General Questions
What is CP-Sync?
CP-Sync is a WordPress plugin that synchronizes data between your church management system (ChMS) and your WordPress website, allowing you to display groups, events, and other information from your ChMS directly on your website.
Which church management systems does CP-Sync support?
CP-Sync supports Planning Center Online (PCO) and Church Community Builder (CCB).
Do I need technical expertise to use CP-Sync?
No, CP-Sync is designed to be user-friendly. The setup process is guided, and most configurations can be done through the WordPress admin interface without coding knowledge.
How often does CP-Sync update data from my ChMS?
You can configure the sync frequency (hourly, daily, or weekly) with Update Interval on the Advanced tab. You can also manually trigger a sync at any time.
Installation and Setup
What are the system requirements for CP-Sync?
CP-Sync requires WordPress 6.0 or higher, PHP 7.4 or higher, and MySQL 5.6 or higher. You also need an active account with one of the supported church management systems.
How do I install CP-Sync?
Install CP-Sync by uploading the plugin ZIP file through your WordPress admin dashboard. Detailed instructions are in the Installation Guide.
Why can’t I connect to my ChMS?
Connection issues usually stem from incorrect API credentials or permission issues. Make sure you’ve entered the correct information and that your ChMS account has API access. See the Troubleshooting Guide for more help.
Is CP-Sync secure?
Yes, CP-Sync uses secure API connections and follows WordPress security best practices. Your API credentials are stored securely in the WordPress database using standard encryption methods.
Features and Usage
Can I control which groups are imported?
Yes, CP-Sync provides extensive filtering options. You can filter by group type, status, name, and more. See the Data Filters Guide for details.
Can I map custom fields from my ChMS?
No. CP Sync copies a fixed set of fields. There is no field-mapping setting.
How does CP-Sync handle recurring events?
CP-Sync imports each occurrence of a recurring event as its own event in The Events Calendar. It does not create a recurring event series.
Will CP-Sync overwrite my existing content?
CP-Sync is designed to update only the content that comes from your ChMS. It will not affect manually created WordPress content unless it shares a unique identifier with imported content.
Integrations
Does CP-Sync work with The Events Calendar?
Yes, CP-Sync integrates with The Events Calendar plugin, allowing you to import events from your ChMS into your WordPress calendar. See the The Events Calendar Integration Guide for setup instructions.
How does CP-Sync integrate with CP Groups?
CP-Sync imports group data from your ChMS and creates or updates groups in the CP Groups plugin. Sync is one way: changes made in WordPress are not sent back to your ChMS. See the CP Groups Integration Guide for details.
Can I use CP-Sync with other plugins not listed?
While CP-Sync is specifically designed to work with The Events Calendar, CP Groups, and CP Sermons, developers can extend it to work with other plugins using hooks and filters. See the Developer Guide for more information.
Troubleshooting
What should I do if the sync process fails?
Turn on logging first: go to Church Plugins → CP Sync, open the Log tab, set Enable Debug Mode to Enable, and run the sync again. Then check Log File Content. CP-Sync only writes the log while debug mode is on. Common problems include connection issues or PHP timeout errors. The Troubleshooting Guide provides solutions for these issues.
How can I optimize CP-Sync for a large number of groups/events?
CP-Sync has no setting for the time of day a sync runs. The first scheduled sync runs about an hour after setup, then repeats at the Update Interval you choose (Hourly, Daily or Weekly) on the Advanced tab. Changing the Update Interval also resets the schedule, so the next sync runs about an hour after the change. Use Pull Now to run a sync immediately.
Why are some fields not being imported correctly?
Missing fields usually occur because of inconsistent data formats or missing fields in the source data. Check the data format in your ChMS.
Support and Updates
How do I get support for CP-Sync?
Support is available through Contact Support for customers with an active license. See the Getting Help Guide for more information.
How often is CP-Sync updated?
We release updates regularly to improve functionality, fix bugs, and add new features. You can update the plugin through your WordPress dashboard when new versions are available.
Is there a premium version of CP Sync?
No. CP Sync is a paid Church Plugins product. There is no free version, and there is no separate free/premium feature split. You can buy CP Sync on its own or with the All Access Pass from churchplugins.com.