How to Guides

These walkthroughs assume you installed the plugin and set J2Commerce Attachment folder path. They focus on repeatable admin tasks after the first sync works once.

How do I align a new sellable product for Auto sync?

With Auto SKU from file path enabled on the plugin (default), choose a file on the J2Commerce product Files tab — the master variant SKU on the General tab is filled from the folder name in that path when you pick a file or save product files. You can still set SKU manually; saving a file path overwrites the SKU to match the folder segment Full Auto expects.

If auto SKU is off, open the Files tab, read the path (for example /free/mod_addmenuitem/mod_addmenuitem_1.0.11.zip), copy the folder segment after free/ or pro/, and paste it into the master variant SKU on the General tab. Save the product, then run Sync Now.

How do I add a product that Auto will not discover?

Stay on Auto and add an override line in the Product folder map, or switch to Manual mode if every product is map-driven. Override format matches legacy manual lines: product_id|tier/folder|keep_prior=25|changelog=1|label=Name. Save and run Sync Now.

How do I sync an individual child ZIP folder to its own product?

RCA retail sells the pkg_* bundle; child com_* folders on disk are normally updater-only and listed under Ignored folders when retail sellable-only is on. If your site deliberately sells or delivers a child build through a separate J2Commerce product, add an override map line pointing at pro/com_example (or free) for that product ID. Overrides are not blocked by retail sellable-only.

How do I read the Sync panel lists?

After you click Sync Now, watch the colored notice above the button: blue while sync runs, then green (success), yellow (fail-soft with some errors), or red (failed). Counts show updated, skipped unchanged, and error rows. JSON detail appears in the log under the button if you need it for support.

Mapped sync results show products updated in the last run. Ignored folders are on-disk paths with ZIPs that retail mode treats as feed or internal updater paths (package children, internal-only list). Unmapped sellable folders have ZIPs and look like storefront packages but no downloadable product SKU matches — fix the SKU or add an override. Products with no folder are downloadable SKUs with no matching directory or empty folder.

How do I keep the J2Commerce Files tab to one current ZIP?

Point the product file at the correct tier folder (pro/package for pro products, not an obsolete free/ path). Keep only the current release ZIP at the package folder root. Move older builds into that folder’s archive/ subfolder (sync does not scan archive/). Run Sync Now and confirm the status notice reports success.

How do I temporarily stop syncing one product?

In Manual mode, comment the map line with # or ;. In Auto mode, unpublish the product, remove its SKU match, or use overrides only for products you still want synced. Save and run Sync Now to confirm behavior.

How do I ship a new version without breaking downloads?

Copy the new {package}_{version}.zip into the same package folder. Run Sync Now or wait for cron. Spot-check product files and download once. Change-only sync skips the folder if the newest ZIP fingerprint unchanged; use cron &force=1 when you need a full rescan.

How do I register prior GPL ZIPs for transparency?

Set keep_prior on the map line or rely on plugin defaults for Auto-built maps. Sync orders older ZIPs newest first and stops at your limit.

How do I attach CHANGELOG.md to the product?

Place CHANGELOG.md in the package folder and set changelog=1 on the map line or enable default changelog registration for Auto maps. Run Sync.

How do I list versions on a public page?

Use the prior-versions shortcode with the numeric product ID in an article or product description. Actual downloads still flow through J2Commerce after Sync registered the files. See the Frontend article.

How do I mark a folder as internal-only (not a storefront SKU)?

Add the folder basename to Internal-only packages on the Settings tab (default includes com_maxm_law). Those paths are excluded from sellable unmapped warnings and Auto sync targets.