Parse Referer header

[cpp-dev]

I want/need to look for the referer info on incoming clients to offer affiliate refers additional options.

I have found this in the Miva API-Functions docs -- https://docs.miva.com/api-functions/referer_parser

And I have a general sense of it but I'm not sure how to make sure I get the data in a such a way as to test for the affiliate code.

[cpp-dev]

I know I can get at some of this with JavaScript using

document.referer

, but the crossover of variables from JS to MivaScript is uncertain.

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

Are you looking for 'header' information or just the referring url? There is the Miva equivalent (s.http_referer), however, if you need to read variables from an inbound link is easier just to use the 'CGI' variables. A link like this:

http://www.somedomain.com/some-page....&source=myPage will give you the following global variables on the landing page:

affl = "me"
source = "myPage"

Storing these as Custom Basket fields means you can keep these values attached to the custom through out their visit. Adding these as Custom Order fields will allow you to persist that relationship permanently. Just make sure the Custom Basket fields and Custom Order fields use the same "code" for the field.

[cpp-dev]

I'm really looking for the latter. I want to have the variables so that further checks for special pricing or couponing can be added/applied.

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

Ok, then I'd use the CGI variables and custom fields.

[cpp-dev]

Ok, now to read up on CGI variables
This is pretty helpful -- https://docs.miva.com/videos/dev-system-variables

[cpp-dev]

So if I have

https://dev.somedom.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Affiliate=cfong

The stuff that comes after the '?' is a query string correct? -- I found it, and the answer is 'YES' -- reference: http://www.mivascript.com/topic/system-variables.html

then do a "find in page" for 'query_string'

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

Uh, maybe. Typically we just use the already parsed out global variables that are created from the CGI one. For example,

g.screen is equal to 'SNFT', g.affiliate is equal to 'cfong'

[cpp-dev]

hmmm, they weren't listed on the page, but that doesn't mean they aren't there.

I'm getting unexpected results -- http://paste.mozilla.org/npDjy71j

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

Not sure what you are trying to achieve, but with that URL,

&mvt:global:affiliate;

will print out

cfong

you don't need to do any assigns or use additional code to use the variable g.affiliate, will be equal to 'cfong'

[cpp-dev]

Yes, &mvt:global:affiliate; does print but it doesn't print just the affiliate code.
see screenshot -- https://cloudup.com/izBSn4DXYEU
I changed the details of the code to be more generic.

[cpp-dev]

I'm wanting to grab the URL info since that will be very reliable for where the link came from, and this was the example in the dev docs.

[cpp-dev]

g.affiliate is equal to 'cfong'

I tried this again, and it actually printed out the full affiliate info. Which is good, simplifies my initial query.

Looks like now I need to do some string splitting to isolate the specific affiliate, to then check against the DB and then initiate additional features. Or am I over thinking this part?

=== addendum 09:56 ===

Ok. Yes I was overthinking this. I went back into the 'Token list' and actually found the affiliate items. This should simplify things.

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

Ah. This is an unusual case where Miva is taking the initial CGI variable, then creating an array of with the same name containing all the information about that specific affiliate group. Try &mvt:global:affiliate:code;

[cpp-dev]

I believe you Bruce - PhosphorMedia - I even see this variable in the Token List.

<div class="wrap">
  <p>
    &mvt:global:affiliate_string;
    Affiliate - &mvt:global:affiliate:code;
  </p>
</div>

and yet this is the output --> https://cloudup.com/i3FkZqfodss