How to automate Downloadable Software Sales and Registration?

I am using Google Checkout on a store where I'm selling a
software
download.

Right now, I'm processing the orders by hand, assigning the
customer an
activation code (via an algorythm) and then sending the
customer an
email with their download and activation instructions.

This is very tedious.  I would like to integrate an API so
that if a
customer buys my software, all of the above is automated.

I am totally new here and can't seem to find any info on
this, and yet
it must be something that others need as well.  Can someone
point me in
the right direction to learn how to do this?  Or perhaps
several people
can give suggestions and folks like me will know what to do.

Thank you very much!!

This is not really something specific to Google Checkout. 
It's a
matter of programming on your website.  It is not hard, but
far from
being trivial and subject to a high degree of customization.
 If you
don't know how to do it, you should be able to hire someone
to do it
for you for relatively little money (a thousand or so for a
week of
work).

I don't think it's a merchant site that needs redesigning
but a google
checkout redirect option for a downlaodable product
specifically.

i believe a login for customers on ur site should do,
get a 2nd level integration with google,
when the payment comes thru, the account activated,
and email sent with activation code,
and then the client can login and downlaod.

guess this should wrk

M.

I must be in the wrong forum - My site is very simple, No
Login, etc.
It's a 1 page sales page with a checkout button.  Dozens of
services
offer automated digital download options after purchase at
their site
once a "checkout" is completed.  Why does it seem
to be such a
diffucult task on google?

I sent a copy of this thread to the tech support person I've
been
speaking with at GoogleCheckout, with the hope that maybe
they might
soon provide this service.  It would quickly make them the
leader in
offering services for people selling digital downloads.  All
of the
other digital download services charge a huge comission. If
anyone
knows of one that's reasonable please post it here, as I'd
love to find
a deal while I'm waiting for Google to decide if they're
going to offer
this. If anyone reading is in a similar position as me,
wanting to
automate delivery of digital downloads through Google
Checkout maybe
you should email Google, so they will realize the demand and
create
this?  Their support email that I use is:
checkout-merchant-supportgoogle.com  (btw, that's
the only email
address I know of at google checkout. If that's the wrong
route to
request new features, perhaps someone can post a better
one--and I
don't see an option for "wishlist" here or
anywhere).

Hey that's amazing, yet creepy!  They automatically deleted
the email
address from my post!  Here I'll try and post it again. 
It's:
checkout-merchant-support AT google DOT com

I jusr know of the regulars - Clickbank, PayDotCom, and
PayPal.  I just
don't see what's so complicated about this.  Surely a
shopping cart,
calculating taxes, international orders, etc. take alot more
checkout
service set-up savvy than a simple redirect page.