How splitting works
When the split happens
The split runs when the order confirmation page loads after checkout. This works with the classic checkout and the Checkout block.
- Orders added by hand in the admin are not split.
- An order is split only once, even if the confirmation page is reloaded.
- If a customer never reaches the confirmation page, the order is not split.
What moves
The plugin reads the stock level when the item was added to the cart. Any quantity above it moves to the backorder order. For example, with 1 in stock and 3 ordered, 1 stays and 2 move.
- Nothing in stock: the order is not split. The order itself gets the Backordered status.
- Variations: a variation with its own stock is counted on its own. Variations whose stock is managed on the parent product share that stock.
What the backorder order gets
| Backorder order | |
|---|---|
| Moved items | Yes, at the price the customer paid (after any discount) |
| Billing and shipping addresses | Copied |
| Payment method and transaction ID | Copied |
| Shipping method | Copied at no extra cost |
| Fees | Stay on the original order |
| Coupon lines | Stay on the original order |
| Status | Backordered |
Shipping, fees and coupons
The customer paid shipping and fees once, so they stay on the original order. The backorder order keeps the shipping method at $0, so you can still see how to ship it, and a note says which order the shipping was charged on.
Coupon discounts are already part of each item's price. Each order keeps its share of the discount, so the coupon is never counted twice.
:::note Before 2.4.0
Earlier versions copied shipping, fees and coupons to the backorder order in full. Orders split before 2.4.0 are not changed. A developer can restore the old behaviour with the wcbs_copy_charges_to_backorder filter.
:::
Notes and links
- The original order gets the note "Backorder items split into order #N".
- The backorder order gets "This order contains backordered items from order #N".
- On the order screen, a Linked orders box shows the other order.
Emails
WooCommerce emails are held while the backorder order is created, so the customer doesn't get a second order email. When you later complete the backorder order, WooCommerce sends its usual emails.
The Backordered status
The plugin adds a Backordered order status. You can filter the orders list by it, and Change status to backordered is in the bulk actions on both order screens.
Errors
If a split fails, the error is logged under WooCommerce > Status > Logs, source wc-backorder-split. Check both orders and contact support with the log line.