I need to create simple Payment links like I do for PayPal. Is this an option with square?

[mileskbaron]

Here is a sample of what the code would look like for PayPal.  Is there something similar in Square?  For Paypal, all I need is who is getting the money, what's it for, and the price and click submit.  I load the variables (business, item, amount) from other things they've selected and I just add it up, and off to PayPal they go.

<form name="couples" target="paypal" action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" style="padding:0px;" >

<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_cart">

<input type="hidden" name="business" value="destination business id">

<input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="item name">

<input type="hidden" name="amount" value="total price">

<input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="USD">

<input type="hidden" name="add" value="1">

<input type="submit" class="myPayButton" align="bottom" style="float:left;margin-left:35px;" name="submit" value="PAY TODAY" ><img src="images/checkout.png" alt="Check out with PayPal" style="float:left; margin-top: 4px; height: 26px;margin-left: 10px;" />

</form>

[lawnbrook]

Hi @mileskbaron ,

welcome to the seller community

it sounds like what you’re after is a payment link.

from the square dashboard, under payments you will find ‘payment links’

from there you can either a simple link tor an embeddable button.

https://squareup.com/us/en/payment-links

regards,

Bruce

[mileskbaron]

Sorry, but that's a bit of a step backwards. I need to create the link (as shows in my example) based on how they fill out the form.   They are essentially signing up for an event.  Normally (with other clients who use PayPal), I collect all the pertinent data from the individual such as name, phone, and what parts of the event they want to attend, some have upcharges, some don't an when they click "Register" it drops all that data into a database.  At this point, they are prompted to pay online, print an invoice and pay in person/mail a check.  I just use the data collected up to this point to create the link.   This is critical, because we want to know how many people are registering, regardless if they paid yet.   If they do pay later, we can just mark the record paid in the database.   Creating a Payment link in Square...   is just way more work, and doesn't put the info in our database.  I guess it "can" be done with their API/DSK, but the development cost would outweigh the result, and again, even with the API, you can't really get results until AFTER they paid.   

[lawnbrook]

Sorry @mileskbaron ,

I completely missed the custom data load, apologies - i was reading on my phone.

Is all this happening programmatically (the data collection and link creation). If so, if I understand correctly, you're effectively building a webapp.

I can't think of a simple way to do this other than diving into the API. What platform is all this happening on? (I notice you've posted in square online - is that what you're trying to use).

Bruce

[mileskbaron]

Thanks for the followup.  I guess in 2024 it's considered an "app" but it's just using Classic ASP.   I guess because PayPal is more a "bank" than "service" it makes sense.  If you want to send money to someone in PayPal (I hate typing that in a Square forum), you just need their email address.  While what I want to do is likely "possible" using the API for Square, it's a bit of overkill just to create a link.  You mentioned or seemed to infer I may be in the wrong community?  Im trying to find sample code to create a payment link that will go to square for processing that I don't need to setup an API account etc etc etc.   While I have been doing this with PayPal for many clients for many years, this client has Square.   I have access as collaborator or affiliate or whatever they call it, but it just seems like if I wanted to create a store front (app) that would be easy, but I just want to create a link so my client can get paid based on options filled out on a form.  I have done this many times.  Even setup complete storefronts where after the cart is full, they go to Paypal for final payment.  Easy peasy..  at least for me.  Maybe I'm asking the wrong questions for Square?  Or maybe it's just not an option?  At least not simply.

Thanks..  

[RobynR]

Hey @mileskbaron, I'd have to agree with @lawnbrook. It does sound like you're trying to use Square API. Please check out this article for more information and let me know if this is what you are looking for. 

I look forward to your reply.