--- title: "Preparing for IOS" slug: "preparing-for-ios" updated: 2026-06-19T04:48:18Z published: 2026-06-19T04:48:18Z canonical: "help.timestone.com.au/preparing-for-ios" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.timestone.com.au/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Preparing for IOS In order to build a site for the Timestone Software Internet Ordering System, the following is required. - a name for the site - credentials for the customer’s preferred payment gateway - an email address to be used as the FROM address in emails sent by IOS - a company logo to be used in the top left corner of the site - the company’s time zone Further information, such as custom text strings, can be provided once the site is built. ## The site name Each site requires a unique name, which will form the basis for the URL (web address) where customers will go to place their orders. Timestone Software owns two domains for this purpose. You simply need to provide us with your desired hostname, which we append to the front of this domain name. > [!TIP] > **orderphotos.online** #### Examples Consider a company, Acme School Photography. They may elect to use: acme.orderphotos.online acmephotography.orderphotos.online asp.orderphotos.online > [!CAUTION] > Using your own domain name > > Although it is possible to use your own domain, it is **strongly** recommended you use the Timestone Software domains above. Doing so provides a significant performance advantage. Moreover Timestone will take care of all DNS matters and maintenance. On the other hand, Timestone Software cannot be responsible for any matters arising from DNS issues if using your own domain. ### SSL certificates Timestone Software takes care of SSL certificates needed for the site. ### Labs hosting IOS for photographers A lab hosting IOS on behalf of photographers needs a name for each of the photographers, along with a name for the lab. The latter will be used by the lab to connect the apps, while the former is used by the photographer’s customers for ordering. > [!NOTE] > Provider Codes > > Each photographer site will need a Provider Code (by default the photographer’s Account Code in tsAdmin). > > Provider Codes allow the lab to automatically upload jobs to the correct site, then help the lab differentiate orders from different photographers. Provider Codes also prevent a customer from one photographer, inadvertently ordering on the site of another photographer. #### Example Consider a lab, **Imaging Services Pro**, offering IOS to two photographers, **Acme Photography** and **Photographer Joe**. Timestone Software would need a name for each of these companies. Examples could be: isp.orderphotos.online acmephotography.orderphotos.online pj.orderphotos.online The lab would connect its apps to [https://isp.orderphotos.online](https://isp.orderphotos.online) Acme Photography customers would browse to [https://acmephotography.orderphotos.online](https://acmephotography.orderphotos.online) to place orders Photographer Joe customers would browse to [https://pj.orderphotos.online](https://pj.orderphotos.online) to place orders ## Payment gateway information IOS integrates with several payment gateways such as Stripe and Authorize.Net. Below is a list of supported payment providers, together with the parameters required from your account. Note, many payment providers are regional, while others, such as Stripe, are available in most countries. StripeeWaySecurePayNABPayStationAuthorize.NETPayPalPayFastSagePay Stripe is available in most countries around the world. It also offers the advantage of supporting Klarna, ZIP, and AfterPay, meaning the photographer can offer these payment systems from within their Stripe account. **Credentials needed:** | Attribute | Example | | --- | --- | | Publishable Key | pk_live_51Q624678pGVaEFJ3fOh4yQRbFTiFmn04i4fGr9IkVJRpWGX075tHj34E | | Secret Key | sk_live_51TJGQ628pGVUQeDZGgj07ctgGLHY3imsZvFLFBBEkx88TrfGHJs34500DydTYEe8 | Australia only. **Credentials needed:** | Attribute | Example | | --- | --- | | API Key | 674DRD7AHjlLmffovYV60ZmjU02dFPK0sCby/oF3gxZeKe45Ty", | | Password | acme2025 | Australia only **Credentials needed:** | Attribute | Example | | --- | --- | | Merchant Code | 4BC5587 | | Client ID | 9ujjH9i8PdJfsn437 | | Client Secret | 7aCvBsGU3x1bc-UIF_vFGHTD54EssHjoCP7oI | Australia and New Zealand **Credentials needed:** | Attribute | Example | | --- | --- | | Merchant ID | 56H9938 | | Transaction Password | 3d6TNmeX3 | | Email address | support@acme.com.au | New Zealand only **Credentials needed:** | Attribute | Example | | --- | --- | | Paystation ID | 522647 | | Gateway ID | GATEETS-F3 | | HMAC Key | Bfg45tWe34Pmn78R | North America **Credentials needed:** | Attribute | Example | | --- | --- | | API Login ID | 47hgnGFH 6YhT | | Transaction Key | CDhpzghh678Uc3M5T | | Signature Key | B4GSK84HSWO023BXMLW6136DDB0B5786th6560BAE7979FB78B7490591326CF5CA1C289 | | *optional parameters* | eg whether to billing address is required | PayPal is available in most countries. **Credentials needed:** | Attribute | Example | | --- | --- | | Client ID | AfR287W6LxZx1uEVaM9ElcRSPNv15VQ9t1YLq79isRm7PeHKjYDgfa_Gu1dC-Gn41wIOwrywZbh6ww9r | | Transaction Key | EMYMWQO1UD3WqZsRa_6U5ZfzlMa6-isqXGZeSLeDf5KmM8s_mMr3-x2qNl_B8qVAD47XiL7KJKJPMhlV9 | South Africa **Credentials needed:** | Attribute | Example | | | --- | --- | --- | | Merchant ID | 1345673 | | | Merchant Key | Hgt0TBG9ecAq7 | | | Pass Phrase | uo82Nd9yUWiuFUxX | | United Kingdom **Credentials required:** | Attribute | Example | | --- | --- | | Vendor Name | acmephotography | | Integration Key | VLM5Jkavcd5Buq6L2Yd64qCajSx5c7op97NEwig86ztXGbR3Ho | | Integration Password | UkDYxiit8NVywmxueBxBAPspSqJwVQNWXWZO0E40vQ42V7F565 | ## Email address An email address is required to act as the **FROM** address in the various emails sent by IOS. These emails include: - order confirmation email to the customer when an order is completed and paid - an ‘advice’ email to the photographer - emails with links to download digital products - pose confirmation email when selecting a yearbook pose - various reminder and abandoned cart emails ****Further reading: Automated emails in IOS**** Examples of the various emails described above are available in the document: [Automated Emails in IOS](/v1/docs/automated-emails) ### Improving email deliverability > [!CAUTION] > Warning > > It is strongly recommended the email address be for a domain you own rather than third party providers such as Gmail or Hotmail. This will greatly improve the deliverability of the emails sent by the system particularly when combined with SPF and C records as described below. The likelihood the emails will be treated as SPAM is therefore greatly reduced. ### Verifying the FROM email In order to send automated emails on behalf of the user or their photographers, Timestone Software must send a verification email via SMTP2Go to the provided email address(es). This email will come from SMTP2Go and must be accepted before email services are activated. ![Email verification request from SMTP2GO to confirm your email address for sending.](https://cdn.document360.io/4c6b2b86-f0ee-419b-9aca-71ba574125e1/Images/Documentation/IOS_SMTP2GO.png) Figure 1: The SMTP verification email ### Adding an SPF record to the domain To improve deliverability, an SPF record should be added to the domain of the FROM email address. This is needed when emails are sent with a FROM address that is different from the SMTP provider. IOS used SMTP2Go as its SMTP provider, and so the SPF record is added as: > [!TIP] > **include:spf.smtp2go.com** ### Adding CNAMEs to the domain To further improve deliverability, three CNAMEs should be added to the domain. These authenticate the emails with DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) signatures. The screen grab below shows the three CNAME records to be added to the domain, along with the value for each name. ![Instructions for configuring DNS records for acmephotography.com with CNAME entries.](https://cdn.document360.io/4c6b2b86-f0ee-419b-9aca-71ba574125e1/Images/Documentation/prepareforIOS1.jpg) Figure 2: Adding CNAME records to a domain ## Company logo Each site is built with a small logo that appears in the top left corner of each page of IOS. The logo should be approximately 120px × 35px and be supplied as a PNG. > [!NOTE] > Note > > It is possible to add a larger logo or company graphics to any page of the site by doing so as a snippet. ## Timezone The photographer’s time zone is needed to establish a ‘site’ time. This enables parameters such as the date and time of an order to be correctly displayed. ## US Sales Tax: Default location For photographers and labs located in the United States, an address is required as the default Sales Tax location for when using the **Calculate** sales tax option . The site will be configured to use the company billing address we have on file; however, this can be updated to a different address by notifying a member of the Timestone Software staff. ****Further Reading: US Sales Tax Calculation**** The Timestone Internet Ordering System can automatically calculate the Sales Tax amount to be applied to an order based on the address at which the order changes hands, from the photographer to the customer. [US Sales Tax Calculation](/v1/docs/sales-tax-options) --- ### FAQ #### When a customer pays for their order, does the money go to us or you? It goes to you; no customer payments are collected in Timestone’s Online Ordering System. #### Can I use my own domain name for the site? Yes, but it is recommended to use Timestone Software's domains for better performance and maintenance. #### How much does your online system cost? We charge a flat rate per order. At the start of each month, you will receive an invoice for the orders you received in the previous month. Contact us for the rate, as it will depend on which country you are in. We will be able to let you know the rate in the appropriate currency. #### What software do I need for the online ordering system? Either you or your lab will need at least one of the Timestone Software ‘Neo’ apps - for example, NeoPack. tsAdmin also referred to as Timestone Administrator is a utility that allows the user to create working environments for the software.