This addon allows you to create hidden download buttons for your downloadable items so the actual location of the file is never revealed. Using this addon, you can also redirect your users after they click the ‘download’ button.
Table of Contents
- What this Addon Does
- Installing the Hidden Downloads Addon
- Addon Usage Instructions
- Using the Display Downloads from Category Shortcode
- Using Absolute Path for Your Downloads
- Using After Download Redirection
- Get the Hidden Downloads Addon
What this Addon Does
Normally, the SDM plugin’s standard shortcode creates a download link like the following:
http://www.example.com/?smd_process_download=1&download_id=4201
That is fine for the standard free downloadable items. However, if you want to offer some hidden downloads to your members for example, you may not want a download link like the above one to be passed around. Also, the true location of the actual downloadable file is not hidden.
This addon gives you a shortcode that you can use to create a download button that keeps the true location of the downloadable file completely hidden. Also, the user is forced to interact with the button that this addon creates to be able to download the item in question.
Installing the Hidden Downloads Addon
You can install this addon the same way you install any WordPress plugin:
- Go to the Add New plugins screen in your WordPress admin area
- Click the upload tab
- Browse for the addon file (sdm-hidden-downloads.zip)
- Click Install Now and then activate the plugin
Addon Usage Instructions
When this addon is activated, the standard download process of all the normal download shortcodes are processed by this secure downloads addon. So you can continue to use the standard shortcodes of the main plugin. However, this addon comes with an additional shortcode that you can also use (see details below).
Optionally, you can use the following shortcode where you want to create the download now button for an item.
[sdm_hidden_download id="4101"]
4101 is the ID of the download item in this example.
You can also use the fancy style template with this addon. The following shortcode will create the hidden download now button using style 2
[sdm_hidden_download id="4101" fancy="2"]
The above shortcode will create something like the following:
When the download now button is clicked, it will allow the visitor to download the item (without revealing the actual digital file’s location).
Customize the Download Button Text
Use the “button_text” parameter in the shortcode to customize the download now button text. Example shortcode below:
[sdm_hidden_download id="4101" fancy="1" button_text="Custom Download Text Here"]
Download Count Monitoring
The download count monitoring will work as usual for the download buttons created using this addon. So you will see the download activity in the Logs and Stats menus of the plugin.
Using the Display Downloads from Category Shortcode
The download processing from the “show downloads from category” shortcode will also be processed by this addon:
[sdm_show_dl_from_category category_slug="test-download-category" fancy="1"]
Using Absolute Path for Your Downloads
When using the Secure Downloads Addon, you can specify absolute path of your download item. This addon will then be able to fetch and serve the download. This adds additional security for your download.
For example, you can enter an absolute path like the following in the “Downloadable File” field when using this addon.
/home/example/public_html/downloadables/my-test-download.zip
Using After Download Redirection
If you wish to redirect your user to another page after they hit the download button, this addon will allow you to do so. A redirection is perfect if you have another page that relates to the download that the user has received. Alternatively, you may wish to expose the user to other similar downloads you have on offer.
Once you have ‘Installed‘ and ‘Activated‘ the Secure Downloads Addon (which can be purchased below), you will see a new menu under the ‘Downloads’ menu. This sub-menu is titled: ‘Hidden Downloads‘.
Step 1) Click on the ‘Hidden Downloads’ sub-menu. From this page, you can configure features of the after download redirection.
Step 2) In the ‘Default Redirection Time‘ field is where you can specify how many seconds after the download button is hit will the redirection take place. It is important to not use less than 3 seconds as there is often a delay in the button being clicked and the user receiving the downloadable item. You do not want the redirection to occur before the download has been received. For the majority of users, the default values on this page can be left as is.
Step 3) Click the ‘Update‘ button to implement any changes you have made on the ‘Hidden Downloads Settings‘ page.
Step 4) Click on the ‘Downloads‘ menu in your WordPress dashboard and click the ‘Edit‘ button for the download in which you wish to add a redirection to.
Step 5) On the ‘Edit Download‘ page, you will see a section titled: ‘After Download Redirect‘. To add a redirect to that particular download, you will need to copy and paste the URL of the page you wish for your customers to be directed to after hitting the download button.
Step 6) If you wish to alter the time of redirection for this particular download, enter the number of seconds into the appropriate field. Leaving this field blank will use the seconds delay from the setting menu of this addon.
Step 7) Click the ‘Update‘ button to update the download’s page.
Step 8) Create a new ‘Post or Page‘. This is where you will list a shortcode that displays a Secure and Re-directional download button.
Step 9) Add the following shortcode to the page. You will need to edit the ‘ID‘ to the real ID of your download:
[sdm_hidden_download id="4101"]
Step 10) Add other details to your secure download page such as an image and information about what the user will receive if they click the download button. Ensure you ‘Publish’ the post/page.
Step 11) Go to the page/post you have created and ensure the ‘After Download Redirection‘ is working correctly.
Considerations When Using the After Download Redirection
- Ensure that the redirection delay allows the user enough time to download the item. It is recommend to use a 3 + second delay.
- Caching plugins can interfere with redirection features. This is not only the case with this addon.
- Ensure the URL of the page you are redirecting to has been copied correctly. Paste the URL of the page into your browser to ensure that page is accessible.
- Ensure you use the basic ‘hidden download’ shortcode when wishing to offer a redirection. The normal SDM shortcode will not redirect a user.
Get the Hidden Downloads Addon
This is a one-time payment (includes 1 year of support and updates).