View source for Creating Digital Downloads

Digital Downloads let you sell downloadable products such as e-books, music, software, patterns and digital artwork directly from your store. There is no need to manually create zip files or edit your theme — you upload the files to a product, and Spiffy Stores delivers them to your customers automatically through a secure, expiring download link.

== Overview ==

When a customer buys a product that has one or more digital download files attached, they receive an email containing a download link for each item they purchased. The link opens a page listing every file for that item, and each file is delivered individually.

Each downloadable file has its own '''download limit''' and '''expiry'''. By default a file can be downloaded '''5 times''' and the link '''expires 120 hours (5 days)''' after purchase. Every download is recorded so you can see exactly what was downloaded, when, and from where.

Digital downloads are counted separately from your store's site storage. Your plan includes a download storage allowance, and files can be up to '''5 GB''' each.

== Requirements ==

* Digital Downloads must be enabled on your plan. If the feature is not included in your plan, the Digital Downloads section will not appear on the product page.
* The product must be published so that customers can purchase it.
* Files are stored outside your store's theme and are not counted against your site storage quota.

== Adding Downloadable Files to a Product ==

# Go to '''Products''' and open the product you want to sell as a download (or create a new one).
# Scroll to the '''Digital Downloads''' section.
# Click '''Upload New Digital Files'''. You can select one or more files at a time. Each file can be up to 5 GB.
# Once the upload finishes, the file appears in the list of digital download files for the product.

The product is marked with a '''digital''' status label once it has at least one current downloadable file, so you can identify it at a glance in your product list.

=== Associating Files with Variations ===

By default a file applies to '''all variations''' of the product. If your product has options such as size or format, you can restrict a file to specific variations:

# Click the '''Settings''' (gear) icon next to the file.
# In the '''Variations''' field, choose the variation(s) the file applies to. Select '''All variations''' to make the file available with every variation.
# Click '''Save'''.

== Watermarking PDF Files ==

For '''PDF files only''', you can apply a watermark so that each purchaser receives a copy stamped with their own details. This discourages illegal sharing of your files.

# Click the '''Settings''' (gear) icon next to the PDF file.
# Tick '''Enable watermarking'''.
# Choose the '''Position''' — Header, Footer or Tiled.
# Enter the '''Template''' text. The following variables are replaced for each purchaser:
   * <nowiki>{{name}}</nowiki> — the customer's name
   * <nowiki>{{email}}</nowiki> — the customer's email address
   * <nowiki>{{phone}}</nowiki> — the customer's phone number
   * <nowiki>{{order_number}}</nowiki> — the order number
   * <nowiki>{{date}}</nowiki> — the date of the download
   
   For example: *Do not distribute - Licensed to <nowiki>{{name}}</nowiki> (<nowiki>{{email}}</nowiki>) on <nowiki>{{date}}</nowiki>*
# Adjust the '''Font Size''' (4 to 72 points), '''Opacity''' (0 to 100%) and '''Colour'''.
# Click '''Save'''.

To see exactly what your customers will receive, click the '''Preview''' (eye) icon next to the file. PDF previews are shown with a sample watermark applied.

== Retiring and Deleting Files ==

Digital download files are never replaced in place. When you want to stop selling a file, you '''retire''' it:

* A retired file is removed from sale and from every variation, but purchasers who already hold a valid download link keep access until that link expires.
* Once no valid download links remain, a retired file can be '''permanently deleted'''.

The actions available for each file are:

* '''Preview''' (eye icon) — view the file, with a sample watermark for PDFs.
* '''Settings''' (gear icon) — change the name, variations and watermark settings.
* '''Retire''' (archive icon) — remove the file from sale. If the file has never been sold, retiring it permanently deletes it.
* '''Delete''' (trash icon) — permanently delete the file and its stored data. If the file still has valid download links, deleting it will break those links.

The file list also shows the number of '''Sales''' (download links issued) and '''Downloads''' performed for each file.

== How Customers Receive Their Downloads ==

When an order is paid, each downloadable file on the order is given its own download link. These are grouped per line item, so a customer who buys one item containing several files receives a single link that lists every file for that item.

The customer can reach their downloads in two ways:

* From the '''order confirmation email''', or the dedicated '''Digital Downloads''' email if it is enabled.
* The link opens a page listing each file, its size and the number of downloads remaining.

Each file is tracked separately, so a customer can download one file without affecting the remaining allowance of another file in the same order.

== Managing the Digital Downloads Email ==

The email sent to customers is fully customisable through the store's email template system.

# Go to '''Design & Assets > Email Templates'''.
# Find the '''Digital Downloads''' email template.
# Click '''Reload Template Defaults''' to load a clean copy of the latest template.
# Customise the subject line and HTML content, then tick '''Custom Templates are Enabled'''.
# Click '''Save'''.

The template has access to the order, the customer, the shop and the list of download links, each with a name, URL, file count and expiry.

== Viewing Download History ==

Every order that includes digital downloads shows a '''Digital Downloads''' section on the order page in your Toolbox. This lists each file in the order, along with:

* Its status — '''Active''', '''Expired''' or '''Revoked'''.
* The number of downloads remaining.
* The link expiry date.
* The file size.

Below each file is a full download history showing the date and time of each download, the result (downloaded or failed), the IP address the download came from, and the browser and user agent used.

When an order is refunded, its download links are '''revoked''' automatically and can no longer be used.

=== Resending the Download Link ===

If a customer cannot find their download link, you can resend it from the order page:

# Open the order in your Toolbox.
# Under the '''Email Customer''' action, choose '''Resend Digital Downloads Link'''.

The customer receives a fresh copy of the Digital Downloads email with their download link. This does not change the download allowance or expiry — use '''Reset''' (below) for that.

=== Resetting a Download ===

If a customer has used up their downloads, or their link has expired before they could download their files, you can reset a file's download as if the order had just been placed:

# Open the order in your Toolbox and find the '''Digital Downloads''' section.
# Click the '''Reset''' (circular arrow) icon next to the file's status tag.

The file's download allowance is restored to its full amount and its expiry date is extended by the standard period. Its status returns to '''Active'''.

Resetting is intended as an escape for genuine customer problems, such as a severely interrupted connection or a customer who waited too long. It does not send an email — use '''Resend Digital Downloads Link''' if the customer also needs their link again.

== Storage and Plan Limits ==

Download storage is separate from your site storage and is based on your plan. Where a display is shown, the product page indicates how much download storage you have used out of your allowance. If you need more, additional download storage can be purchased as an add-on.

== Related Pages ==

* [[Products]]
* [[Selling Gift Cards]]
* [[Editing your email templates]]
* [[How to Use AI in your Spiffy Store]]