FluentCRM: SmartCodes and dynamic segments
Use this skill when a plugin needs to expose custom values inside FluentCRM emails, automation fields, templates, or Pro dynamic segments. Keep SmartCode parsing read-only and privacy-aware; these values can appear in outgoing emails.
Verification note: SmartCode registration and parsing are core FluentCRM 3.1.13 behavior. Dynamic segments are Pro behavior verified against local FluentCampaign Pro 3.1.13.
When to use this skill
- Adding custom merge tags such as
{{my_plugin.plan_name}}. - Parsing personalized FluentCRM text outside the normal campaign send path.
- Adding context SmartCodes to automation editors for order, booking, LMS, or other event data.
- Registering a Pro dynamic segment or advanced contact filter provider.
- Reviewing code that hooks
fluent_crm/extended_smart_codes,fluent_crm/smartcode_group_callback_*,fluentcrm_dynamic_segments, orfluentcrm_contacts_filter_*.
Register SmartCodes
Use the public Extender API after FluentCRM init:
add_action('fluent_crm/after_init', function () {
if (!function_exists('FluentCrmApi')) {
return;
}
FluentCrmApi('extender')->addSmartCode(
'my_plugin',
'My Plugin',
[
'plan_name' => 'Plan Name',
'renewal_date' => 'Renewal Date',
],
function ($code, $valueKey, $defaultValue, $subscriber) {
$userId = $subscriber ? (int) $subscriber->getWpUserId() : 0;
if (!$userId) {
return $defaultValue;
}
if ($valueKey === 'plan_name') {
return get_user_meta($userId, 'my_plugin_plan', true) ?: $defaultValue;
}
if ($valueKey === 'renewal_date') {
$date = get_user_meta($userId, 'my_plugin_renewal_date', true);
return $date ? date_i18n(get_option('date_format'), strtotime($date)) : $defaultValue;
}
return $defaultValue;
}
);
});
The API key is extender in app/Api/config.php. Extender.php has an older docblock mentioning extend; use the registered config key unless you have runtime-tested an alias.
addSmartCode() adds UI metadata through fluent_crm/extended_smart_codes and parser behavior through fluent_crm/smartcode_group_callback_{key}. Its callback signature is:
function ($code, $valueKey, $defaultValue, $subscriber) {
return $defaultValue;
}
Do not use reserved group keys: crm, other, contact, wp, fluentcrm, user, learndash, tutorlms, aff_wp, edd_customer, lifterlms, woo_customer.
Parser behavior
FluentCRM parses both syntaxes:
{{group.key}}
##group.key##
Defaults use one pipe:
{{contact.first_name|Friend}}
Transformers use double pipe:
{{contact.first_name||ucfirst}}
{{contact.email||strtolower}}
Supported local transformers in 3.1.13 include trim, ucfirst, strtolower, strtoupper, ucwords, concat_first, concat_last, and show_if.
When rendering custom text yourself, use the same filter FluentCRM uses:
$body = apply_filters('fluent_crm/parse_campaign_email_text', $body, $subscriber);
or call the parser directly:
use FluentCrm\App\Services\Libs\Parser\Parser;
$body = Parser::parse($body, $subscriber);
Do not manually replace CRM unsubscribe and manage-subscription URLs early. ShortcodeParser intentionally leaves crm.unsubscribe_url, crm.manage_subscription_url, crm.unsubscribe_html, and crm.manage_subscription_html for a later parsing pass in email/external-page flows.
Funnel context SmartCodes
Use fluent_crm_funnel_context_smart_codes when a SmartCode should appear only for specific automation trigger contexts.
add_filter('fluent_crm_funnel_context_smart_codes', function ($codes, $triggerName, $funnel) {
if ($triggerName !== 'my_plugin_event') {
return $codes;
}
$codes[] = [
'key' => 'my_event',
'title' => 'My Event',
'shortcodes' => [
'{{my_event.name}}' => 'Event Name',
'{{my_event.id}}' => 'Event ID',
],
];
return $codes;
}, 10, 3);
If context values depend on the current automation run, parse through your group callback and read $subscriber->funnel_subscriber_id when available. Built-in Woo parsers load FunnelSubscriber::find($subscriber->funnel_subscriber_id) and use source_trigger_name plus source_ref_id to resolve the current order or subscription. Always return $defaultValue if context is missing.
Dynamic segments
Dynamic segments are Pro features. Register visible segment metadata with fluentcrm_dynamic_segments, and return a Subscriber-shaped query model from fluentcrm_dynamic_segment_{slug} when called with model => true.
use FluentCrm\App\Models\Subscriber;
add_filter('fluentcrm_dynamic_segments', function ($segments) {
$segments[] = [
'id' => 0,
'slug' => 'my_plugin_vip',
'title' => 'My Plugin VIP Contacts',
'subtitle' => 'Contacts with VIP flag in My Plugin',
'is_system' => true,
'description' => 'Dynamic segment from My Plugin data.',
];
return $segments;
});
add_filter('fluentcrm_dynamic_segment_my_plugin_vip', function ($segment, $segmentId, $config) {
$model = Subscriber::where('status', 'subscribed')
->where('source', 'my-plugin');
$segment = [
'id' => $segmentId,
'slug' => 'my_plugin_vip',
'title' => 'My Plugin VIP Contacts',
'is_system' => true,
'description' => 'Dynamic segment from My Plugin data.',
];
if (!empty($config['model'])) {
$segment['model'] = $model;
}
if (!empty($config['contact_count'])) {
$segment['contact_count'] = $model->count();
}
if (!empty($config['subscribers'])) {
$segment['subscribers'] = !empty($config['paginate'])
? $model->paginate()
: $model->get();
}
return $segment;
}, 10, 3);
Return an ORM query builder for model, not an array of contacts. DynamicSegmentController will add with(['tags', 'lists']), search, optional commerce relation, allowlisted sort, custom fields, and pagination.
Campaign sending applies where('status', 'subscribed') to dynamic-segment models before selecting contacts. Admin previews may request other statuses depending on the UI path.
Advanced filter providers
ContactsQuery dispatches advanced filter providers with:
do_action_ref_array('fluentcrm_contacts_filter_' . $providerName, [&$q, $items]);
Register a provider by mutating the query by reference:
add_action('fluentcrm_contacts_filter_my_plugin', function (&$query, $items) {
foreach ((array) $items as $item) {
$property = sanitize_key($item['property'] ?? '');
$operator = sanitize_key($item['operator'] ?? '');
$value = $item['value'] ?? null;
if ($property === 'vip' && $operator === '=') {
$query->where('source', $value === 'yes' ? 'my-plugin-vip' : 'my-plugin');
}
}
}, 10, 2);
Keep provider SQL bounded and allowlist every property/operator. Do not interpolate request data into raw SQL.
Safety checklist
- Return defaults for missing contacts, missing users, deleted orders, missing funnel runs, or disabled dependencies.
- Escape output at the final render boundary if you print parsed values in admin or frontend HTML.
- Do not expose private user meta or tokens through SmartCodes unless the email recipient is allowed to see them.
- Keep SmartCode callbacks fast; they may run once per recipient per field.
- Do not parse unsubscribe/manage URLs outside FluentCRM's send/external-page flow unless you know the target object has the required email/contact context.
Cross-references
- Use
fluentcrm-contact-modelsfor Subscriber, Lists, Tag, User, and ContactsQuery basics. - Use
fluentcrm-automation-sequence-modelswhen SmartCodes depend onFunnelSubscribersource metadata. - Use
fluentcrm-rest-optionsfor editor picker option lists.
References
- Local source:
Extender.php,ShortcodeParser.php,FunnelController.php,DynamicSegmentController.php,CustomSegment.php, andContactsQuery.php. - FluentCRM docs: Smart Codes, Parser, and Fluent ORM.
- Official documentation: https://developers.fluentcrm.com/modules/smart-code
- Official documentation: https://developers.fluentcrm.com/helpers/parser
- Official documentation: https://developers.fluentcrm.com/database/orm/
- Verified source paths:
fluent-crm/app/Api/config.phpfluent-crm/app/Hooks/filters.phpfluent-crm/app/Services/Helper.phpfluentcampaign-pro/app/Services/DynamicSegments/BaseSegment.php