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Frequently Asked Questions How do I install the eCab plugin?
You can install eCab via WordPress Admin (Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin), via FTP by uploading the extracted folder to /wp-content/plugins/, or directly through the WordPress plugin directory if listed
After installation, click Activate Plugin and ensure WooCommerce is installed and active
Go to Settings → Permalinks, select Post name, and click Save Changes
What pricing models does eCab support?
Distance-based pricing: Fare calculated per kilometer or per mile plus waiting time chargesFixed hourly pricing: Flat hourly rate with configurable minimum hours and overtime chargesManual fixed location pricing: Predefined route pairs with manually set flat faresEach transport service can use a different pricing model for maximum flexibility
Do I need a Google Maps API key?
Yes, if you are using the distance-based pricing model, a valid Google Maps API key is required for distance and duration calculations
The Maps JavaScript API and Geocoding API must both be enabled in your Google Cloud Console
For manual fixed location pricing, a Google Maps API key is optional and only needed if you want to display a map on the booking form
Restrict your API key by HTTP referrer to prevent unauthorized use
How do I add a new transport service?
Go to eCab → Transport Services in your WordPress admin menu
Click Add New and enter the service name, description, and featured image
Select the pricing model you want to use for this service
Configure the pricing details (per-km rate, hourly rate, or fixed location prices)
Set vehicle type, passenger capacity, and baggage capacity
Publish the service and embed the appropriate shortcode on your site
Navigate to eCab → Settings → Service Schedule
Set your weekly operating hours for each day of the week
Add off days for holidays or closures using the Off Day setting
Choose between repeated schedules (same weekly pattern) or particular date-specific schedules
Off days can be applied globally to all services or per individual transport service
Go to eCab → Settings → Extra Features to create optional add-on services
Examples: child seats ($5), pet transportation ($10), extra luggage ($8)
Set a fixed price for each extra feature and choose per-booking or per-passenger billing
Extra services appear as optional checkboxes on the booking form
Customers can select extras during checkout and the charges are added to the WooCommerce cart
How do I add a driver in the Pro version?
Navigate to eCab → Drivers and click Add New Driver
Enter the driver's name, email, phone number, and license information
Assign the driver to a specific vehicle type
Upload a driver photo for display on booking tickets
The driver receives login credentials for the driver panel where they can view and manage trips
Assign drivers to specific bookings from the order edit screen
How do I translate the plugin?
eCab is fully translatable using .po/.mo translation files
Install Loco Translate plugin to translate directly from the WordPress admin
Alternatively, use Poedit to edit the .po file located in /wp-content/plugins/ecab/languages/
Name your translation file ecab-xx_XX.po (e.g., ecab-fr_FR.po for French)
All front-end and back-end strings are registered for translation
Why is my shortcode not displaying?
Go to Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes to flush rewrite rules
Verify WooCommerce is installed and active
Check that you are using the correct shortcode for your selected pricing model
Clear any caching plugins (WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache) and CDN caches
Test with a default WordPress theme (Twenty Twenty-Four) to rule out theme conflicts
Check the browser console for JavaScript errors that may prevent the form from rendering
How do I set up distance-based pricing for my city?
Enter a valid Google Maps API key in eCab → Settings → Maps
Choose your distance unit (km or miles) under eCab → Settings → General
Create a transport service and select Distance Based as the pricing model
Set the per-km rate (e.g., $1.50), per-hour waiting rate (e.g., $12.00), and initial base fare
Set a minimum fare to ensure short trips remain profitable
Optionally set different rates for different vehicle types
Embed the distance-based shortcode on your booking page
How do I set up fixed hourly pricing for tours?
Create a transport service and select Fixed Hourly as the pricing model
Set the hourly rate (e.g., $25 per hour for a sedan)
Configure the minimum hours required per booking (e.g., minimum 3 hours)
Optionally set an included mileage cap (e.g., 50 km included per hour)
Configure overtime charges for bookings that run over the reserved time
Set extra distance charges per km for distances beyond the included mileage
Embed the fixed hourly shortcode on your tour booking page
How do I set up manual fixed location pricing?
First, create your locations under eCab → Locations → Add Location
Enter the location name, address, and GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude)
Create a transport service and select Manual Fixed Location as the pricing model
Define location pairs (pickup → dropoff) and assign a fixed price to each pair
For example: Airport to Downtown Hotel — $35.00, Downtown Hotel to Convention Center — $12.00
Different vehicle types can have different prices for the same route pair
Embed the manual fixed location shortcode on your booking page
How do I set the advance booking window?
Go to eCab → Settings → General Settings
Find the Advance Booking Days setting
Enter the maximum number of days in advance customers can book (e.g., 30 for 30 days)
Set the minimum lead time in hours (e.g., 2 hours before the booking time)
These limits apply globally to all transport services
Can I use eCab without WooCommerce?
No, WooCommerce is a required dependency for eCab. The plugin uses WooCommerce's order management, cart, and checkout systems to process bookings and payments
Both WooCommerce and eCab must be activated for the booking system to function
eCab integrates with WooCommerce payment gateways including PayPal, Stripe, and offline payments