2 questions on CiviMember ... sign up for free membership / renewals

[Laryn]

Two questions, hopefully quick:

1. We have set up various membership options which take payment (and long-term, we hope to automate the connection between these memberships and drupal account access or role)...the question now is whether there is a way to set up a membership sign-up form which allows for a free membership option and doesn't require the credit card info. I can set up the membership just fine, and added it to a contribution page like the other ones, but even though it's free, it is still asking for the credit card number. (e.g. we'd like to set up a "30 day free trial" membership which doesn't require them to pay anything).

2. When someone renews a 1-year membership, for example, does it add the year onto the end of whatever time is left, or does it just reset the membership end date to one year from today?

Peace,
lpkb

[Dave Greenberg]

1. We have set up various membership options which take payment (and long-term, we hope to automate the connection between these memberships and drupal account access or role)...the question now is whether there is a way to set up a membership sign-up form which allows for a free membership option and doesn't require the credit card info. I can set up the membership just fine, and added it to a contribution page like the other ones, but even though it's free, it is still asking for the credit card number. (e.g. we'd like to set up a "30 day free trial" membership which doesn't require them to pay anything).

Uncheck the "Execute Real-time Monetary Transactions" field under the "Contribution Amounts" section of configuration for that page.

2. When someone renews a 1-year membership, for example, does it add the year onto the end of whatever time is left, or does it just reset the membership end date to one year from today?

Renewals for "rolling" memberships will add the membership duration to the current END DATE. For example:
- Membership Period = 1 year
- My Start Date = Aug 1, 2007
- My End Date = July 31, 2007
I renew today...
- My New End Date = July 31, 2008

[Laryn]

Got it and got it. I am continually impressed with the full-featured set of options in this program...and I apologize for asking this question. I should have found that on my own but I was stuck searching in the wrong place. Thanks again.

[Dave Greenberg]

If you think there's a spot in the doc where this configuration option could/should be noted - please jump in and add it!

regards,
dave