Using the Ruleset Visualizer

The Ruleset Visualizer is an optional tool that creates a visual calendar for upcoming charge scenarios, allowing you to experiment with ruleset settings and preview different subscription scenarios without making changes to your ruleset.

Before you start

• This tool is still in beta. Contact our support team if you run into any issues.
• You can access the ruleset visualizer on the right-hand sidebar while editing a ruleset.
• Changes made in the visualizer will not be reflected in the subscription ruleset. This tool is intended to help you get a clear picture of how a subscription could potentially act, not modify the ruleset.

Settings

You can tailor a potential subscription cycle with any of the variables and options on the left side of the page. 

Subscription cycle type

This dropdown allows you to select how the ruleset will handle cut-off dates. You can decide if the subscription charges monthly or acts as a pre-paid subscription, and whether the subscription should cut-off before or after a set date.

Frequency

The frequency is determined by the subscription ruleset but you can change this monthly order frequency.

Order every

This determines how often a potential subscriber generates an order in Shopify and is mailed a package.

Charge every

How often you charge potential subscribers based on the frequency in months.

First charge

This is either the checkout date, or the first success charge on a newly added subscription product.

Recurring charge

What day of the month you want all charges after the initial checkout to be run on. For example, setting this to the 15th means that a customer's second charge and beyond will be processed on the 15th of the month regardless of the day they initially went through checkout. 

Cut-off day

Cut-off dates create a time gap between the day a customer goes through the Recharge checkout and when you bill your customers again for their recurring orders.

Checkout orders submitted before the cut-off day will have the next order process on the upcoming order date. If a customer orders after the set cut-off day, then their next order will skip the next upcoming order date. For more information see Creating a cut-off window.

Skip 2nd cycle charge

If you set a cut-off day, you run the risk of charging a customer twice in a single month. Skip 2nd cycle charge will skip a customer's second charge so that they won't be charged repeatedly over a short amount of time. 

Visualizer

After you update the settings and click Refresh calendars, Recharge will generate calendars for the current and three upcoming months.

The calendars update according to the settings set on this page and subscription ruleset options. They display the day a customer places an order and then generate future orders based on the cut-off day and recurring charge day.

Upcoming charges

Towards the bottom of the page, the Ruleset Visualizer lists the next three charges and shipments.

If the ruleset is a prepaid subscription or has one charge per multiple shipments, each of the three upcoming charges will list all shipments, labeled as Order dates, associated with it.