How to specify a trial phase / invalid documentation?

[Sören Kress]

Hi,

according to https://docs.killbill.io/latest/userguide_subscription.html#components-catalog a trial phase can be specified like this:

<phase type="TRIAL">

  <duration>

    <unit>DAYS</unit>

    <number>30</number>

  </duration>

  <billingPeriod>NO_BILLING_PERIOD</billingPeriod>

  <fixedPrice> <!-- empty price implies $0 --> </fixedPrice>

</phase>

... but catalog validation fails. So what is the recommended way to specify a trial phase?

I am now using the following definition, but I am not sure if this is ok (at least it seems to work), or if I am missing anything:

<phase type="TRIAL">

    <duration>

        <unit>DAYS</unit>

        <number>30</number>

    </duration>

    <fixed>

        <fixedPrice>

        </fixedPrice>

    </fixed>

</phase>

I can create a PR to update the doc if that would help.

Best

Soeren

[Sören Kress]

And a followup question: is it possible to define a trial where no invoice will be generated? Currently I get an invoice with an amount of 0. I have tried to define a trial as follows:

<initialPhases>

    <phase type="TRIAL">

        <duration>

            <unit>MONTHS</unit>

            <number>1</number>

        </duration>

        <recurring>

            <billingPeriod>NO_BILLING_PERIOD</billingPeriod>

        </recurring>

    </phase>

</initialPhases>

This version validates, but it results in a NullPointerException at https://github.com/killbill/killbill/blob/master/jaxrs/src/main/java/org/killbill/billing/jaxrs/json/SubscriptionJson.java#L425:

final BigDecimal recurringPrice = curPlanPhase.getRecurring() != null ? curPlanPhase.getRecurring().getRecurringPrice().getPrice(currency) : null;

(And if I add a recurring price of 0 to the trial phase, the catalog does not validate because of the "NO_BILLING_PERIOD" setting.)

Thanks

Soeren

[Reshma Bidikar]

Hello,

Your catalog looks correct. Kill Bill provides an online catalog validation tool where you can validate your catalogs. You can access this tool by creating an account at https://cloud.killbill.io/ and accessing the catalog tool via Tools > Catalog editor on the left.

With regards to defining a trial phase without an invoice, AFAIK, that is not possible. 

Regards,

Reshma

[Gary Ryczek]

Reshma,

Can you explain to me the purpose and behavior of the NO_BILLING_PERIOD setting?  I was hoping that if a Trail plan had that set, no billing, and thus no invoicing, would occur.  If the setting does not do that, what does it do?

Thanks

Gary

[Reshma Bidikar]

Hi,

The NO_BILLING_PERIOD is actually not used much.  When specified, it indicates that there is no recurring price (like MONTHLY, ANNUAL, etc). in that phase. However, it would still result in an invoice being generated. 

Regards,

Reshma

[Shaun Forgie]

Hi Reshma,

The NO_BILLING_PERIOD flag could be better named. Possibly IS_ZERO_BILL_PHASE ?

rgs

Shaun

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