Trigger an Automation for Past WooCommerce Orders

In this step-by-step document, we’ll help you trigger an automation for past WooCommerce orders by adding bulk order notes to WooCommerce orders.

Follow these simple instructions to automate your workflow efficiently.

Step 1: Add a code snippet

Use the WP Code or Code Snippets plugin to add the snippet to your website.

Go to Snippets from the WordPress menu and copy/paste this snippet into it.

/*
To execute the snippet hit the URL : https://[enter_domain_name_here]/?added 
For example, https://google.com/?added
*/

function add_private_note_to_all_orders() {
    // Only run when '?added' is present in the URL
    if ( ! isset( $_GET['added'] ) ) {
       return;
    }

    // Fetch all WooCommerce orders
    $orders = wc_get_orders([
       'limit'  => -1,
       'status' => 'any',
       'return' => 'ids',
    ]);

    if ( empty( $orders ) ) {
       echo "No orders found.";
       return;
    }

    $note_content = 'test1';// here you can add note text

    foreach ( $orders as $order_id ) {
       $order = wc_get_order( $order_id );

       if ( ! $order ) {
          continue;
       }

       // Check if the note already exists
       $note_exists = array_filter(
          wc_get_order_notes([ 'order_id' => $order_id ]),
          fn( $note ) => strpos( $note->content, $note_content ) !== false
       );

       if ( $note_exists ) {
          echo "Private note already exists for order #$order_id. Skipping.<br>";
          continue;
       }

       // Prepare and filter note data
       $note_data = apply_filters( 'woocommerce_new_order_note_data', [
          'comment_post_ID' => $order_id,
          'comment_author'  => 'Admin',
          'comment_content' => $note_content,
          'comment_type'    => 'order_note',
          'comment_approved'=> 1,
       ], [
          'order_id'         => $order_id,
          'comment_content'  => $note_content,
          'is_customer_note' => false,
       ]);

       // Add the private note
       $comment_id = wp_insert_comment( $note_data );

       if ( $comment_id ) {
          update_comment_meta( $comment_id, 'is_customer_note', 0 ); // Mark as private
          echo "Private note '$note_content' added to order #$order_id.<br>";
       } else {
          echo "Error: Unable to add the private note for order #$order_id.<br>";
       }
    }

    echo "All orders have been processed.";
}

// Run the function once when visiting an admin page
add_action( 'wp', 'add_private_note_to_all_orders' );

Add a new snippet and paste this snippet:

Activate it to run on your website.

Please note that test1 ($note_content = ’test1’; in the code) will be added as order notes in all WooCommerce orders to trigger automation for past orders.