Frequently Asked Questions
BuddyPress Schedule Activity overviewPremiumGet BuddyPress Schedule Activity →
Common questions about scheduling activity updates with BuddyPress Schedule Activity. For fixing problems and error messages, see Troubleshooting.
General
Section titled “General”What does this plugin do?
Section titled “What does this plugin do?”It lets a logged-in member write a BuddyPress or BuddyBoss activity update now and have it publish automatically into the activity feed at a future date and time they choose.
Do I need to configure anything?
Section titled “Do I need to configure anything?”No. Once BuddyPress or BuddyBoss is active, scheduling works out of the box. There is no settings page and nothing to turn on.
Who can schedule updates?
Section titled “Who can schedule updates?”Any logged-in member. There is no special role requirement beyond being a registered, logged-in user. In groups, the member must also be a group member with posting permission.
How far in advance can I schedule?
Section titled “How far in advance can I schedule?”Up to 90 days from today. The date picker disables anything earlier than today or later than 90 days out.
Does it work on mobile?
Section titled “Does it work on mobile?”Yes, as long as your site uses a responsive theme. The scheduling controls work in mobile browsers; the layout adapts to the smaller screen.
Scheduling
Section titled “Scheduling”Where is the schedule control?
Section titled “Where is the schedule control?”Look for the clock icon in the activity posting toolbar, then choose Schedule Activity. Its exact position depends on your theme; see Scheduling an Activity for a table by platform.
What timezone does the plugin use?
Section titled “What timezone does the plugin use?”The site’s timezone, which the administrator sets in wp-admin under Settings, then General. If you are in a different timezone, convert your desired time before entering it. Ask your administrator if you are unsure which timezone the site uses.
What if I close the browser after scheduling?
Section titled “What if I close the browser after scheduling?”The update is saved on the server the moment you submit it. You do not need to stay online; it will publish at the scheduled time regardless.
Can I include photos or other media?
Section titled “Can I include photos or other media?”Yes. Attach any media before you open the scheduler, and it will be included when the update publishes.
Can I schedule the same update for two different times?
Section titled “Can I schedule the same update for two different times?”Not with one update. Each scheduled update is a single entry. To publish the same content twice, create two separate updates and schedule each one.
Managing scheduled updates
Section titled “Managing scheduled updates”Where can I see my scheduled updates?
Section titled “Where can I see my scheduled updates?”On your own profile, under the Scheduled Posts tab. On standard BuddyPress the tab label also shows a count, for example “Scheduled Posts 3”. See Managing Scheduled Posts.
Can I edit a scheduled update?
Section titled “Can I edit a scheduled update?”There is no in-place edit. To change one, cancel it from your Scheduled Posts tab and create a new update with the corrected content and time.
Can other people see my scheduled updates?
Section titled “Can other people see my scheduled updates?”No. Scheduled updates are hidden from the activity feed, from group feeds, and from other members’ profile views, including admins. Only you can see them in your Scheduled Posts list, until they publish.
What happens when an update publishes?
Section titled “What happens when an update publishes?”A background task runs every minute; when it detects that an update’s time has passed, it publishes it into the feed. The update then behaves like a normal activity that others can see, like, and comment on, and it drops off your Scheduled Posts list. Expect it to appear within one to two minutes of the scheduled time, depending on when cron last ran.
Will I get a notification when my update publishes?
Section titled “Will I get a notification when my update publishes?”There is no special “your update went live” notification. Standard BuddyPress activity notifications apply once it is published, for example notifications to group members where that is configured.
Timing and reliability
Section titled “Timing and reliability”How often does the plugin check for updates to publish?
Section titled “How often does the plugin check for updates to publish?”Every 60 seconds. The plugin registers a WordPress cron schedule called bp_every_min (interval MINUTE_IN_SECONDS). A transient lock prevents two cron runs from publishing the same update at once.
What if the server is down at the scheduled time?
Section titled “What if the server is down at the scheduled time?”The update publishes as soon as the server is back and cron runs again. It may appear slightly later than planned, but it is not lost.
Does this work with caching plugins?
Section titled “Does this work with caching plugins?”Publishing is server-side and is not affected by page caching. A cached page may not show a newly published update immediately; refresh or wait for the cache to expire, which most caching plugins do within a few minutes.
Are scheduled updates included in backups?
Section titled “Are scheduled updates included in backups?”Yes. They are stored in the WordPress database like any other activity and are included in standard database backups. Once cancelled, they cannot be recovered without restoring a backup.