WooCommerce - How to use WooCommerce Subscriptions

QLM can be used in conjunction with WooCommerce Subscriptions via the QLM WooCommerce plugin.

When users sign up for a subscription, they are issued an Activation Key that expires when the subscription expires. Upon renewal of the subscription, the QLM WooCommerce plugin automatically extends the Activation Key expiry date by an additional period.

To set up a subscription-based product, follow the steps below:

  • Install WooCommerce Subscriptions. Note that this plugin is not free.

  • In the WooCommerce Subscription settings, go to the Checkout tab

  • In the Payment Gateways section, enable Paypal (this article assumes you will be using Paypal to process payments)

  • Click the Paypal link and configure the following fields:

    • Set the Paypal Email field to the same email account as your business PayPal account

    • Check the Paypal Sandbox field (during the testing phase)

    • Fill in the 3 fields under API credentials. API credentials are available from your Paypal account under Profile / My Selling Tools / API Access / Update / View API Signature. If you cannot find your API credentials, follow the instructions in this article to request them.

    • You can also find detailed instructions on this topic here.

  • Click Save changes

  • Next, you need to configure IPN in PayPal. To do so:

    • Log in to your PayPal account (login to the sandbox during the testing phase)

    • Go to Profile / My Selling Tools / Instant Payment Notifications and click Update

    • Enter the following URL: http://yourdomain.com/?wc-api=WC_Gateway_Paypal

    • Click Save

Next, we will create a subscription-based product.

  • Click Products / Add Product

  • Enter a product name

  • Set Product Data to: Simple Subscription

  • Important: Do NOT check the Downloadable checkbox

  • Set the Subscription Price as needed. Example: 15 per month for all time

Next, we will add some custom fields. If you do not see the "Custom Fields" section, click the "Screen Options" drop-down on the top right-hand side of the Product page and make sure the "Custom Fields" checkbox is selected. If you do not see a "Custom Fields" checkbox, make sure "Virtual" is not checked.

In the Add New Custom Field section:

  • Set the Product ID

    • Click Enter new

    • In the Name field, enter: is_productid

    • In the Value field, enter the ID of your product as defined in the QLM Management Console / Define Products tab.

    • Click Add Custom Field

  • Set the Major Version

    • Click Enter new

    • In the Name field, enter: is_majorversion

    • In the Value field, enter the Major Version of your product as defined in the QLM Management Console / Define Products tab.

    • Click Add Custom Field

  • Set the Minor Version

    • Click Enter new

    • In the Name field, enter: is_minorversion

    • In the Value field, enter the Minor Version of your product as define in the QLM Management Console / Define Products tab.

    • Click Add Custom Field

  • Set the License Model

    • Click Enter new

    • In the Name field, enter: is_licensemodel

    • In the Value field, enter one of the following: permanent | permanent_cloud | permanent_floating | trial | trial_cloud | trial_floating | subscription | subscription_cloud | subscription_floating

    • Click Add Custom Field

  • Optional - Set the Features

    • Click Enter new

    • In the Name field, enter: is_features

    • In the Value field, enter the features associated with this product. The value should be a semi comma-separated list of feature sets and their corresponding values. Example: 0:1;1:2;2:3;3:6.

    • Click Add Custom Field

  • Locate the Product Categories section on the right-hand panel

    • Click the + Add New Product Category link

    • Enter: qlm

    • Click the Add New Product Category button

    • Make sure the new category qlm is checked.

Finally, click the Update button on the top right to commit all your changes to the product.

Now locate the QLM item in the WordPress left-hand panel and click it.

In the Settings for the API section, enter the following information:

Now click the QLM / Email Templates section to configure the email that will be sent to the end-user when an order is placed. Email templates are configured per product.

  • Enter a header for the email

  • Select the product

  • Enter the body of the email

  • Finally, enter the footer of the email

  • Click Update

If you do not want the QLM plugin to send an email, add a new custom field as follows:

  • Name: is_send_mail

  • Value: false

To place a test order:

  • In the WordPress left panel, click Products

  • Locate your product and click View

  • Click Sign up Now

  • Click View Cart

  • Click Proceed to Checkout

  • Enter your Billing Details and click Continue

  • Click Continue for Additional Information

  • Select your payment method and proceed to pay

  • Once payment is completed, go to the WordPress left panel and click WooCommerce / Orders

  • Locate the order you just placed and click it

  • If the Order Status is set to Pending Payment, set it to Processing then click Save Order in the right-hand panel.

  • At this point, a license key should have been generated.

  • In the Order details page, scroll to the bottom of the page and locate the License Keys section. It should contain the generated key(s).

  • In case an error occurred while processing the transaction, a note in the right-hand panel displays details about the error.

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