Simple Scheduled Maintenance

A powerful WordPress plugin for scheduled maintenance mode with multi-language support, countdown timer, and flexible configuration options.

Description

Simple Scheduled Maintenance allows you to schedule maintenance windows for your WordPress site with support for multiple languages, brand-specific messages, and a beautiful countdown timer. The plugin automatically detects WPML or Polylang for language management, or allows manual language configuration.

Key Features:

• ✅ Scheduled maintenance windows with start/end dates and timezones
• ✅ Multi-language support (automatic detection via WPML/Polylang or manual configuration)
• ✅ Simplified UX for single-language sites (auto-configured)
• ✅ Rich text editor for maintenance messages with HTML support
• ✅ Optional countdown timer showing time until maintenance ends
• ✅ Custom maintenance image upload with toggle option
• ✅ Remove image functionality with AJAX (no page reload)
• ✅ Self-contained template (no external CDN dependencies)
• ✅ Language-specific messages for each configured language
• ✅ Automatic language detection based on current site language
• ✅ Tabbed admin interface for easy management
• ✅ Email notifications with customizable subject and message (WordPress native wp_mail)
• ✅ Debug information tab for troubleshooting
• ✅ Plugin-specific cache clearing (doesn't affect site-wide cache)
• ✅ Settings link in plugin list for quick access
• ✅ Success notifications with timestamps and auto-dismiss
• ✅ Optimized performance: Zero resource usage when disabled or maintenance window ended

Installation

1. Upload the simple-scheduled-maintenance folder to /wp-content/plugins/ directory
2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu in WordPress
3. Go to Settings → Maintenance Mode to configure
4. (Multilingual sites only) On first activation, you'll be prompted to configure languages

Configuration

First-Time Setup

For Multilingual Sites: When you first activate the plugin, you'll see a language configuration modal:

1. Automatic Detection: If WPML or Polylang is installed, select this to automatically detect all configured languages
2. Manual Configuration: Add languages manually with codes (e.g., 'en', 'sv', 'no') and names (e.g., 'English', 'Swedish')

For Single-Language Sites: The plugin automatically configures English - no setup needed! Just start configuring your maintenance settings.

General Settings

• Enable Maintenance Mode: Toggle maintenance mode on/off
• Start Date/Time: When maintenance should begin
• End Date/Time: When maintenance should end
• Time Zone: Select your timezone (important for accurate scheduling)
• Show Maintenance Image: Toggle to show/hide the maintenance image
• Maintenance Image: Upload a custom image for the maintenance page (with remove button)
• Show Countdown: Enable/disable the countdown timer

Email Notifications

• Enable Email Notifications: Toggle email alerts on/off
• Email Addresses: Comma-separated list of recipients (defaults to admin email)
• Maintenance Start Email: Customize subject and message for start notifications
• Maintenance End Email: Customize subject and message for end notifications
• Placeholders: Use {site_name}, {site_url}, {start_time}, {end_time}, {duration}, {timezone} in messages
• Uses WordPress native wp_mail() function for reliable email delivery

Language-Specific Messages

• Default Language Tab: Set default messages that will be used as fallback
• Language Tabs: Configure heading and description for each language
• All descriptions support rich text formatting, images, and HTML

Reconfigure Languages

Click the "Reconfigure Languages" button (multilingual sites only) to reset language configuration and choose a different method (automatic or manual). A confirmation modal will appear before proceeding.

Reset All Plugin Data

Use the "Reset Plugin Data" section to permanently delete all plugin settings, configurations, and uploaded files. A confirmation modal will appear to prevent accidental deletions. This action cannot be undone.

Usage

Setting Up Maintenance

1. Navigate to Settings → Maintenance Mode
2. Go to the General Settings tab
3. Enable maintenance mode
4. Set your start and end dates/times
5. Select your timezone
6. (Optional) Toggle maintenance image display on/off
7. (Optional) Upload a custom maintenance image (or use default 404.svg)
8. (Optional) Enable countdown timer
9. Configure messages in the Default Language tab
10. Configure language-specific messages in other language tabs
11. Click Save Settings

How It Works

The plugin automatically shows the maintenance page when:

• Maintenance mode is enabled
• Current time is between start and end times
• User is not logged in as administrator or editor

The maintenance page will:

• Automatically detect the current language
• Show language-specific messages if configured
• Fall back to default messages if language-specific not found
• Display countdown timer (if enabled)
• Show custom maintenance image

Cache Management

The plugin only clears its own configuration cache, not site-wide cache. This ensures:

• Maintenance settings update immediately
• Other site cache remains unaffected
• Better performance

Requirements

• WordPress 5.0 or higher
• PHP 7.0 or higher
• (Optional) WPML or Polylang for automatic language detection

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the scheduler work?

The plugin conditionally attaches WordPress's template_redirect hook only when Enable Maintenance Mode is enabled, then checks maintenance status on page load. No cron jobs or external schedulers needed - it works automatically.

Performance Optimizations:

• Zero resource usage when disabled: If "Enable Maintenance Mode" is unchecked, the plugin exits immediately with only 1 database query
• Zero resource usage when window ended: Once maintenance window ends, a cached transient prevents all date parsing and checks
• Early exits: All functions check enabled/ended status first before any processing
• No background checks: The plugin only runs checks when a page is requested, not in the background

Can I use it without WPML/Polylang?

Yes! You can manually configure languages. The plugin will work with any number of languages you configure.

What happens if I deactivate the plugin?

The maintenance page will stop showing, and your configuration is preserved. When you reactivate, your settings remain intact.

Can I remove all plugin data?

Yes, there's a "Reset Plugin Data" section at the bottom of the settings page. This will permanently delete all settings, configurations, and uploaded files. You can also delete all data when uninstalling the plugin - the uninstall process will remove all plugin data from the database.

Does it clear site-wide cache?

No. The plugin only clears its own configuration cache to ensure settings update properly. It does not affect your site's overall cache.

Does it run background checks when disabled?

No. When maintenance mode is disabled or the maintenance window has ended, the plugin:

• Exits immediately with minimal database queries (1 query when disabled, 1 transient check when ended)
• Does not parse dates or perform timezone calculations
• Does not send emails or perform any background processing
• Uses cached transients to prevent redundant checks when window has ended

What happens when I delete the plugin?

When you delete the plugin from WordPress, all plugin data (options, settings, configurations, transients, and uploaded files) will be automatically removed from the database. This ensures a clean uninstall.

Support

For issues, feature requests, or questions, please contact the plugin author.

Changelog

2.6

• Admin preview anytime (when enabled): Admin/editor can preview maintenance page via ?ssm_preview=1 even if the time window is not active
• Faster during active windows: Cached active state reduces repeated DateTime parsing
• Faster maintenance page: Maintenance template skips wp_head()/wp_footer() to avoid loading heavy theme/plugin assets
• Cleanup: Removed leftover debug output from settings page

2.5

• Email Notifications: Added email alerts when maintenance starts/ends
• Customizable Email Templates: Custom subject and message fields with placeholders
• Email Notifications Tab: Dedicated tab for all email settings
• Performance Optimizations: Zero resource usage when disabled or window ended
• Early Exit Optimizations: All functions check enabled/ended status before processing
• Cached Window Status: Transient caching prevents redundant date parsing when window ended
• Optimized Email Functions: Email functions check maintenance status before processing

2.4

• Simplified UX for single-language sites: Auto-configure English, no manual config needed
• Settings link in plugin list: Quick access to settings from Plugins page
• Success messages with timestamps: Shows when actions were performed
• Auto-dismiss notifications: Success messages automatically fade after 5 seconds
• Improved language code validation: Auto-trims whitespace from language codes
• Enhanced reconfigure modal: Better confirmation dialog with OK/Cancel buttons instead of JavaScript alert
• Custom reset confirmation modal: Professional modal dialog for data deletion confirmation
• Fixed form validation: Hidden required fields no longer cause validation errors
• Improved cache management: Better cache clearing for language configurations
• Comprehensive data deletion: Complete cleanup of all plugin data on reset and uninstall
• Code cleanup: Removed debug logging, improved code organization

2.3

• Refactored template system: Separated HTML/CSS into template.php file
• Self-contained design: No external CDN dependencies (all CSS/JS embedded)
• Image management: Added toggle option to show/hide maintenance image
• AJAX image removal: Remove images without page reload
• Local default image: Changed to local 404.svg file (no external dependencies)
• Improved responsive design: Custom CSS with better mobile support
• Added plugin-specific cache clearing (doesn't affect site-wide cache)
• Improved error handling for maintenance page
• Added activation/deactivation hooks
• Added data removal option
• Improved language configuration flow

2.2

• Added flexible language configuration
• Removed brand-specific messages
• Improved manual language setup

2.1

• Added countdown timer option
• Removed custom HTML field (using description with rich text instead)
• Added tabbed interface
• Improved multilingual detection

2.0

• Initial release with multi-language support
• Brand-specific messages
• Timezone handling improvements

Credits

Developed by Tulips

License

This plugin is licensed under GPLv2 or later.

Technical Details

Performance & Resource Usage

When Maintenance Mode is DISABLED:

• Only 1 database query (get_option('ssm_enabled'))
• Immediate exit - zero date parsing, zero timezone calculations, zero email processing
• No background checks or cron jobs
• Hooks registered but exit immediately on first check

When Maintenance Window has ENDED:

• Only 1 transient check (get_transient('ssm_window_ended'))
• Immediate exit - zero date parsing, zero timezone calculations
• Cached result prevents redundant checks for 24 hours
• No background processing

When Maintenance Mode is ACTIVE:

• Full functionality with date/time checks
• Email notifications sent (if enabled)
• Maintenance page displayed to visitors

Important: The plugin uses WordPress hooks (plugins_loaded + template_redirect) which only run when a page is requested. There are NO background processes, cron jobs, or continuous checks. All checks happen on-demand when a visitor requests a page.

Template System

The plugin uses a separate template.php file for the maintenance page HTML. This provides:

• Clean separation of concerns
• Easier customization
• Self-contained CSS (no external dependencies)
• Better maintainability

Image Management

• Default image: 404.svg (local file in plugin directory)
• Toggle option: Enable/disable image display
• AJAX removal: Remove uploaded images without page reload
• Responsive: Images scale properly on all devices

Email System

• Uses WordPress native wp_mail() function
• Customizable subject and message templates
• Placeholder support for dynamic content
• Duplicate prevention using transients
• Only sends emails when maintenance state changes (start/end)