Display Back Order Notes in Your WooCommerce Admin Orders List: A Simple Guide
Frustrated with not seeing backorder notes directly in your WooCommerce admin orders list? You're not alone! This common pain point can make managing your orders significantly harder, especially when dealing with products on backorder. Luckily, there's a straightforward solution: a simple code snippet that will display backorder notes right alongside your order details.
The Problem: In WooCommerce 3.3 and earlier versions, backorder notes are only visible within the individual order details page. This means you have to click into each order to see if there are specific notes associated with a backorder.
The Solution: A quick and effective fix is to add a custom code snippet to your WooCommerce theme's functions.php
file. This snippet will display backorder notes directly in the orders list, allowing you to quickly identify orders with backorder details without navigating to individual order pages.
Here's the code snippet:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_admin_order_item_values', 'add_backorder_notes_to_order_item', 10, 2 );
function add_backorder_notes_to_order_item( $item, $order ) {
if ( $order->get_status() == 'on-hold' || $order->get_status() == 'processing' || $order->get_status() == 'completed' ) {
if ( ! empty( $order->get_meta( '_wc_backorder_note', true ) ) ) {
$item['backorder_note'] = '<br><strong>Backorder Note:</strong> ' . $order->get_meta( '_wc_backorder_note', true );
}
}
return $item;
}
Explanation:
- The code adds a new filter to WooCommerce's
woocommerce_admin_order_item_values
hook, which controls the data displayed in the orders list. - The
add_backorder_notes_to_order_item
function checks if the order is in one of the relevant statuses (on-hold, processing, or completed), as these are the statuses where backorder notes are typically added. - The function then retrieves the backorder note from the
_wc_backorder_note
meta key and adds it to the$item
array as a new key-value pair calledbackorder_note
. This new entry will be displayed in the orders list.
Implementation:
- Access Your
functions.php
file: Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor, and open thefunctions.php
file of your active theme. - Paste the Code: Paste the code snippet provided above into the
functions.php
file. - Save Changes: Save your changes to the file.
Important Considerations:
- Security: It's essential to ensure you understand the code before adding it to your
functions.php
file. While this snippet is designed to be safe, always back up your site before making any changes. - Alternative Methods: If you're comfortable with more advanced coding, you can explore other methods like creating a custom plugin or utilizing WooCommerce's hooks and filters to achieve the same functionality.
Boosting Efficiency: By incorporating this simple solution, you can save valuable time and streamline your order management process. Now you can easily identify backorders, understand the reasons for delays, and communicate effectively with your customers.
Resources:
- WooCommerce Documentation: https://docs.woocommerce.com/
- WordPress Codex: https://codex.wordpress.org/
Remember to always back up your site before making any changes, and don't hesitate to consult with a developer if you have any doubts or need further assistance. Happy coding!