Understand the QCDR Component, System Plugin, and Task Plugin

QC Dynamic Replacer is installed as a Joomla package with three cooperating extension members. Knowing which member owns which job makes troubleshooting much faster: the component manages QCDR, the System plugin changes eligible frontend output, and the Task plugin performs scheduled entitlement revalidation.

The Component: com_qcdynamicreplacer

The component is the management and data layer. In Joomla Administrator it provides the QCDR tabs, Rule and Token editors/libraries, runtime safety settings, entitlement/status controls, Preview/Rule Health, Discovery, and support information. It owns the QCDR database schema and the services used by the other package members.

The component also provides the optional frontend Dynamic Replacer Workspace readiness view. Rule and Token authoring remains an Administrator workflow.

The System Plugin: Live Frontend Processing

System - QC Dynamic Replacer participates in Joomla's render events. It marks component/module render boundaries and passes eligible final site HTML to QCDR's Runtime Engine. That engine applies qualifying Rules and standalone Tokens before the response is sent to the visitor.

The System plugin is therefore required for normal live replacement. If it is missing or disabled, Rules and Tokens can remain stored in the component but ordinary frontend transformations will not run.

The runtime is intentionally frontend-only and safe-failing: Administrator output is not targeted, and an unexpected runtime exception returns the original rendered page rather than a partially processed result.

The Task Plugin: Entitlement Revalidation

Task - QC Dynamic Replacer currently advertises one canonical QCDR routine: QC Dynamic Replacer Entitlement Revalidation. Its job is to call the component's current entitlement refresh logic on Joomla's Scheduled Tasks system.

The canonical task must be unique, enabled/published, and run at least once every 60 minutes. Structural failure of this automation forces QCDR's Effective tier to Basic until the task is healthy again.

The Task plugin does not perform ordinary Rule replacements in the background. Live page transformation belongs to the System plugin during the frontend request.

The Outer Package Keeps the Members Together

pkg_qcdynamicreplacer installs all three members at the same QCDR version. Its post-install/update work repairs the System plugin enablement, update-site information, and Entitlement Revalidation task integrity where possible.

For normal updates, install the outer package over the existing version. Installing members independently can leave a mixed-version product and should be reserved for a specific repair procedure.

Diagnose by Responsibility

  • If the Administrator UI, database schema, or Rule/Token editor is failing, start with the component.
  • If saved items look correct but ordinary frontend output never changes, check the System plugin and Live Processing switches.
  • If paid/preview entitlement falls to Basic or Status reports automation trouble, check the Task plugin and canonical Scheduled Task.
  • If versions do not match, reinstall the current outer package.

Community Discussion

Want to compare workflows, share practical tips, or discuss how you use this QCDR feature? Visit the QC Dynamic Replacer Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific issues, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.