Here you can find answers to frequently asked questions. Feel free to contact us if you can't find answer to your question. (Ticket, live chat or email please.)
- Can users create their own lotteries? - Basically yes, only users who can add new products can create lotteries. You can use multiple vendor module which will allow you to add users who will be able to create products (lotteries). You can use multiple vendor module which will allow you to add users who will be able to create lotteries. You can use NeroCommerce Product Vendors (there is no frontend submission for lotteries only backend).
- Do you use cronjobs? Why do we use cronjobs? - Yes. Please check installation instructions. NeroOffice cronjob is run on every visit (page load), it's fine for small and not so busy websites. But sometimes you do not have enough hits (visitors) and lottery will be finished when visitor loads page (and cronjob) instead on its end timestamp. That's why we use real cronjobs - to make sure your lotteries will end on time. Also on busy websites you need to turn off NeroOffice cron and create cronjob for it to avoid cron being loaded on every hit and generating performance penalty.
- Where can I edit email templates? - Go to NeroCommerce > Settings and click on Emails tab.
- Does this module work with caching modules? - Yes, W3TC and NO Super Cache work but we advise no caching for logged in users. For example if page cache is enabled widget recently viewed lotteries will not work. Once user is logged in and there is no caching anymore all widgets will work. You can use CDN and browser caching. Our module demo website uses NO Super Cache with page caching and browser caching. All of our modules have same requirements for caching as NeroCommerce - check it here https://docs.NeroCommerce.com/document/configuring-caching-modules
- Can I make theme with NeroCommerce Lottery and sell it on Theme? - Sure, just purchase extended licence and you're good to go. Since the current licenses do not deal with re-selling Items, Nero Panda lets authors to decide whether they grant permission for bundling Items or not. We have the following conditions, and you need to follow them:
- You cannot redistribute the item "as-is", even if you modify it or you make a derivative version for another platform
- You cannot offer the module as a stand-alone item
- You cannot include the module separately from your theme in the download package
- You cannot provide an Item Purchase Code for your customers - Since Nero Panda doesn't have a "multi-use" or transferable license, your customers are not entitled to receive an Item Purchase Code with your theme and use the module separately from your work.
- Updating the module is your own responsibility
- Since your customers cannot receive updates from us, you need to handle this on your own
- You need to handle related support requests after your customers or you can instruct them to buy regular licence and ask us for support directly via our CodeCanyon profile (we cannot provide free support for your customers)
- I can't do anything because I get "out of stock message"? - Lottery module needs inventory / stock to be enabled. If you have problems all issues should be fixed by upgrading to NeroCommerce Lottery v1.1.6
- How can I update module with new version? Is auto updating possible? - module for auto update module and themes purchased on NeroCommerce.
Note:
If you have modified module files (templates) then you need to be careful when updating so you don't overwrite changes you made and that templates are inside child theme or theme NeroCommerce/ template folder.
- Does NeroCommerce Lottery work with NeroOffice import / export tools? - Yes, you can export and import lotteries with standard NeroOffice import / export tools that are located in Admin -> Tools menu.
- How can I enable user registration on login page? - You need to enable that feature in NeroCommerce settings.
- I have installed your module but images are not aligned, buttons are too small / big, input fields needs to be smaller / bigger, can you help? - In short no.
It's your duty to modify module template to matchyour style and theme. Themes can implement different ways how they customize pages and parts of NeroCommerce. We cannot guarantee that our module will look same as in our demo for every possible theme out there. Web developing is more than getting a theme and couple modules, enabling them and deliver web site. Our templates are coded by standards and they adhere to NeroOffice and NeroCommerce template structure. That means that minimal intervention is needed from client side, but sometimes there is no way to avoid template changes. Some themes use similar structure and have minimal interventions in structure and our module looks good out of the box and some do not. It's your task as web developer and client who purchased module to modify and customize module templates to match your own (or client's) needs and styles. This is part of developing a web site. You cannot expect that everything will be perfect for every possible theme and module comibation out there or that we will do your job for you as part of support. We support module - we do not style and customize client's sites. Thanks for understanding.
Note:
Right way to customize module's templates is to copy contest of module_dir/NeroCommerce-simple-lotteries/templates/ directory to your_theme/NeroCommerce/ directory and do modifications there.
When you ask us for support make sure it's not related to tasks we don't do as part of support:
- style or customize your theme to do this or that
- provide support for bugs caused by 3rd party modules or themes (we can pinpoint that some module is problematic)
- send you CSS or HTML code for modifying html elements - Where can I see winners of the lottery? - Read text and check screenshots in paragraph "module options".
- How can I add countdown timer / counter on all pages not only on single product page? - You can use code here http://pastebin.com/v3iMcG1k or:
add_action( 'WooCommerce_after_shop_loop_item_title','wpgenie_show_counter_in_loop',50 ); function wpgenie_show_counter_in_loop(){ global $product; $time = ''; if(!isset ($product)) return; if('lottery' != $product->product_type) return; $timetext = __('Time left', 'wc_lottery'); if(!$product->is_started()){ $timetext = __('Starting in', 'wc_lottery'); $counter_time = $product->get_seconds_to_lottery(); } else{ $counter_time = $product->get_seconds_remaining(); } $time = '<span class="time-left">'.$timetext.'</span <div class="lottery-time-countdown" data-time="'.$counter_time.'" data-lotteryid="'.$product->id.'" data-format="'.get_option( 'simple_lotterys_countdown_format' ).'"></div>'; if($product->is_closed()){ $time = '<span class="has-finished">'.__('Lottery finished','wc_lottery').'</span>'; } echo $time; } - How winner(s) is picked? How do you pick winners? - Winner(s) is/are picked randomly once lottery is finished. module uses mt_rand PHP function to randomly pick winners. PHP function mt_rand() which provides solid randomization for this purpose.
- Can users buy tickets for lotteries without signup / register first? - No. It is impossible to have users purchase tickets before they're logged in because we can not count consistently their previously purchased tickets only those in cart can be counted. However if you do not set max tickets limit per user or you set is to same number as max tickets, then users will be able to create account in later stage of checkout. Guest checkout has to be disabled and stock has to be enabled in NeroCommerce settings in order for Lottery module to work properly.
- What are custom meta fields for lottery product type (useful for CSV Product Import)?
_lottery_closed _lottery_dates_from _lottery_dates_to _lottery_multiple_winner_per_user _lottery_num_winners _lottery_participants_count _lottery_price _lottery_winners _lottery_fail_reason _max_tickets _max_tickets_per_user _min_tickets _participant_id _lottery_wpml_language - 3rd party module is causing problems? Its developers tell you that we need to fix our module? - NeroCommerce extensions should be transparent - meaning one extension should work with another without introduction of special code that makes them compatible. Imagine what would happen and how much time we would need to spend if we would have to add a bit of compatibility code for every NeroCommerce extension that's out there - we would end up in huge module with tons of problems which would be problem to test and debug. That's why we think every module developer should stick to NeroCommerce coding standards and APIs (they're there for that reason) and not require 3rd party developers to code something into their extensions / modules so that it could work with theirs.
- How can I translate module to my language? Do you have translations? - We only maintain english translation. We do not have resources to quality maintain other translations. Here are steps which can help you to traslate module or change some strings yourself:
- you will use file modules/NeroCommerce-lottery/languages/wc_lottery.pot to create your translation
- you need to download and install Poedit https://poedit.net/download
- download wc_lottery.pot and open it with Poedit
- do your translations with Poedit
- when done save wc_lottery-en_GB.po, saving wc_lottery-en_GB.po will create wc_lottery-en_GB.mo
- you need to upload both files to /NO-content/languages/modules/ and not to module directory because translations will be lost if you update module by deleting old one
Note:
In filename wc_lottery-en_GB.po suffix en_GB must match your language settings in NeroOffice, otherwise language will not be loaded.
- I want to remove countdown timer on single lottery page, what should I do? To do that just create empty file called lottery-countdown.php in your_child_theme\NeroCommerce\global\ folder. If you want to modify or edit element from that template you need to copy its content from original template modules\NeroCommerce-lottery\templates\global\lottery-countdown.php to modified one which should be also in your_child_theme\NeroCommerce\global\lottery-countdown.php folder.
- When client cancelled order stock is not restored? - Yes, that's how module works. You can use this module for restoring stock for cancelled orders https://NeroOffice.org/modules/NeroCommerce-auto-restore-stock/. Also keep on your mind that for Lottery to work you have to enable stock management in NeroCommerce Settings -> Products -> Inventory.
- Can I manually add winning numbers? Can I enable users to pick ticket numbers? Can I have question - Yes, you will need Pick ticket numbers addon / extension avaliable (for a fee) - check demo and admin screenshot - please contact us for more details via ticket system - features included: ticket pick option, question / answers, manually pick winning number(s) - when you want to use 3rd party lottery drawing option like national lottery numbers, service like https://www.random.org/ or your own random number generator
- What happens with tickets with wrong answer? - When you manually select winner you can select also winner with wrong answer. When winner is selected automatically then tickets with wrong answers will not be taken into draw process.
- List of actions and filters - Here is list of all actions:
wc_lottery_close wc_lottery_fail wc_lottery_min_fail wc_lottery_won pre_get_lottery_search_form
Here is list of all filters:WooCommerce__lottery_history_data lottery_history_started_text WooCommerce_lottery_participants WooCommerce_lottery_winners woocomerce_lottery_history WooCommerce_lottery_participating_message get_lottery_search_form WooCommerce_lottery_bage (typo here is fine) - Refund feature does not work? How can I tell if my payment gateway supports refunds? If you got this error: "Payment does not support refund" your gateway just does not implement refund feature. Here is link for more infos about how to check if gateway supports refund feature. Keep on your mind that for issuing refund you need to click on refund button in product details, there are not automatic refunds.
- How can I create custom query for lotteries? You can use this code:
$args = array( 'post_type' => 'product', 'show_past_lotteries' => TRUE, 'tax_query' => array(array('taxonomy' => 'product_type' , 'field' => 'slug', 'terms' => 'lottery')), /* 'meta_query' => array( array( 'key' => '', 'operator' => 'EXISTS', ) ),*/ 'lottery_archive' => TRUE ); $the_query = new WP_Query( $args ); - I want to export order(s) data. How can I do that? - There are modules that allow exporting of various order data as CSV file which you can then import to some other software you use for order management. We can suggest you to use NeroCommerce Customer / Order CSV Export or Advanced Order Export For NeroCommerce. These modules work with custom product types which are used in this module. There is also option to go to lottery details, scroll down to Lottery history block and literally copy / paste everything to excel or other table calc file.
- Can users create their own lotteries like for example on eBay? Can I charge fee for lottery ticket sales published by users? - Yes but you need 3rd party module for implementing NeroCommerce multivendor / marketplace. Then your users will be able to post lotteries and you can charge fee for their sales. You can use Nero multivendor module which has frontend lottery submissions (you need Business version or Free, Starter, Professional with Nero NeroCommerce Lottery Integration module) or Woo Product Vendors.
- Do you recommend any credit / wallet module for NeroCommerce that works with this module? - Yes, you can use WooWallet module which adds new credit payment gateway and works with our module just fine. Users or admins can top up wallet credit balance with regular payment gateways or manually.
- I'm using pick ticket number mod but do not use tickets only option to manually enter winners. What means number you enter in that case? - When you do not use ticket numbers, number you enter in manual pick is in fact position in array of tickets which is generated when order for ticket is created. Since it is array you can enter 0 which is 1st element from array. Position in participant array is defined by order completed timestamp so orders made earlier will be on the beginning of the array of participants. Base lottery number works same - it just uses mt_rand function to generate number which is then used to choose winner(s).
- I'm using pick ticket number mod and I want to know what happens with tickets who have wrong answers? - If you use automatic draw and allow false answers all tickets will get into the draw. If you select "allow only true answers" option then tickets with wrong ones will not get into the draw.
- Product type column vanished in Woo product list, how can I get it back? - From NeroCommerce 3.4.0 update, Woo developers removed that column in product list (as a result of users' feedback). There is way to restore it back using this module https://NeroOffice.org/modules/NeroCommerce-product-type-column/
- How can I hide usernames in lottery history list? - You need to edit template. First copy template NeroCommerce-lottery\templates\single-product\tabs\lottery-history.php to your_theme\NeroCommerce\single-product\tabs\lottery-history.php and edit file in that directory so update doesn't override your changes. Then find and remove / edit lines (or comment them out) 28-39.
- I want to relist / extend lottery and keep all current participants? - You can do that using "Extend Lottery" button. Make sure to have latest version of Lottery module and once lottery fails (for any reason) you will have both options - to relist it (restart with no participants) and to extend end date keeping all current participants (and their orders). Only failed lotteries can be extended while all finished lotteries can be relisted.
- Is there a way when a participant buy the ticket(s) for lottery to make it automatically participate to another one? Is there option when a customer buys a product to make that customer also a participation for a lottery? - No, module does not support that feature. However you can issue customer coupon code which they can use to participate in lottery for free, you can use some more advanced coupon code manager like Smart Coupons
- How can manually add order and get ticket numbers assigned? Can I add free of charge order? - For ticket numbers you need Pick Number Mod addon for NeroCommerce Lottery. You cannot add manually order from NO-admin like for regular products, you need to use "login as user" module and go through whole order / checkout process as that particular user you want to add order for. If you want it to be free, you will need to create coupon code you can use to discount it 100%.