Place test orders from the Merchant Control Panel

Overview

You can place five types of test orders:

1. New acquisition
2. Trial
3. Automatic renewal/trial conversion
4. Manual renewal
5. Upgrade

To start the testing process, you first need to generate a test buy-link. Using test Buy Links you can replicate the new acquisitions and trial purchase scenarios. Automatic renewals, trial conversions, manual renewals, and upgrades require that you placed an initial test order and that 2Checkout generated a subscription for the test purchase.

Recommended resources

How to generate a test Buy-Link

Create links in the Merchant Control Panel

1. Go to Setup -> Generate links -> Checkout Links.
2. Choose a purchase flow from the available list.
3. Select one or more products.
4. Optional: you can control a collection of advanced options, but none are required to place test orders.
5. Click on Generate link.
6. Click Place a test order. Alternatively, you can copy the generated link and paste it in your browser's address bar.

Manually add the DOTEST parameter to Buy-Links

You can add the DOTEST parameter manually to Buy Links and use the result to place test orders. For example,

Buy link: https://secure.2checkout.com/order/checkout.php?PRODS=4551041&QTY=1

Test buy link: https://secure.2checkout.com/order/checkout.php?PRODS=4551041&QTY=1&DOTEST=1

DOTEST in buy-links only works if the you enabled the testing system for your account. Otherwise, it has no impact whatsoever.

New acquisition test orders

1. Use the guidance above to generate the test buy-link.
2. Open the test buy-link in your browser.
3. Optional: You can change products, enter discount coupons, update pricing options, quantity, cross-sell, upsell, etc.
4. Enter Billing Information. The details can be fictitious, but use a valid email address that you control:
   
   • To also get notifications from the 2Checkout system.
   • Be able to access myAccount.
5. Use one of the dummy credit cards in the Test payment methods page to provide payment information details. Note: The result varies depending on the used card number and cardholder name.

Trial test orders

1. Use the guidance above to generate the test buy-link.
2. Choose the Trial link purchase flow.
3. Open the test buy-link in your browser.
4. Optional: You can change products, enter discount coupons, update pricing options, quantity, cross-sell, upsell, etc.
5. Enter Billing Information. The details can be fictitious, but use a valid email address that you control:
   
   • To also get notifications from the 2Checkout system.
   • Be able to access myAccount.
6. Use one of the dummy credit cards in the Test payment methods page to provide payment information details. Note: The result varies depending on the used card number and cardholder name.

Automatic renewal test orders

Renewal test orders are only available for subscriptions generated for existing test orders involving products with the subscription service enabled and set to an interval other than a one-time fee (non-recurring).

The 2Checkout system automatically renews test subscriptions before they expire. Renewal test orders require you to place an initial new purchase test order so that the 2Checkout system generates a test subscription.

• The 2Checkout platform supports recurring billing for test orders paid with credit/debit cards. Depending on the renewal interval set for subscriptions, the 2Checkout system will charge customers in accordance with the following two scenarios:
  • The subscription renewal interval is smaller or equal to six (6) months. The 2Checkout system will attempt to charge customers (per their time zone) at a maximum of three (3) hours prior to the expiration of the current subscription.
  • Subscription renewal interval is larger than six (6) months. The first attempt to charge shoppers is made 27 hours prior to the expiration date. A subsequent attempt is made, seven (7) hours before the subscription is set to expire.

Trigger an automatic renewal test order

1. Go to Subscription management or to Order search and search either for a test subscription or a test order. It's mandatory to use a non-lifetime test subscription.
2. Click on View subscription to access the details page of the item you wish to trigger the auto-renewal process for.
3. Click on Renew subscription. Select the Auto option and click on Renew subscription. Note: The 2Checkout system will only renew subscriptions with a valid card attached. This means that the card number and expiration date (10 / 16) combination must support auto-renewal.
4. After the 2Checkout system automatically renews the subscription, it will update the history area at the bottom of the page with the details on the renewal test order.

Subscription renewal test orders

Renewal test orders require you to place an initial new purchase test order so that the 2Checkout system generates a test subscription.

1. Edit the product(s) for which you wish to place test orders.
2. Make sure the renewal interval for the product under the Renewal tab, in the Subscription Settings area is set to a value other than a one-time fee (non-recurring).
3. Place a test order for the product and enable auto-renewal in the shopping cart during the purchasing process.

Manual renewal test order

You need to place manual renewal test orders yourself. You or the 2Checkout system can place only test orders for test subscriptions generated. The DOTEST=1 URL parameter is used automatically for the ordering process.

1. Navigate to Subscription management or to Order search and search either for a test subscription or a test order. It's mandatory to use a non-lifetime test subscription.
2. Click on View subscription to access the details page of the item you wish to trigger the auto-renewal process for.
3. Click on Renew subscription. Select the Manual option and click on Renew subscription. Alternatively, click on or copy & paste the Manual Payment test link into your browser's address bar
4. You will land in the shopping cart where you can place a manual renewal test order. The system will include the DOTEST=1 URL parameter in the Buy Link.
5. The system will update the Subscription history area with the details on the renewal test order.

Test renewal notifications

1. Go to Subscription management or to Order search and search either for a test subscription or a test order. It's mandatory to use a non-lifetime test subscription.
2. Click on View subscription to access the details page of the item you wish to trigger the auto-renewal process for.
3. Click Send expiration email. Select one of the options available:
   
   • Auto (with or without card expiration instructions)
   • Manual
4. 2Checkout sends emails to the email address under End-user details.
5. If you click on the manual payment link included in the manual renewal email will you also land in the shopping cart and be able to place a manual renewal test order.

How CAPTCHA verification works

To increase the security of the 2Checkout shopping cart and protect you from hackers and fake accounts, a CAPTCHA verification is implemented in the shopping cart in order to correctly differentiate real users from fake accounts.

CAPTCHA identification is based on your login history:

1. If you have logged in to your Control Panel account in the past 30 days, you will not be shown a CAPTCHA verification when placing test orders.
2. If you have not logged in to your Control Panel account in the past 30 days, you will be shown a CAPTCHA verification when placing test orders.