FAQ

Short answers in full sentences, because one-word FAQ entries help nobody when folders and product IDs are involved.

What problem does this plugin solve?

J2Commerce Add Files stores a static path. When you ship versioned ZIPs into folder trees, that path goes stale after every release. This plugin syncs the primary product file to the newest ZIP and can register older ZIPs as extra files so you stop hand-editing product files for a living.

Do I still upload ZIPs myself?

Yes. Sync reads folders you maintain under the J2Commerce attachment root. It does not pull from RCA feeds, build ZIPs, or upload through FTP for you.

What naming rules actually matter?

Each ZIP must be package_version.zip where package matches the last segment of the mapped folder path. Only the package folder itself is scanned, not archive subfolders inside it.

How do I disable one product without deleting the map line?

Start the line with hash or semicolon so the map ignores it until you remove the comment character. Save and sync when you want to confirm the line is inactive.

Does this replace RCA J2C Direct Download?

No. Direct Download serves free products from articles with the rcadownload shortcode. Downloadable Files Sync keeps J2Commerce product file rows honest for catalog downloads. They complement each other when the same ZIP tree backs both flows.

What does Sync change in the database?

It updates managed J2Commerce product file rows for mapped products, primarily the lowest-id row for the latest ZIP, and adds rows for prior ZIPs up to keep_prior when configured.

Is cron required?

No. Super Users can run Sync Now from the Sync panel. Cron is optional when you want hands-off sync after releases land from automation or timezone inconvenient humans.

What if my paths used a leading slash?

Legacy paths that start with slash are treated like paths without the leading slash as of version 1.0.2. Sync rewrites the lowest-id row to the canonical no-leading-slash form so Direct Download index zero stays meaningful.

What should I send support?

Send Joomla version, J2Commerce version, plugin version 1.0.2 or newer, one example map line, and the exact Sync panel or log message. Vague “sync broken” tickets age poorly.