Replace username by billing first name in Woocommerce checkout registration

Question

I've tried to replace username with first name billing using the code below changed from this answer thread, but keep getting 500 error.

If I use first and last name it works but I would prefer to use first name only.

Code is as follows:

add_filter( 'woocommerce_new_customer_data', 'custom_new_customer_data', 10, 1 );
function custom_new_customer_data( $new_customer_data ){

    // Complete HERE in this array the wrong usernames you want to replace (coma separated strings)
    $wrong_user_names = array( 'info', 'contact' );

    // get the first billing name
    if(isset($_POST['billing_first_name'])) $first_name = $_POST['billing_first_name'];

    if( ( ! empty($first_name) ) ) && in_array( $new_customer_data['user_login'], $wrong_user_names ) ){

        // the customer billing complete name
        $first_name = $first_name;

        // Replacing 'user_login' in the user data array, before data is inserted
        $new_customer_data['user_login'] = sanitize_user( str_replace( $first_name ) );
    }
    return $new_customer_data;
}

My question would be, how would I configure WooCommerce to generate the username by the custom fields: First Name (billing_first_name) instead of full name or username?

Answer 1

Try the following, to replace username by the billing firstname during checkout registration:

add_filter( 'woocommerce_new_customer_data', 'customer_username_based_on_firstname', 20, 1 );
function customer_username_based_on_firstname( $new_customer_data ){

    // Complete HERE in this array the wrong usernames you want to replace (coma separated strings)
    $wrong_user_names = array( 'info', 'contact' );

    // get the first billing name
    if(isset($_POST['billing_first_name'])) $first_name = $_POST['billing_first_name'];

    if( ! empty($first_name) && ! in_array( $_POST['billing_first_name'], $wrong_user_names ) ){

        // Replacing 'user_login' in the user data array, before data is inserted
        $new_customer_data['user_login'] = sanitize_user( $first_name );
    }
    return $new_customer_data;
}

Code goes in function.php file of your active child theme (or active theme). Tested and works.

Your error was coming from str_replace( $first_name ). This php function needs 3 arguments.