have the SMTP setup for email, can the CGI script process the order and email it?
The CGI script can process the order and email it. You need to upload JSCCGI.cgi into your cgi-bin directory on the server in ASCII format. Change JSC.ini. Disable FTP by specifying FTPserver=* Enable CGI by specifying server name and script name like this CGIserver=your server CGIscript=/cgi-bin/JSCCGI.cgi This CGI script calls sendmail program. Make sure you have it on your server. Ask your provider if you can run custom CGI scripts.


I cannot get the checkout process to complete...I get the message "no response from cgi script"
Make sure that JSCCGI.cgi file was uploaded in ASCII mode. If you are running under Unix server make sure this file marked as executable file (chmod 777 JSCCGI.cgi). If you are running under NT server rename JSCCGI.cgi to JSCCGI.pl and change CGIscript in JSC.ini to CGIscript=/cgi-bin/JSCCGI.pl These are the most common problems for this error message.
This shopping cart can be used with any SMTP mail server. Keep in mind that many providers have various restrictions for SMTP servers. Sometimes they only send email to users on the same web server and suppress others. Ask your provider if you can run custom CGI scripts.

This applet has 3 different ways you can send orders to the server.
1. CGI by using cgi script JSCCGI.cgi in your cgi-bin
2. FTP by specifying user id and password
3. SMTP email server directly. Many provides have restrictions here.

The best method to use is CGI, followed by SMTP, and FTP. I suggest you disable FTP by specifying FTPserver=* in JSC.ini and use CGI if you can.

To use CGI script correctly make sure the following has happened:
- you uploaded your JSCCGI.cgi in ASCII mode to cgi-bin directory
- you changed attributes and made JSCCGI.cgi an executable file
- have correct CGIserver and CGIscript parameters in JSC.ini

Some providers have restrictions for their SMTP servers and do not give you the ability to run your custom CGI scripts. Ask your provider about these. Also ask if they have "sendmail" program. If not what is the name of the mail program that they use. You can modify the script to point to their mail program.

The CGI script calls "sendmail" program to send email. Sometimes you need to specify exact pass of the sendmail program.

For example in your script you have:
$mailprog = "sendmail " ;
But in our script we have:
$mailprog = "/usr/sbin/sendmail " ;

You need to change this line in your script and specify path for the sendmail program on your server. Ask your provider where the sendmail is located.

We have installed dozens of these carts without any problems but that mainly depends on the environment on the server. The best environment is Unix based server since it offers more flexibility and availability of the "sendmail" program. That is all you really need.


When I am in the program and have items in my cart and go to edit them with the shopping cart button I get the message: Applet JSC java.util.NoSuchElementException. How do I fix that?
You probably get NoSuchElement error when you go into the shopping cart because your JSCChkOut.ini is not setup correctly. It might have a blank like or a missing field. If you specify only one shipping method I suggest to repeat this line twice. It works better under IE 3.0 this way.


My Java buttons don't show up. How do I fix this?
Java applets are case sensitive so "Help.gif" and "help.gif" are treated as different files. If your button applet is trying to read "Help.gif" but the only file on the server is "help.gif", your bitmap will not appear. All of the directories are case sensitive as well. Make sure you have "Sys" directory instead of "sys".


Is there any way to make the shopping cart load faster?
Java programs do take awhile to load. Our cart is quite small in size for the functionality that it provides, MSIE 3.0 and 4.0 uses .cab file (compressed file) which is only 59K. Netscape 4.0 uses .jar file which is 81K.

1.You can do a trick to make it appear that it loads faster by placing the cart applet on the separate page. Let say Main.htm and make the size of the applet smaller. Add the same cart code to the shopping page just increase width and height to normal button size.
<applet archive="jsc.jar" code="JSC.class" align="center" width="1" height="1">
This way it will load on the main page and will be almost instant on catalog.htm page.

2.You can change JSCStrings.ini file to make animated loading message more customized. See User Manual for size and color of the fonts. This way people will be entertained while waiting.
Example:
123020Loading...
053420Please Wait...
083015Welcome to
052815West Parrot Shop
073015Shop Securely
122420ONLINE
022820Thank you
022420for your patience.

How do I find best host for this shopping cart system?

The ideal requirements are:
1. Unix server
2. Your own "cgi-bin" directory and provider that allows to run custom scripts
3. Use of "sendmail" program

For example Pair Networks (www.pair.com), our provider, offers this for $28.95 Webmaster Account. Includes use of custom CGI 80Mb disk space, 400Mb/day traffic, full CGI.

How easy is it to set up this cart?
There are no programming skills needed to install this cart but you need to have basic knowledge of HTML and how Internet works to set up this software. You also need to know common file extensions and how to upload them with FTP program.

The ViaJCart is a stand alone program. It is similar to a template concept where you just add your product information, shipping and etc. You must maintain the same directory structure as in the original zip file.

You can use FrontPage, for example, to edit HTML pages. For .ini and script files use a standard Notepad program that comes with Windows.

Can I remove "About" button?
Just like any software "About" button displays VSSD's Copyright information, name of the program and the version number. It can not be removed.

Why the Midi files are not being played via Netscape browser?
The Midi files are not being played via Netscape browser because your provider needs to change certain files for them to recognize .mid extension. Most servers are set by default to recognize common extension files. Usually this info is stored in .htacess file.

The Netscape comes with build in music player that can play midi files or you can install a midi plug-in replacing the player. If you install the midi plug-in it will work fine. The Netscape player doesn't work with your Web provider setup. Each web server has MIME type settings. Your provider's settings are not compatible with Netscape. Please contact them and ask to set MIME types to recognize .mid/.midi extensions.

Common Applet Problems:

• The status bar reads:"Applet JSC can't start: class JSC not found"
  The JSC.class file has not been uploaded to the web server, or is not in the correct folder on the web-server.

• The status bar reads: "java.lang.ClassFormatError" or something about the class file format being incorrect.
  The JSC.class file is corrupted.   The most common reason for this is that the file was FTP'ed to the web server in ASCII mode.   .class files are binary files and must be FTP'ed in BINARY mode.

• The status bar reads:"exception:java.lang.class" or "exception.lava.lang.NullPointerException.
  Make sure to keep the same upper/lower case for all names of the files and directories as in the zip file you downloaded.
  Check JSC.htm page and make sure all parameters are specified correctly.

• "String File Error"
  There are three possibilities for this error.
  1. The .ini file is missing.
  2. Make sure to keep the same upper/lower case for all names of the files and directories; "JSC.ini" instead of "jsc.ini" or "Sys" instead of "sys".
  3. The .ini file was uploaded in binary mode instead of ASCII.

Note: Do not use Pegasus Mail to receive encrypted JSC orders. It modifies the encryption code and you will not be able to decrypt your orders properly.

next

Chapter 1 - Installation
Chapter 2 - JSC.ini control file
Chapter 3 - Menu file creation
Chapter 4 - Catalog files
Chapter 5 - Checking out process
Chapter 6 - Order; Encryption/Decryption process
Chapter 7 - ViaJcart Customization with JSCStrings.ini
Chapter 8 - Audio Setup
Chapter 9 - Real-Time Credit Card Processing
Chapter 10 - Troubleshooting
Chapter 11 - Upgrade From 1.x to 2.x

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