Add custom checkout field as Order custom-meta data in Woocommerce 3

Question

before WooCommerce 3.0 came out my code had worked like a charm to save custom values from the cart into the order on checkout. But since then I'm not able to create custom meta for orders.

Environment: Wordpress 4.9.4 & WooCommerce 3.3.3

Hooks

add_action('woocommerce_checkout_update_order_meta', 'custom_meta_to_order', 20, 1);
add_action('woocommerce_checkout_create_order', 'custom_meta_to_order', 20, 1);

The Hook number 1 is the one I tried the most, the 2 one was just an experiment with some literal changes mentioned in this topic.

Function

The following functions-code is related to hook number 1:

if (!function_exists('custom_meta_to_order')) {
    function custom_meta_to_order($order_id, $values) {
        $order = wc_get_order( $order_id );

        $order->update_meta_data('_TESTKEYstart', 'Hello');

        if (isset($values['myValue'])) {
            $myValue = $values['myValue'];
            if (!empty($myValue)) $order->update_meta_data('_myKey', $myValue);
        }

        $order->update_meta_data('_TESTKEYend', 'Bye');

        $order->save();
    }
}

I've checked also in the mySQL table table wp_woocommerce_order_itemmeta if at least the two _TESTKEY*-meta-entrys will be created (because they don't have a condition).

But it seems that the meta-keys and values don't getting created via this hook and function.
The function itself getting called, so at least the hooks itselfs are working.

So my question is: "What am I doing wrong?"

LoicTheAztec LoicTheAztec · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-27T23:15:16

UPDATED: There is some errors in your code…

Both hooks have only 1 argument (not 2, so $values doesn't exist)
To get your custom field you should use $_POST['myValue'] instead.
and other things like each hook has a different argument:
- $order_id for woocommerce_checkout_update_order_meta
- $order for woocommerce_checkout_create_order

Below I have replaced $_POST['myValue'] by $_POST['billing_country'] as you don't give the code for this custom checkout field…

So here are both ways:

1) The best way for me, as explained here:

if ( ! function_exists('custom_meta_to_order') ) {
    add_action( 'woocommerce_checkout_create_order', 'custom_meta_to_order', 20, 1 );
    function custom_meta_to_order( $order ) {

        $order->update_meta_data('_TESTKEYstart', 'Hello');

        if (isset($_POST['billing_country'])) {
            $myValue = $_POST['billing_country'];
            if (!empty($myValue)) $order->update_meta_data('_my_key', $myValue);
        }

        $order->update_meta_data('_TESTKEYend', 'Bye');
    }
}

Code goes in function.php file of your active child theme (or theme). Tested and works.

2) The other way:

if ( ! function_exists('custom_meta_to_order') ) {
    add_action('woocommerce_checkout_update_order_meta', 'custom_meta_to_order', 20, 1);
    function custom_meta_to_order( $order_id ) {
        // get an instance of the WC_Order object
        $order = wc_get_order( $order_id );

        $order->update_meta_data('_TESTKEYstart', 'Hello');

        if (isset($_POST['billing_country'])) {
            $myValue = $_POST['billing_country'];
            if (!empty($myValue)) $order->update_meta_data('_my_key', $myValue);
        }

        $order->update_meta_data('_TESTKEYend', 'Bye');

        // Save the order data and meta data
        $order->save();
    }
}

Code goes in function.php file of your active child theme (or theme). Tested and works.

The proof:

And (in database wp_postmeta table for this order ID):

Tested in WooCommerce version 3.3+

You can use the old way too (which works):

if ( ! function_exists('custom_meta_to_order') ) {
    add_action('woocommerce_checkout_update_order_meta', 'custom_meta_to_order', 20, 1);
    function custom_meta_to_order( $order_id ) {

        update_post_meta( $order_id, '_TESTKEYstart', 'Hello' );

        if ( isset( $_POST['billing_country'] ) ) {
            $myValue = $_POST['billing_country'];
            if (!empty($myValue)) 
                update_post_meta( $order_id, '_my_key', $myValue);
        }

        update_post_meta( $order_id, '_TESTKEYend', 'Bye');
    }
}

Code goes in function.php file of your active child theme (or theme). Tested and works.

Related: Add extra meta for orders in Woocommerce

Add custom checkout field as Order custom-meta data in Woocommerce 3

Hooks

Function

So my question is: "What am I doing wrong?"

2 Answers