Understand Base Tier, Effective Tier, All Access, and Max Preview
QCMM separates the entitlement you own from the feature level you can use right now. The Base tier is the durable paid entitlement for this product; the Effective tier is the tier QCMM applies after Authorized-Domain verification, All Access, an active Max Preview, expiration, grace rules, and entitlement-task health are considered.
This distinction matters most during a one-time Max Preview: a Basic or Pro installation can temporarily operate as Effective Max without rewriting the underlying Base tier. When the preview ends, QCMM falls back to the verified Base tier rather than deleting premium configuration or history.
The Four Labels You May Encounter
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Basic | The always-available core tier and the fallback when paid entitlement cannot be securely established. |
| Pro | A paid Base tier with Pro limits/features. An active Max Preview can temporarily raise the Effective tier to Max. |
| Max | The full QCMM feature tier. A purchased Max entitlement is both Base Max and Effective Max while healthy. |
| All Access | A QuantaCade entitlement source that gives QCMM the Max feature set; the Status display identifies the Base tier as “Max via All Access.” |
Base Tier vs Effective Tier
- Base tier answers “what durable QCMM tier is this installation entitled to without a temporary preview?”
- Effective tier answers “what tier may QCMM use right now?” and is the tier used by feature checks.
- An active Max Preview can make Effective tier Max while Base tier remains Basic or Pro.
- If Entitlement Revalidation is missing, duplicated, unpublished, disabled, or scheduled too slowly, above-Basic Effective access is forced back to Basic until task integrity is restored.
How All Access Appears
When entitlement source is All Access, QCMM treats the product feature set as Max. The Administrator Status area labels the Base tier as Max via All Access and the verification source as Authorized Domain + All Access. You do not enter a separate QCMM key to make this happen.
How the Max Preview Changes Effective Access
The one-time 30-Day Max Preview starts only when an authorized administrator explicitly chooses Start 30-Day Max Preview. While active, the complete Max feature set is usable. The preview does not replace a Pro purchase: a Pro site returns to Pro after the preview ends; a Basic site returns to Basic.
What a Downgrade Does Not Do
- QCMM does not delete saved premium configuration simply because Effective tier falls.
- Historical subscriptions, billing, bookings, attendance, Custom Field values, and other durable records remain part of the site history.
- Premium configuration can remain stored while the corresponding creation/editing/runtime feature is unavailable at the lower Effective tier.
- Fix entitlement or upgrade the Base tier instead of rebuilding preserved configuration from scratch.
Verify the Current State
- Open Components → QC Memberships & Meetings → Status.
- Read Base tier, Effective tier, Verification, status, and any access/preview dates together.
- If Effective tier is unexpectedly Basic, inspect Entitlement Automation Integrity before assuming the purchase disappeared.
- Use Refresh Entitlement when you intentionally changed Authorized Domains or need an immediate server check.
Community Discussion
Want to compare QCMM workflows or discuss how other Joomla site owners use this feature? Visit the QC Memberships & Meetings Community. For private support, account-specific entitlement or billing issues, or bug reports, use the QuantaCade support system.