Pages used in succession for PayPal Payments Pro

Having used PayPal Standard for years, I have always used the IPN method of triggering certain behaviors after the payment was successful.
But now I am transitioning to the PP Pro setup and I noticed that there are several pages generated.

What should the process be after checking out at PayPal?
I know that it goes from productpage.php (add to cart) > cart.php > checkout.php > PayPal web site > ???

After the customer goes to PayPal and logs in, what SHOULD happen? Will they return to the website to confirm the order or will that be completed at PayPal?

I know that the checkout_failure.php page is used if there is something wrong when they try to checkout. What about the checkout_success.php and pp_confirm.php pages? I wanted to add an email receipt to a page after they make their payment.

Thanks
TroyD

Actually, I'm not 100% sure which PayPal I should choose now. It's very confusing what all the different choices are. I've read the tutorial on choosing the right one and it is great but the labels for each type do not match up with the choices in the Checkout Wizard.

So in addition to my previous questions, can you explain the difference between PayPal Pro, PayPal Express in terms of page flow? No details needed. Just the page to page flow.

If I select "I will rely on my payment provider for a secure checkout experience" it only gives me (of the two) the PayPal Express checkout.
My goal is to go from checkout > PayPal site and back to a final confirmation page. On that confirmation page I want to trigger emails and update the database with a success. Is that Express?

Thanks
TroyD

Express Checkout is the closest to standard.

The way express checkout works is:

-User Files in checkout form at checkout.php to set the shipping address

-they then go to the paypal site to set up the transaction payment details

-they are passed to the pp_confirm page where the transaction is processed, if the transaction failed, they go to the pp_checkout_failure page.

if you set up the wizard to save the order to the DB and send an email, those behaviors are triggered if the transaction is successful, then the user is directed to the pp_checkout_success page.

PayPal Payments pro is 2 checkout services:
- Direct Checkout. In this method, the user enters the payment details while on your site
- Express Checkout


So with either choice, you still get paypal express checkout, it's just that with Payments Pro, you also get the Direct Checkout option.

Thanks Jason.

My client has a PayPal Business account and I have all of the API key info needed. Since we are NOT processing on the site but rather wanting the scenario you outlined where they end up back at the site to confirm, then there isn't any reason to select Pro in the wizard correct? If I'm just wanting Express anyway?

Also, you mentioned a pp_checkout_success page. The wizard never generates that page for me when selecting the Express. I get the pp_confirm and all the others but not the pp_checkout_success. I do get the checkout_success page. Is that the one it uses?

Lastly. Is there a way to test the pp_confirm.php page without doing a real transaction at PayPal? I just need to trigger the database insert and emails to make sure they are working. My wizard (6.1.0) never would create the database tables (orders & orderdetails) so I had to just include my own and bind them.

Thanks
TroyD

Yes, express checkout is most likely the one you want to use.

Yes, the checkout_success is the page I meant.

to test the transaction, you need to generate Sandbox API Credentials and then enter them under WebAssist -> cart -> Payment gateway Credentials and check the sand box option.

Thanks. I usually just test (based on your recommendations I think) by creating .01 items and doing it through the real account.
Using the sandbox I would still take the order all the way through right?

What I was hoping is that I could test it locally like I do with my IPNs where I post a fake txn_id to the IPN page or by using PayPal's IPN test form.

The pp_confirm page has both the store in db and the email triggers to before page load. But I guess all of the PP token stuff is blocking that right?
I do see a TestMode variable. Would setting up the sandbox in the credentials allow me to bypass the actual sandbox? I'm guessing no but figured I would ask.

Thanks again,
TroyD

using the sand box would put the order all the way through but would not actually transfer any funds.

the way the paypal code on the pp_confrm page is set up is to redirect to the fair page if the transaction fails, or continue processing through to save the oder to the DB and send the email if it passes.

there is not a way to by pass the sand box.

Ok. Thanks Jason. I appreciate the help.

you're welcome.