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Resolving WooCommerce-Webgility Connection: 'The input is not a valid Base-64 string.' Error

This article helps Webgility Desktop users understand and resolve the error message "The input is not a valid Base-64 string" encountered when connecting their WooCommerce channel. It explains the cause related to the Store Module URL and provides steps to fix the issue for successful connection.

Issue Overview

You are receiving the error message: "The input is not a valid Base-64 string." when trying to connect your WooCommerce store to Webgility Desktop. This error indicates that Webgility Desktop cannot correctly interpret the WooCommerce Store Module URL, which prevents the proper connection and data transfer between the two systems.

Root Cause

The most common reason for this error is that the Store Module URL used in your Webgility Desktop configuration is missing the www prefix. Some web hosting environments and SSL certificate setups require the www prefix for correct URL resolution. If the www is missing, it can cause authentication or initialization failures, resulting in the Base-64 string error.

Resolution Procedure

Follow these steps to correct the Store Module URL and resolve the connection error.

1. Verify URL Configuration in Webgility Desktop

  1. Open Webgility Desktop.
  2. Go to Connections > Sales Channels > Manage Sales Channel.
  3. Select your WooCommerce store and click Edit Connection.
  4. Locate the Store Module URL field.

2. Check for the 'www' Prefix

  1. Review the current URL in the Store Module URL field.
  2. Ensure the URL includes www. at the beginning of your domain.
    • Incorrect Example: https://yourstore.com/wc-api/v2/
    • Correct Example: https://www.yourstore.com/wc-api/v2/
  3. If the www prefix is missing, add it to the beginning of your domain in the Store Module URL field.

3. Save and Test the Connection

  1. Click Save to update the Store Module URL configuration.
  2. Click the Test Store Connection button. If the connection fails, try clicking Reconnect and re-enter your credentials.

4. Validate Resolution

  1. Confirm that the connection is now successful and that the "Base-64 string" error no longer appears.
  2. Verify that your store data synchronizes as expected without further connection errors.

Additional Notes

  • URL Consistency: If your SSL certificate or DNS configuration is set up to work specifically with or without www., always ensure that the Store Module URL in Webgility Desktop matches this configuration for a stable connection.
  • This fix addresses a common scenario where the Webgility server's expected endpoint (with or without www.) does not match the URL provided in the Webgility Desktop settings.