# Order subscriptions

Order subscriptions allow repeating a given source order according to a specified frequency: smaller is `hourly`, larger is `yearly`. If you need a custom frequency that is not in the list of allowed values, you can use a [crontab expression](https://crontab.guru/).

Order subscriptions can be generated [automatically](#automatic-order-subscription-generation) from the [line items](https://docs.commercelayer.io/core-api-reference/line_items#choosing-line-items-that-generate-subscriptions) that have a frequency using a trigger attribute at the [order](https://docs.commercelayer.io/core-api-reference/orders#automatic-subscriptions-generation) level (in this case [recurring order copies](https://docs.commercelayer.io/core-api-reference/recurring_order_copies) are used as the order factory that generates the target orders) or [manually](#manual-order-subscription-generation) (in this case the process usually leverages [order copies](https://docs.commercelayer.io/core-api-reference/order_copies)). You can turn an existing manual order subscription into an automatic one by sending the `_convert` trigger attribute, provided that you previuosly defined a subscription model for the associated market.

To suspend or cancel an order subscription you can use the `_deactivate` and `_cancel` trigger attributes.

Currently, order subscriptions have no retry policy: in case, for any reason, the order copy fails, the `errors_count` counter is incremented, but the subscription is kept `active` (unless expired, deactivated or `cancelled`). As soon as the order copy process starts the order subscription status is moved to `running` and moved back to `active` once the process is successfully completed.

It is possible to check the `succeeded_on_last_run` attribute to inspect subscription last run state: if `false`, you can inspect the last associated `recurring_order_copy` or `order_copy` to fix any missing/bad data.

You can attach [webhooks](https://app.gitbook.com/s/-LgByaSP8eKjad-MIuHE/real-time-webhooks#supported-events) on order subscriptions, recurring order copies, and order copies events, to act promptly in case something unexpected happens. You can also set the `renewal_alert_period` attribute (expressed in **hours** — the minimum value is `1`, the maximum value is `720` e.g. **30 days**) so that the related webhook event is fired accordingly and you can send customers a notification about upcoming recurring orders associated with subscriptions.

### Automatic order subscription generation

To automatically generate order subscriptions based on a source order's line items with frequency you need to associate a [subscription model](https://docs.commercelayer.io/core-api-reference/subscription_models) with your market. The source order is considered the subscription's first run, some of its information is copied (e.g. addresses, customer payment source, etc.), the involved [order subscription items](https://docs.commercelayer.io/core-api-reference/order_subscription_items) are created and associated with the generated order subscriptions, and — upon successful recurring order copy — the target order is placed using the saved customer payment source (if still valid).

In between each run you can edit the subscription (e.g. changing its frequency, expiration date, status etc.) to dynamically manage the next occurrences.

By default, automatically generated order subscriptions are directly activated, unless [differently specified](https://docs.commercelayer.io/core-api-reference/subscription_models#automatic-subscription-activation-and-cancellation) at the subscription model level.

{% hint style="warning" %}
When changing the subscription's frequency make sure to also manually update the `next_run_at` attribute with the correct time in the future, otherwise the next subscription run couldn't happen when expected.
{% endhint %}

### Manual order subscription generation

When manually creating an order subscription both types of [order factories](https://docs.commercelayer.io/core-api-reference/order_factories) can be used.

#### Using order copies

If no subscription model is associated with the market, manually created order subscriptions — simply based on a source order that not contains any line items with frequency — rely on order copies to create recurring orders. In this case, all the source order's information and line items are cloned into the target order, according to the frequency set for the order subscription. An attempt to place the copied order is done at the end of the process. You can set the `place_target_order` option as `false` at creation time if you prefer to place created orders manually.

By default, manually generated order subscriptions activate from a `placed` source order, which is considered the subscription's first run. In this case, the subscription is marked as `active` and the next run will be scheduled on the current timestamp. If you want full control over the order subscription, you can specify the `activate_by_source_order` option as `false` at creation time. This way, you are not limited to placed source orders (source order status isn't checked), but must define manually the `starts_at` time (`expires_at` time is optional). Also, remember to use the `_activate` attribute to activate the subscription, otherwise it will miss the next run.

#### Using recurring order copies

Order subscriptions that rely on recurring order copies can be created manually too (e.g. if you need to generate subscriptions for some source order's line items only). In this case, you need to set also the relationship with an existing subscription model and a source order, create and associate the order subscription items, and specify the customer payment source.

<details>

<summary>Data model</summary>

Check the related [ER diagram](https://commercelayer.io/docs/data-model/subscriptions-and-order-copies) and explore the flowchart that illustrates how the order subscription resource relates to the other API entities.

</details>

<details>

<summary>How-to</summary>

Check the related [guide](https://app.gitbook.com/s/-Lk-ezuDClaMavTqnRi0/placing-orders/subscriptions) to learn more about how to generate and automatic subscriptions from a source order.

</details>