Invoice Generator for PayPal and Payfast Enrolments
Overview
This local plugin provides seamless, auditable PDF invoice generation for Moodle users enrolled in courses via either the PayPal or Payfast enrolment methods.
Key features:
- Automatic detection of all user enrolments via PayPal or Payfast methods, including existing enrolments at install time.
- Professional PDF invoices for each enrolment, showing:
- Course name, enrolment cost, VAT breakdown, invoice number (with optional prefix), date, and company details.
- User-supplied billing details (company name, VAT number, address, city, province, postal code) prompted for and stored per invoice.
- Invoices are static, audit-proof documents — each always displays the original price and details, regardless of later course setting changes.
- PDFs are stored in each user's Private files area under the "Invoices" folder for easy re-download.
- "My Invoices" menu item added to Moodle's custom menu for quick access.
- No need for custom profile fields — all invoice data is stored per enrolment.
- No external Composer dependencies — the TCPDF library is bundled for immediate use.
- Supports both PayPal and Payfast — works out of the box with either payment method enabled.
Pro Features
Unlock Pro features by purchasing a Pro license key:
- Add a company logo to your invoices
- Display your company tax/VAT number on invoices
- Add a custom invoice prefix (e.g., INV-, 2025-, etc.)
- Optional tax/VAT breakdown showing subtotal, tax/VAT, and total when enabled in settings.
- Remove the "Plugin provided by eLearn Solutions" watermark image from generated invoices.
Visit shop.elearnsolutions.co.za to purchase a Pro key to unlock these features. The Pro license key is validated remotely and can be changed in the plugin settings at any time.
License Key Logic
- By default, the plugin runs in "Free" mode—no license key needed.
- Free mode invoices include a watermark image at the bottom of generated invoices.
- To enable Pro features, enter a valid Pro license key (provided on purchase) in the settings page. The key is validated with the remote licensing server.
- Pro keys are valid for 1 year (365 days) from activation. After expiry, invoices are generated in Free mode (no logo, no tax/VAT number, no tax breakdown, and the watermark image returns).
- Only the company logo, tax/VAT number, invoice prefix, and tax/VAT breakdown are Pro features; invoice numbering (starting number) remains available in Free mode.
Requirements
- Moodle 4.3 or higher
- The PayPal or Payfast enrolment method enabled on your site
- PHP 8.1 or later
- No Composer installation required (TCPDF is bundled)
Installation
Copy the plugin:
- Copy or extract the plugin folder to
/local/invoice/ in your Moodle installation.
No Composer required:
- The TCPDF library is included. No extra dependencies are required.
Visit Site administration > Notifications:
- Moodle will install the plugin and required database tables.
- The plugin will automatically add the following Custom Menu item in Moodle for all users: "My invoices > View invoices".
- Users can access invoices directly via this menu.
- The plugin will also add a Custom Menu item in Moodle for site admins: "Invoices (admin) > Settings".
Configure Invoice Settings:
- Go to Site administration > Plugins > Local plugins > Invoice Generator.
- Enter your company details and upload a company logo (Pro only).
- Fill in your company’s name, address, city, postal code. Tax/VAT number and invoice prefix require a Pro license key.
- All values appear on every new invoice.
How it works
Automatic detection:
The plugin finds all courses where a user is enrolled via PayPal or Payfast. No manual action is required for existing or new enrolments.
First use:
When a user goes to "My Invoices," they are prompted for billing details if needed. These are stored per invoice and reused for all future invoices.
Invoice numbers:
Each invoice gets a unique, sequential number. A prefix (e.g. "INV-") can be set in the plugin settings (Pro only).
Invoice storage:
PDFs are stored in the user's Private files area, under the "Invoices" directory. If deleted, invoices can be regenerated with the same details.
Audit-proof:
Invoice data (price, course, billing info) is stored at creation and is never changed, even if the course or enrolment is later updated.
No custom profile fields needed:
All user billing info is stored per-invoice. There is no need to add custom user profile fields.
License Key and Upgrading
- To unlock Pro features, purchase a license key from shop.elearnsolutions.co.za.
- The Pro key is validated remotely when entered or changed.
- All invoices and user data remain in the database if you upgrade or migrate to Pro.
Support
License
This plugin is licensed under the GNU GPL v3 or later.
Privacy
To validate a Pro key, the plugin contacts the eLearn Solutions licensing server (https://moodle.elso.co.za) and sends the license key and site identifier.
No user invoice data is transmitted.
Credits
This plugin includes a bundled copy of the TCPDF library (https://tcpdf.org/), which is open-source under the LGPL v3 license.
