WP-Cron Jobs & Automation – WooCommerce Bookings and Appointments FAQs

Can PluginHive allow bookings to be exported automatically into a CSV file at set intervals, such as every hour, and upload that file to a server?

PluginHive's "PH Export Bookings" feature currently allows you to manually export all bookings or filter bookings (by product name or date range) into a CSV file. Automated, scheduled exports—such as generating and downloading a CSV file every hour to a specific directory or uploading it to a remote server via SFTP—are not available as built-in features. However, if you require this automation, PluginHive may be able to develop it as a paid customization starting at $500 per customization. You would need to first use their Bookings plugin and ensure the existing export functionality meets your requirements before the team considers custom development. If interested in paid customization for automated exports, you can reach out to discuss further options.

How can I ensure the calendar slots are properly reset after canceling or deleting WooCommerce orders and bookings?

After canceling or deleting WooCommerce orders and bookings:

1. Cancel orders in the WooCommerce Orders panel to initiate slot release.
2. Delete associated bookings in the Bookings admin panel.
3. Allow scheduled cron jobs (such as ph_bookings_unfreezing_hourly_event) to process slot releases automatically. You can monitor scheduled tasks using a plugin like WP Crontrol.

If slots remain unavailable, verify the correct sequence of operations and plugin configuration. If issues persist, contact PluginHive support with exact order numbers and observed database state for targeted troubleshooting.

Is it possible to set a limit of 6 registration slots per month for a product and also automatically close registration for the current month after the 5th day, while keeping future months open for advance registration?

The current plugin does not offer the capability to limit registration slots per month, close current month registration after the 5th day, and keep future months open for advance registration. Achieving this specific automation is not natively supported. However, this functionality can be developed as a paid customization. If you are interested in pursuing a custom solution, you can opt for PluginHive’s Paid Customization service, with customization packages starting at $500. To proceed, provide a clear description of your requirements so that the PluginHive team can assess feasibility and advise next steps.

Is the “ph-unfreez-booking-slot” cron job configurable?

No, the “ph-unfreez-booking-slot” cron job is not configurable. It is programmed to automatically release blocked booking slots after 15 minutes if the booking is not completed.

What are the cron jobs used in the PluginHive WooCommerce Bookings and Appointments Plugin, and can I share these with my hosting provider to help set up the server crons?

The PluginHive WooCommerce Bookings and Appointments Plugin uses specific cron jobs to manage bookings, such as releasing held booking slots. You can provide the list of these plugin cron jobs—including those with names like "ph-unfreez-booking-slot"—to your hosting provider. This will help them set up or verify the necessary server cron jobs required for the plugin's proper operation. There is no special user configuration required; simply share the cron job names with your hosting support, and they will assist in configuring the server-side cron tasks.

What should I do if I delete bookings and orders but the slot availability does not reset on the frontend?

If deleting bookings and orders does not reflect as expected in slot availability:

1. Ensure you delete orders in WooCommerce and bookings in the bookings section of your admin panel.
2. Some data linked to bookings (such as availability calculations) may remain in the database. These are stored in the table wp_ph_bookings_availability_calculation_data.
3. Cancel or delete bookings/orders via both the WooCommerce Orders panel and the bookings admin to reset slots accurately.

If the slots are not being cleared after following these steps, it could be due to a conflict, a bug, or a database synchronization issue. You may also check if the booking slots are being “unfrozen” by the site’s scheduled cron job (ph_bookings_unfreezing_hourly_event). If not, contact support for further investigation, providing specific examples or order numbers to help identify the issue.

Why weren’t booking slots being released after 15 minutes even though the system is supposed to unfreeze them automatically?

If booking slots are not being released after the 15-minute hold period, it’s often due to interference from caching plugins, such as LiteSpeed Cache. Disabling the caching resolved the issue and allowed the booked slots to become available again after the timeout. Ensure that any page or object caching that might impact dynamic booking data is disabled or exempted for booking-related pages. This will allow the PluginHive plugin to properly release slots that remain unpaid after the 15-minute window.