User expiration

[thlinna]

How could I implement an expiration date for user? It's a kind of sleak version of subscription management, but my purpose is to limit user to access page as long as he pays for the service. What'd be the easiest solution for proof of concept other than managing them by hand? 

Thanks in advance.

[adrian]

Add an expiry_date field to the "user" template and then check the user's expiry date against the current date before showing them the page.

[teppo]

Should probably be noted that this depends a bit on whether you want to disable their entire account after the subscription is over (in which case you should follow Adrian's suggestion or take a closer look at Login Scheduler) or if you actually prefer to keep the account usable and only deny access to specific pages. In other words, is the subscription an "all-or-nothing thing" or can one user subscribe to different types of content?

One solution to the latter need would be storing pairs of users + subscription lengths in a Repeater field attached to the page they are subscribed to. Instead of Repeater you could use a PageTable field – or Table, if you don't mind the commercial aspect of ProFields – and instead of the subscription target you could store said data on the user account.

There are many solutions, and the best one depends on your specific needs

[Robin S]

For one site I did this...

Created two roles - member and pro-member (pro-member is user with active subscription, with permission to view certain pro-only pages).

Added expiry field to user template, as adrian suggested.

Users can register for free - they get the basic member role with permission to post comments, limited view permission, etc.

If a member purchases a (non-renewing) subscription via PayPal:

• pro-member role is given to user
• expiry date is set according the duration they purchased and pro-member role is given to user

Daily Lazy Cron job:

• checks for users with subscription expiring in next three days and emails a reminder to renew subscription
• removes pro-member role from users with expired subscription