EDIT: dammit, i posted this in html, which PREVIEWED properly, but didn't post properly. these forums have GOT to change.

These are the most common problems affecting developers when
working with IPN. The most common solutions are noted as well. Hope
this information helps someone out there!


REASONS FOR INVALID

- Make sure you are posting back ALL variables/values.

For
PayPal to return VERIFIED, your IPN script needs to post back ALL the
variables that were posted to it in the first place. In other words, if
your script only needs to manipulate 1 or 2 variables, it is not enough
to post back to PayPal only the variables/values your script is
concerned with. Your script should post back EVERYTHING that was
initially posted to it from PayPal. This is the only way PayPal will
return VERIFIED

- Make sure you are not posting back to the wrong URL.

If
you are testing in the Sandbox, you need to ensure your script posts
back to http://www.sandbox.paypal.com. If you are on the live site, the script
should post back to http://www.paypal.com. You will receive INVALID if you are
testing in the Sandbox and your script posts back to the live site (or
vice versa)


TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS - IPN is not POSTing!

- Email address on receiving account.

Make sure you've confirmed the email address on the account the payment is being sent to.


- Access Logs

If
you feel IPN is not posting to your script, you can verify this by
checking your server's access logs. The server access logs will tell
you if PayPal is "hitting your script" at all. An access log tracks the
IP addresses and/or hostnames of computers that access the server.

That you can access your server's access logs is up to the server admin. Check with them if you do not know where the logs are.

- Error logs

Most
scripting languages output to error logs if an error occurs when
running the script. If you see in your access logs that PayPal is
sending the IPN but you are not seeing the intended end result from
your script, odds are you have a logic or syntax error in the script.
Check your error logs to verify.

Again, if you don't know how or where to check these logs, you would need to consult your server's administrator.

- Check Paths

An
easy mistake to make. Always ensure the path to your script is correct
when testing/using IPN and you feel that you are not getting an IPN
post.

- Firewalls

IPN is an HTTP POST initiated from
PayPal. If you have a firewall on your server, make sure your firewall
is not blocking the post from PayPal.

- IPN posts to your return URL (added 8/22/05)

Some
merchants are setup such that they would like to get IPN data posted to
the value of their return variable in their button code (return URL).
This is the URL the buyer is directed to after a PayPal payment has
been made. As of the last PayPal site update which occurred on 8/19/05,
it is no longer enough to have IPN enabled in your PayPal account
profile to have IPN data POSTed to your return URL. As of now, you MUST
set the rm variable equal to "2" in your button code or you will not
see any IPN data POSTed to your return URL. For more information see
http://paypal.forums.liveworld.com/thread.jspa?threadID=400000598&tstart=0&start=-1
**
Note that this information is about IPN and how it works with your
return URL (button code variable 'return'). If you have Auto Return
with PDT enabled (or Auto Return by itself) this information does not
apply to you.



TESTING TIPS

See
http://paypal.forums.liveworld.com/thread.jspa?threadID=400000162

I've been cathing up with this thread as I have a need to put a PayPal donations block on my site.

I've tried xDonations and now a copy of the Donations speciefied in this thread by AdRock.

It installed Ok, but when I try and add one of the blocks I get the following error message:

Blocks Administration »» Add a new block

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: b_donations_donors_edit() in D:\Clients\corneloues.co.uk\htdocs\kernel\block.php on line 92

Any ideas?

Roy

If i reciew a donation on my site, paypal openens the IPN link, BUT in the logs (db) it reads this:


What email is not corrent?? I dont get it :S

the email address u provide in xdonations for IPN returns needs to be an existing mailbox..

what i mean by that is, it has to be a physical mailbox and not a forwarding or catch all account.

Quote:
it says that with all transactions.... And they are the same ppl that used donate on my old site to (phpnuke), wwhich work like a charm.... I dont get it, i need this stuff to work, im getting beatin here, by the boss

edit: i used a fake email adres with sandbox, still doesnt work. And the original email adres from the old site (on paypal.com, ofcourse), but both give me the same error... I dont see what the diff. is between the nuke module and the XOOPS module

Just to add my two pennies here.

Please bear in mind that Paypal's IPN network is not an instant notification method. IE. Don't expect to leave the "Payment Confirmed" page and get an IPN notification immediately on your site. Sometimes IPN takes over an hour to come back from Paypal.

This is is just an observation from developing and testing IPN based solutions.

Quote:
ok duh :) But nothing EVER shows up.... If this a direct port from nuke, why doesnt it just work, like in nuke... ffs

Quote:

My advice. Adjust your attitude here as we are only trying to help.

Quote:
i understand that, but i just cant grasp why it doesnt work... It kinda pissis me off, u can understand that right?

it was a port from nuke, but then morphed a bit. the module needs maintenance to make sure it's 100% bug-free, but as an fyi, it works for many people, and is used on xoops.org (the block on the right)