Postcard Direct


Overview

Postcard Direct is different to all other postcard systems because it sends the postcard directly to the recipient. That means there is no database to maintain and no postcards to "pick up". Most other postcard systems:

Note that Postcard Direct supports a "traditional" mode if you want to use the store/pickup method. For flash and java cards, this is the most reliable method as there are too many restrictions and incompatibilities in email clients to support these types.

Postcard Direct has been designed and tested to run on Unix, Windows and Mac systems. It will probably run on other operating systems that support Perl.


Contents

  • Features
  • Examples
  • Sites using Postcard Direct
  • Additional Language Support
  • Documentation/Support
  • Mailing List
  • Download
  • Licence
  • Web Hosting Recommendation
  • Todo List
  • What's New in Version 6
  • PD Change History
  • Admin Change History
  • Language Templates Change History
  • Rate Postcard Direct
    at The CGI Resource Index,
    where 10=Excellent and 1=Poor

    Rate Postcard Direct
    at HotScripts.com

    Version Information

    PD Version: 6.1.0
    Last Updated: 3 May 2007

    PD Admin Version: 2.0.1
    Last Updated: 27 February 2005

    Language Templates
    Last Updated: 7 May 2006

     


    Features


    Examples

    TypeDescriptionExample
    Thumbnail This is the most common setup for postcards, where the user chooses a postcard to send from a set of thumbnails. View
    Additional Fields This example shows how you can add additional fields to any of the forms. View
    Java Postcards This example is that same as the thumbnail example, except the postcards display with a Java Applet. View
    Flash Postcards This example shows a page of two flash thumbnails. View
    Traditional Postcards This example shows how to send postcards in the "traditional" way, ie: recipient is sent an email to "pick up" their card. View
    Multi-Lingual Postcards This example shows how easy it is to offer postcards in multiple languages. View
    Image Upload This example allows you to upload your own image to use as the postcard. View

    Administration Interface

    The Administration Interface allows you to change your configuration, edit all your templates and manage the image/card caches. It also has an option for viewing summaries of the postcard log.

    For this demo, use:

    Username: pdadmin
    Password: demo

    Note, you will not be able to save any changes in demo mode.

    Access Demo Admin


    Sites using Postcard Direct

    Here are just a small sample of the sites using Postcard Direct. The link will open in a new window.

    Academy of Model Aeronautics Postcards Aircraft Postcards All Occasion Greeting Postcards
    BAA@C Postcards Brasileiros em Montreal British Library e-cards
    Bruce McMillan - Children's Book Author Cartes virtuelles DDM Cartes¨Postales Virtuelles de Montréal-La Cluse
    Cartolinopoli CartoonSoup eCard Toons Cavalry Technologies Postcards
    Clownloach.net eCard Costello Syndrome Ecards Cyberhalides
    Cyberspace Ashram LoveCards Discover Bangalore Postcards Dousma Beheer Dutch Ecards
    Drachenstein Postcards Easy Postcards Family Oosten Postcards
    Foundation Aprisco Postcards Foundation Expo '88 eCards Global Traveller Postcards
    Great Dane Postcards Hokkaido Kagayaku-Net Postcards Hondengedichten Flash Cards
    Horse Greeting Cards I Love to Travel Postcards Inverlochy Castle Hotel Postcards
    Isabelle Delmotte Postcards J & J Postcards Jesus Army Postcards
    Joshua24 Christian E-Cards LeslieFieger.com Inspiration eCards Luttelgeest Postcards
    MODA e-cards Maine Antiques Make Your Day Light Cards
    Mallorca.com Marbella Java Postcards Met de Beste Wensen
    Nature and Travel Postcards Old Postcards of Warren Oranje-kids E-kaartjes
    Pender Island Postcards Postales en español Postcards of Holiday World Travel
    Postcards of the Hawkesbury Puppet Team Hamburg Postcards Quadrand Cards
    Rangerville Postcards RevivalSermons.org Postcards Romantic Equations Postcards
    Russian Christian Cards San Gavino.Net Postcards Send Funny Cards
    Sneaky & Creepy E-cards Street Sweeper Postcards Sulgrave Manor Postcards
    The Austin 7 Club Postcards This Funs For You Postcards Tribalcog Postcards
    grtz.net e-cards

    Please email me if you wish to add your site to this list, or find a broken link.



    Additional Language Support

    As Postcard Direct is fully template driven, supporting multiple languages is very easy.

    The list of currently supported languages are:

    LanguageLanguage CodeStatusTranslator/sDownload
    BosnianbaCompleteJasmin Fazlinovictar file | ZIP file
    DanishdaCompleteMogens Mechtatar file| ZIP file
    SpanishesCompleteMarc Antonsentar file| ZIP file
    GermandeCompleteKai Gradert and Frank Tremmeltar file | ZIP file
    FinnishfiCompleteMarko Kokkalatar file | ZIP file
    ItalianitCompleteSergio Fumichtar file | ZIP file
    JapanesejaComplete?tar file | ZIP file
    DutchnlCompletePeter Dousmatar file | ZIP file
    NorwegiannoCompleteThore Danielsentar file | ZIP file
    Portuguese (European)ptCompleteHelder Almeidatar file | ZIP file
    Portuguese (Brazilian)brCompleteEduardo Huttertar file | ZIP file
    RussianruCompleteRomantar file | ZIP file
    SwedishsvCompleteBert Magnussontar file | ZIP file
    FrenchfrIn ProgressSuzanne Brind'Amourtar file | ZIP file
    HebrewheIn ProgressDaniel Jacklertar file | ZIP file

    Note that the download includes just the language files.

    There are instructions if you want the details of which files that need modifying for new translations.

    If you are able to offer your translation services, please contact me


    Documentation/Support

    The Installation and Configuration Documentation contains information on how to install, configure and operate Postcard Direct.

    There is a FAQ available. If this does not answer your question, post it on the Support Forum.


    Mailing List

    If you want announcements of new versions and bug fixes for Postcard Direct, you can subscribe to the mailing list



    Download

    The following formats are available for downloading:

    PD Package (English only)


    PD Package (Multi Language)

    This package includes all languages. See language list below for translation status or individual language download.


    Scripts

    This package includes just the scripts.


    Auto-Installer

    Also you can use the Auto-Installer which in over 95% of cases, should have Postcard Direct up and running on your site in less than five minutes. Due to firewall changes by the hosting provider, the auto-installer is currently not operable.

    There is an Installation Service available if you don't have the time or experience to do it yourself.

    Please read make sure you have read the licence details before downloading. If you are profit making company, you will need to purchase a commercial licence.


    Licence

    Peter Sundstrom (the Author) grants to the possessor of this copy (the Licensee) a royalty-free, nonexclusive license to use, copy, and modify the code of Postcard Direct and any related documentation (the Software) for academic, research, individual and any other non-commercial sites only and subject to the following conditions: - By using or copying the Software, Licensee agrees to abide by the terms of this Agreement.

    - Title and copyright to the Software remain with the Authors and Licensee agrees to preserve the same.

    - Licensee acknowledges that the Software is still in the development stage and that it is being supplied "as is", without any accompanying services from the Author. The Author MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. By way of example, but not limitation, the Author MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE THE SOFTWARE WILL NOT INFRINGE ON ANY PATENTS OR OTHER RIGHTS. The Author shall not be held liable for any liability nor for any direct, indirect or consequential damages with respect to any claim by Licensee or any third party with respect to this Agreement or any use of the Software.

    - Licensee may distribute the Software or any derivative work based on the the Software to third parties provided (1) all copyright notices and this Agreement appear on all copies, and (2) no charge is associated with such copies. Unless Licensee labels the derivative work with the notice "No Grantback", Licensee agrees to grant the Authors a royalty-free nonexclusive license to use, copy, modify and distribute any modifications to the Software owned by Licensee and distributed to third parties as a derivative work under this Agreement.

    - If Licensee distributes a derivative work, then Licensee also agrees to (1) notify the Author of the distribution, and (2) clearly notify users that such derivative work is a modified version and not the original Software.

    - Any Licensee wishing to make commercial use of the Software should contact the Author to negotiate an appropriate license. Commercial use includes (1) integration of all or part of the code into a product for sale or license by or on behalf of Licensee to third parties, or (2) distribution of the code to third parties that need it to utilize a commercial product sold or licensed by or on behalf of Licensee.

    - Licensee agrees to abide by all applicable laws of the United States, including, but not limited to, copyright and export control laws.

    - The Author has the right to terminate this license immediately by written notice upon Licensee's breach of, or non-compliance with any of its terms. Licensee may be held legally responsible for any copyright infringement that is caused or encouraged by licensee's failure to abide by the terms of this license.

    The plain English version of the above, is that you are required to purchase a Postcard Direct licence if your company/website is commercial, ie: a profit making entity. It does not matter what use Postcard Direct is used for, a "free" postcard service on a commercial website still requires a licence.

    Postcard Direct licence purchase details


    Web Hosting Recommendation

    I quite often get asked if I can recommend a hosting provider. You can read my Web Hosting Recommendation report.


    To Do List

    This list contains a number of items that are on the development list for Postcard Direct. They are listed in no particular order and are not a guarantee that they will eventually be implemented.


    What's New in PD Version 6

    New Features

  • Stored cards can be scheduled via cron.
  • Upload file types can be restricted to a specified list.
  • Improved error messages/diagnostics.
  • A sender can now select to send a copy of the postcard to themselves.
  • The sender can choose a read receipt.
  • Multiple recipients can now either be comma or new line separated.
  • Restrict the maximum number of recipients when sending to multiple recipients.
  • pdglobal.txt is no longer needed. It is now incorporated into the default configuration file.
  • Removed wrap text option as this is better controlled via the HTML table attributes.
  • Addition of the <pd_include> tag to include text files. Useful for inserting static text like poems into the postcard.
  • Added $future_card_age to configuration file to set the maximum date in the future that a card can be sent.
  • The pdadmin usage report now reports on bcc, sendcopy, send date and the freeform fields.
  • The PD admin interface has new menu options to view/manage the image/object caches.
  • The colour selection form template now displays the colours in the drop down selection.
  • Cards to be picked up (traditional mode) can now display a message if the card has expired or doesn't exist.
  • A new form template (form-all.txt) has been added, which has most of the various features turned on.
  • Input error template redesigned.
  • Various stylesheet tweaks.
  • Bug Fixes

  • Workaround for empty page after doing an image upload.
  • Fixed problem recognising bad words if edited via the admin interface.
  • Some of the strict checks for valid username/emails have been removed as they would often be triggered on valid name/email addresses.
  • Fixed missing website name in the error message if a remote site was not allowed.
  • Miscellaneous Changes

  • Form template extension changed from .html to .txt to be consistent with all the other templates.
  • All variable names in the configuration file have been changed to lowercase as this makes them more readable and less likely to mistype.

  • PD Change History

    You can view the full change history.

    You can view which files have changed between versions.

    Version 6.1.0 - 3 May 2007 - see changed files
    Version 6.0.8 - 5 Nov 2006 - see changed files
    Version 6.0.7 - 27 Oct 2006 - see changed files
    Version 6.0.6 - 15 Sep 2006 - see changed files
    Version 6.0.5 - 3 May 2006 - see changed files
    Version 6.0.4 - 26 April 2006 - see changed files
  • Fixed a bug which prevented the correct messages being displayed for non English languages.
  • Version 6.0.3 - 27 February 2005 - see changed files
    Version 6.0.2 - 3 February 2005 - see changed files

    Version 6.0.1 - 31 January 2005 - see changed files

    Version 6.0.0 - 28 January 2005

    Admin Change History

    Version 2.0.1 - 27 February 2005

    Version 2.0.0 - 28 January 2005

    Language Template Change History

    7 May 2006
    27 February 2005

    23 November 2004
    3 October 2004

    Ginini Technologies Software