duration Attribute

The duration attribute defines for how long the user can access the content, after having paid for it. We say the content is "unlocked" during that time.

While the content is unlocked, the link may be clicked again any number of times, without the user having to pay again. After that time has passed the content will be "locked" again, and the link will again display its price, allowing for a new payment.

Values in the duration attribute must be given in minutes.

The duration attribute and the MTC

To help reducing the user's MTC (Mental Transaction Costs) always follow the rules below:

• Use much more time than the Internet users need to use the content. For example, if you think that users need 1 hour maximum to use certain content, give them 3 or even 6 hours. By doing so, users do not have to wonder whether the given time is enough.
• Never define more than 24 hours as in this case the Internet user will need to take notes to not forget about the purchased accesses. Besides, longer periods of time force users to make long term considerations, which increases the MTC.
• Never use broken values, such as 372 minutes. The human brain processes more easily common values, such as 15 minutes or 5 hours. To help reduce the MTC, use only the duration values recommended by iCents.net (see below).

Values allowed and recommended for the duration attribute

In the duration attribute, your time count must use multiples of 5 from 5 to 90 and, after that, multiples of 60, until 1440 (24 hours). Any duration longer than 90 that is not a multiple of 60 is invalid.

However, to help reducing the MCT (see considerations on MCT above), you should only use the following recommended values:

Duration of 1 day

As you can see above, instead of duration="1440" you can use duration="1day". Both unlock the content for 24 hours, yet while the first one displays the message "access for 1 day", the second displays the message "access for 24 hours".

Interaction with Other Paid-Link Attributes

Interaction of the duration and countdown Attributes

After the link is paid, and while it is unlocked, the link displays a countdown timer, which shows the time left to complete its duration.

If you want, you can eliminate this countdown by means of the countdown attribute, using countdown="off". In this case, the already paid link appears like a regular link and does not display the price or the timer during the specified time. When the specified time ends, the link displays the price again.

Alternatively, you can have the countdown timer appear only in the last minutes. For example, if you use countdown="15", the countdown will only appear in the last 15 minutes, regardless of the value in the duration attribute.

Troubleshooting

• If you get the "Invalid Link! (wrong duration)" error when hovering the mouse over a paid-link, check if the duration you specified was recommended by iCents.net, as shown above in this page. Any duration shorter than 10 or longer than 1440 is invalid. Any duration longer than 90 that is not a multiple of 60 is invalid.