Thanks Mike.

1. The login credentials are correct. The host has confirmed this. They have also run the Cron Job manually with no apparent errors. The only field not included is $base_prefix=”; because it is not a multisite installation.

2. Cronjob is included and running (scheduled every hour).

3. I have ONE test subscription only for now… that had a duration of one hour, which has long since passed (yesterday).

4. Every hour I receive the same email sent to my specified Cron Job email address:

PHP Warning: mysqli_num_rows() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli_result, boolean given in /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php on line 16
PHP Warning: mysqli_num_rows() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli_result, boolean given in /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php on line 22
Content-type: text/html; charset=UTF-8

Host says it is a scripting problem and provided the following information about versions that are running:

================
The server is running with Mysql 5.6.35 server.
—
[root@cwh26 ~]# mysql -V
mysql Ver 14.14 Distrib 5.6.35, for Linux (x86_64) using EditLine wrapper
[root@cwh26 ~]# hostname
cwh26.canadianwebhosting.com
—
And all our shared servers are installed with CloudLinux. So you can choose the PHP versions according to your requirement using the PHP selector on your cPanel (Software/Services >> Select PHP Version >> Select PHP version you want from the drop down box and click on “Set as current”.) The following PHP versions are available 4.4 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 7.0 7.1

WP settings have the time zone set as a city – Toronto.

OK. I will do as suggested and get back to you as soon as I can.

I confirmed we are running the latest version of WooCommerce.

I deactivated all plugins except WooCommerce, Ultimate Member, UM-Switcher.

I continue to get the same emailed error message.

Hi Mike.

Response from my host below:

========

Regarding the PHP warning about mysqli, it appears the SQL query has an error in it and hence the warning. Please refer following threads about the same issue :

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2546314/php-mysql-mysqli-num-rows-expects-parameter-1-to-be-mysqli-result-boolean
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16756596/warning-mysqli-num-rows-expects-parameter-1-to-be-mysqli-result-boolean-give

It should be corrected by the developer of the plugin.

OK. Thanks.

We really need to get this working asap. My host has confirmed that the Cron Logs are showing that the job is running on schedule, but the emails are not being sent as they should.

Oliver

quick question.

what’s the easiest way to export my subscribers to an excel or csv file?

Oliver

Would making the switch to 7 impact on other elements of the site in a negative way?

I’ve swithced to PHP 7.
There was one error message about mySQL which appears to have been resolved by selecting mysqli option in the PHP Options panel.
There is an email reminder scheduled to go out in about 45 minutes… fingers crossed.

O.

No luck.

We are now running PHP7 and host has confirmed that Cron Job is running as scheduled, but it is still generating errors when they try to run it manually and the reminder email that I was expecting to see at 7:38 did not arrive. See message below from host (two messages combined for convenience here: (Also I have attached the cron.php file that I am using – provided by you folks and modified for my site):

========

The Cron job is being executed at the server end.We are pasting the log details for your verification.

—
May 9 00:00:01 cwh26 CROND[289451]: (alecccwh) CMD (/usr/local/bin/php -q /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php)
May 9 01:00:01 cwh26 CROND[304924]: (alecccwh) CMD (/usr/local/bin/php -q /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php)
May 9 02:00:01 cwh26 CROND[322152]: (alecccwh) CMD (/usr/local/bin/php -q /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php)
May 9 03:00:01 cwh26 CROND[335933]: (alecccwh) CMD (/usr/local/bin/php -q /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php)
May 9 04:00:01 cwh26 CROND[352017]: (alecccwh) CMD (/usr/local/bin/php -q /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php)
—

We are still getting error message when we manually run the cron job.Please check the script at your end as mentioned earlier.

—
[root@cwh26 ~]# php -d display_errors /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php

Warning: mysqli_num_rows() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli_result, boolean given in /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php on line 16

Warning: mysqli_num_rows() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli_result, boolean given in /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php on line 22
[root@cwh26 ~]#
—

From mail logs, I can see one reminder mail sent today at 13:59 (PST), but cron job wasn’t scheduled and run at that time. So it is clear that the mails are not getting send from the cron script and it seems to be triggered from somewhere else (may be when logging into WP admin area as you suspect).

====
2017-05-08 13:59:49 1d7pkz-000WY4-4T info R=virtual_user T=dovecot_virtual_delivery_no_batch C=”250 2.0.0 MWFnEUXcEFnS6AEAZFOV6g Saved”
2017-05-08 13:59:49 1d7pkz-000WY4-4T => jennykerber1@gmail.com (info@alecc.ca) R=barracuda_route T=dkim_remote_smtp H=barmail1.idig.net [64.34.111.254] X=TLSv1.2:ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384:256 CV=yes C=”250 Ok: queued as 9883C2E06C”
2017-05-08 13:59:49 1d7pkz-000WY4-4T -> suthernsjacob@gmail.com R=barracuda_route T=dkim_remote_smtp H=barmail1.idig.net [64.34.111.254] X=TLSv1.2:ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384:256 CV=yes C=”250 Ok: queued as 9883C2E06C”
2017-05-08 13:59:49 1d7pkz-000WY4-4T Completed
====

PHP log_errors options is already enabled, but no errors are getting logged in error_log file. The script contains queries to MySQL database (alecccwh_wp) and many “if” conditions. DB credentials in the script are correct and hence the script should be able to access MySQL database. It is possible that one or more “if” conditions are not working or there is a misconfiguration in conditions resulting in failure to send reminder mails. Please ask the plugin vendor to test the cron script and check for issues with conditions.

Please ask the developer/plugin vendor about the requirements of the plugins (like PHP version, MySQL version, PHP modules/values/settings etc.) and check if it is possible to enable debugging for the cron script.

Hi Mike.

Some more info that may help in your resolution of my challenges…

I started four 2-hour subscriptions today, all started between 8:20 and 8:35pm, set up with two reminder emails… #1 – one hour before expiration and #2 – 30 minutes before expiration.

At 10:15 I had not received any reminder emails. I logged into the wp-admin side of the site.

At 10:16 I received email Reminder #2 – wrong one and late (which was set to trigger 30 minutes before expiration).

At 10:40, once all should have expired I logged in once again.

At 10:41 I received email Reminder #1 – wrong one and late (which was set to trigger one hour before expiration).

I hope this helps in the investigation.

Cheers,

Oliver

Thanks Mike.

I have tried this with the Cron Job scheduled every minute, every 5 minutes, daily, etc. Lots of different ways and also with memberships of varying lengths from 1.5 hours up to three days. It doesn’t seem to make a difference.

However, I have now changed it again to run every minute, and I currently have four subscriptions set up… two of which I just started and which will end in 2 hours, and two of which were started yesterday and will end later today.

This doesn’t address the error that is being produced as pointed out by my host provider (pasted again below) and doesn’t explain why the reminder emails are being sent and received only when I log into wp-admin… that’s not a model that is sustainable.

Please explain.

Cheers,

Oliver

===========

We are still getting error message when we manually run the cron job.Please check the script at your end as mentioned earlier.

—
[root@cwh26 ~]# php -d display_errors /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php

Warning: mysqli_num_rows() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli_result, boolean given in /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php on line 16

Warning: mysqli_num_rows() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli_result, boolean given in /home/alecccwh/public_html/cron.php on line 22
[root@cwh26 ~]#

Following up on your suggestion to change to 1 minute intervals for the Cron Job.

6:35am – 2-hour subscription created.

7:35am – reminder #1 scheduled (1 hour before expiry) – NOTHING received.

8:05am – reminder #2 scheduled (30 minutes before expiry) – NOTHING received.

8:35am – 2-hour subscription ended.

9:10am – logged into wp-admin

9:12am – reminder #2 received followed immediately by reminder #1

I would very much like to get this resolved today, Mike. Client is not happy with the delays any longer.

Cheers,

O.

Yes I understand Mike.

But are you able to at least explain why the error is occuring, as the host is telling me that it is a problem with the script, and also why emails get sent out when I login into wp-admin?

Cheers,

Oliver

Hi Helen.

This is definitely a question for you folks. I am still trying to sort things out to get your plugin working properly (ie. having email reminders sent out automatically).

I have set up a test product with a 2 hour time limit, with ONE reminder set to be sent with 1 hour remaining.

However, now that I have “purchased” the product, when I look at my list of subscribers (see attached), it shows TWO reminders being scheduled… the second one, however, for a time four hours before the start of the subscription.

Can you explain this to me, please?

Cheers,
Oliver

Here you go.

Hi Mike.

The host has added a php info page and asked me to send you the following link to see if any of the current settings and/or modules need to be modified or enabled…

https://alecc.ca/info.php

That’s unfortunate, though understandable. I was hoping we were getting close when Mike asked me to post a pic of the reminder settings.

That didn’t provide any clues, I guess?

I am surprised that two weeks into helping me out, I am only now reading a comment about shared hosting sometimes being a problem. The site is in a shared hosting environment. The client is an educational and cultural association of Canada that operates on a limited budget so a move to a non-shared environment would be significant.

What assurances do I have that the plugin would work as expected in a dedicated environment?

I’m not a scripter, but I am honestly surprised that given the Cron Job is throwing a clear error, it’s not easier to identify the problem / conflict / solution.

Cheers,

Oliver

Thanks Mike.
Sounds like the same issue. Which to me means it’s worth solving… 😉
Oliver

Hi Mike.

We had some success.

My host identified the line of code that was seemingly causing the error. (See pasted below). This appears to have worked. I have run test products over the last few days and I have received the expected reminder emails.

HOWEVER… as of yesterday (with no further modifications to the site or the script since May 20th, there is a different problem.

When I purchase a product (either as an existing subscriber to extend, or as a new subscriber) the purchase shows up as an order in WooCommerce but does NOT appear as a SUBSCRIBER in UM-Switcher.

What could possibly cause this? I am sure it is not related to the Cron Job and I am at a loss as to why this would suddenly start happening without my making changes.

Please advise as soon as possible. I thought we had solved the problem and then this new problem cropped up.

Cheers,

Oliver

=================
FROM HOST:

We replaced the result variable
($result = mysqli_query($conn, $sql);)
with following:

—
$result = mysqli_query($conn, “SELECT * FROM wp_users JOIN wp_um_switcher ON wp_users.ID = wp_um_switcher.user_id”);
—

This script skips using “sql” variable, and instead directly use the values from the database.
=========================

Please see attached screenshots.

You can see that order # 1085 (which is the same product as order # 1069 and ordered by the same user) does not appear in the subscriptions list. I would expect to see the subscription updated to reflect the new purchase (showing an end date of three days from now – 29th).

Other products are working (seemingly) and will appear in the subscription list, but the three products that I have been testing (a 2 hour subscription and two three day subscriptions) have stopped working.

Thanks Mike

Hi Mike.

That’s unfortunate. I’ve now run into two significant issues that the author of the plugin is not interested in resolving.

That is disappointing.

What do you recommend as an alternative solution to UM-Switcher if I can’t resolve this issue myself?

I am currently in the process of deleting the products that have stopped working in order to recreate them.

Thanks,

Oliver

Perhaps this will help?

I just changed the default message in the reminder email to the text below and the product stopped working. Do you see anything wrong with what I have used as text in the subject or body that would prevent the product as showing up as a subscription?

SUBJECT:
Your ONE YEAR membership in [site_name] will expire soon.

BODY:
Hello [user],
[new_line]
This is a reminder that your membership in ALECC will expire in TWO DAYS.
[new_line]
Your continued support of the organization is important to us; to renew your membership, please visit http://www.alecc.ca/my-account/. Simply log in with your username and password and extend your membership for 1, 2, or 3 years.
[new_line]
Your username is your email address.
[new_line]
Your temporary password is a1l2e3c4c5.
[new_line]
Thank you for your support.
[new_line]
[site_name]

Just confirmed that changing back to the default text returns the product to a working state.

So, what’s wrong with the text that I want to use?

Cheers,

Oliver

I understand Helen.

I’ve established that my problem with the products not appearing as subscriptions in UM-Switcher is connected to changing the default text of the reminder emails.

Can you just tell me if this is something you’ve experienced before or if you spot anything in my new text that might be problematic?

For example… is there a limit to the number of characters that can be used? Or any fields that MUST be included in order for the purchase to show up as a subscription?

Much appreciated,

Oliver

Hi there.

An update… when I remove the last two lines of my body text:

[new_line]
[site_name]

the product works again.

I would love an explanation as I need to know what the limits are that I need to work within for the creation of these reminder emails.

Thanks.

OK, thanks.
When do you think you might have these issues resolved?
Thanks,
Oliver

Sorry… wrong response lazormish. Yes, my cronjob is returning the same errors. Has not been resolved yet.