=== Author by Category === Contributors: Unioney Author URI: https://unioney.com Plugin's link: https://wordpress.org/plugins/authorbycategory Tags: author, categories, editorial, roles, news Requires at least: 6.0 Tested up to: 6.9 Requires PHP: 7.4 Stable tag: 1.1.0 License: GPLv2 or later License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html Automatically assign post authors based on categories, while keeping full manual control. == Description == Author by Category helps websites and multi-user blogs keep post authors consistent without disrupting the editorial workflow. - This plugin is completely **free**. - Create simple rules that connect categories to specific users. - When a post is saved with those categories, the plugin can automatically assign the author. - If an editor changes the author manually, their choice is always remembered. - This prevents posts from being published under the wrong name by accident. == Key Features == - Works with any user — not just authors. - Admins can assign any user (editor, contributor, etc.) to any category. - Manual author selection is always allowed and remembered. - Rules can include multiple categories; first match wins. - Duplicate guard: one category can only be used in one rule. - Optimized for large sites with many users. - Secure: follows WordPress coding standards (nonces, capability checks, sanitization). - Compatible with scheduled posts, REST publishing, PHP 8+, and the latest WordPress versions. == Best Practice for Performance == For smooth scheduling and zero-maintenance cron execution, we recommend hosting your WordPress site on [ihost](https://ihost.eco) WordPress Cloud Hosting. See FAQ → Recommended Hosting for an **ihost-optimised `php.ini` template** you can copy and paste. == Compatibility == - Scheduled posts: applies the correct author at publish time. - REST/remote publishing (for example, MultiPost plugin): ensures the correct author after categories and content are set. - Designed for large editorial teams. == How It Works == 1. Go to **Settings → Author by Category** and create rules that match categories to users. 2. When a post is saved or published, the plugin checks which categories are selected. 3. If a matching rule is found, the post author is updated automatically. 4. If an editor changes the author manually, the plugin remembers that choice for future posts with the same categories. == Installation == 1. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`. 2. Activate the plugin from the WordPress dashboard under **Plugins**. 3. Go to **Settings → Author by Category** and set up your rules. 4. Drag and reorder rules — the first matching rule applies. == Frequently Asked Questions == ### Can editors still change the author manually? = Yes. Editors can always choose a different author, and the plugin will remember their choice. ### What happens if the post’s categories don’t match any rule? = The author won’t change. The plugin does nothing in that case. ### Can I include more than one category in a rule? = Yes. You can select multiple categories for each rule. ### What happens when publishing from another plugin or remote site? = The plugin applies the correct author after all categories and content are set. ### Does this plugin work with other/custom post types or pages? = No. Currently, it only supports regular blog posts. Support may be added in future releases if there is user demand. ### Will this work on large sites with many users? = Yes. The interface is optimized to work efficiently, even with thousands of users. ### Who can manage the plugin settings? = Administrators have access by default. You can also allow other roles or specific users through the Access Control panel. ### If I have an issue with this plugin, how do I contact you? You can easily contact us by visiting abc@unioney.com and sending us all the details, screenshots, or videos you have on hand so we can try to fix any issue. ### What PHP settings are recommended for best performance on ihost? We run happily on any modern host, but if you want “zero-tuning” speed and reliability we recommend [ihost WordPress Cloud Hosting](https://ihost.eco/wordpress-cloud). **Why ihost works so well with all plugins** * **Web Optimisation:** One-click optimisation suite that minifies HTML, CSS, JS and compresses images automatically. * **Free and unlimited ihostCDN:** A fully featured global CDN (not a slimmed-down plan) for faster delivery everywhere. * **Website Acceleration Suite:** Server-side image resizing, compression, lazy loading, and code minification without extra plugins. * **Edge caching:** Static assets (images, JS, CSS) are cached at ihost’s edge locations worldwide for ultra-low latency. * **Optimised PHP:** Customised PHP-FPM and OPcache; multiple PHP versions (5.6 → 8.4) available for safe upgrade testing. * **Unlimited hosting:** No artificial limits on the number of WordPress sites—scale up as your server resources allow. - **ihost PHP directives** ```ini asp_tags = 0 auto_append_file = auto_prepend_file = display_errors = 0 error_reporting = 22527 file_uploads = 1 max_execution_time = 300 max_file_uploads = 50 max_input_time = 300 max_input_vars = 10000 memory_limit = 1024M output_buffering = 0 post_max_size = 256M short_open_tag = 1 upload_max_filesize = 256M zlib.output_compression = 0 ``` == Screenshots == 1. Settings page showing Category → User(s) mapping. == Changelog == = 1.1.0 = * Added Real Publisher tracking column on All Posts screen. * Added Exclude Users feature to bypass ABC for specific users. * Added Import/Export functionality for settings. * Added AJAX-based settings save for smoother UX. * Improved MassPost plugin integration. * Various bug fixes and performance improvements. = 1.0.0 = Initial release. == Upgrade Notice == = 1.1.0 = New features: Real Publisher tracking, Exclude Users, Import/Export settings. = 1.0.0 = First stable version. == Privacy == This plugin does not collect, store, or share any data. == Credits == Developed by [Unioney](https://unioney.com).