What Happens to Forum Structure After a Plan Downgrade
QCLF uses a preservation-first downgrade model. Dropping from Max/All Access or Pro to a lower tier does not delete customer Sections, Categories, Topics, or their saved settings.
Instead, QCLF calculates which real Sections and Categories remain currently entitled under the lower structure limit. Stable ordering decides the usable subset.
Current Structure Limits
| Effective tier | Real structure limit |
|---|---|
| Basic | 1 real Section / 3 real Categories |
| Pro | 2 real Sections / 6 real Categories |
| Max / All Access | Unlimited |
How QCLF Selects Entitled Sections
QCLF loads all Sections ordered by Section ordering, then title, then ID. Sample Sections are always retained in the entitled set without consuming a slot. It then includes the earliest real Sections until the tier limit is reached.
How QCLF Selects Entitled Categories
Categories are considered only inside entitled Sections. They are ordered first by parent Section ordering/title/ID and then Category ordering/title/ID. Sample Categories are included without consuming a slot; real Categories fill the remaining tier allowance in that stable order.
What Happens to Preserved Rows Outside the Limit
Their database records remain present. QCLF structure-permission checks treat them as not currently entitled, so they are not normal usable frontend structure under the lower plan. Their Topics/settings are preserved for later restoration.
When a higher Effective tier returns, QCLF recalculates the entitlement set from the preserved structure rather than requiring the administrator to recreate it.
Prepare Before Downgrading
- Order the most important real Sections first.
- Within entitled Sections, order the most important Categories first.
- Remember that changing Section order can change which Categories are even considered.
- After the tier change, test the actual frontend with a normal member account.
Community Discussion
Want to compare forum workflows, share practical QCLF tips, or discuss how other Joomla site owners use this feature? Visit the QC Live Forum Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific entitlement problems, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.