How to configure iCal
Solidres for Joomla has iCal plugin which can be used for bi-directional availability communication between Solidres and 3rd system/services. This plugin is available for all paid Joomla subscribers.
1. Installation
First, you need to download iCal plugin from your Download page, then install and enable it, also make sure that you are using the latest version of User plugin as well.
2. Configuration
You need to generate API key for your user account, this API key will be used by iCal plugin. To generate API key, edit your user account in your Joomla User Manager and then click Save, Solidres will automatically generate your unique API key. If the API key is already generated, please skip this step.
To export your reservations as iCal format:
Edit your room type and you will see tab iCal. Make sure that your room type has at least 01 reservations, if your room type has no reservation, Solidres won't show the export URL. You can use this URL in your 3rd system/services like Google Calendar for example. Each room type has its own unique export URL.
To import external reservations to your Solidres as iCal format, you have 03 options:
Manual: you can use the import field "Upload ICS file" which allows you to import external iCal files from 3rd system/services. Just choose the iCal file and then save your room type to import it.
Automatic (CLI cron job): first you need to enter the external iCal URL that you want to import automatically into field "Import ICAL URL", then configure an automatic CLI cron job to execute the following script: JOOMLA_ROOT/cli/ical.php.
Automatic (Web cron job): first you need to enter the external iCal URL that you want to import automatically into field "Import ICAL URL", then edit plugin iCal in Joomla Plugin Manager and configure the "Cron token" field and save it, then you can use the URL in field "Web CRON URL" for your web cron job.
How to configure Offline payment plugin
Offline payment plugin is a special plugin, it is developed to collect your guest's credit card information without verifying or processing them (if you need to verify or processing a card, you should use payment plugins like PayPal, Stripe or Authorize.net).
Configuring this plugin is very easy. First, you need to download and install this plugin (available to all subscribers). Then activate it in Joomla Plugin Manager and you will see a new Offline section while editing your asset - tab Payments, you need to enable Offline for your asset, done. There are some more fields to configure like choosing your accepted card brand or showing CVV field.
Now when you make a new reservation in the front end, you will see new Offline payment method in reservation step 2.
So it will collect the guest's credit card, what will it do with them?
After the reservation is completed, the guest's credit card number will be split into 2 parts, the first part will be stored into Solidres database so that you can see it in your reservation edit screen and the second part will be emailed to the asset's email. This is for security reason.
Now you have your guest credit card info, you can use it for manual processing/verification.
After card info is processed, you can delete all stored card info in the database for security reason.