=== Course Tracker - Simple WordPress Lesson Progress & LMS Navigation ===
Contributors: erikzett
Donate link: https://rankbydesign.com/course-tracker-donate
Tags: lms, course, lesson, progress bar, lesson completion, course navigation, track lessons
Requires at least: 5.0
Tested up to: 6.8.3
Stable tag: 1.1.7
Requires PHP: 7.0
License: GPL2
License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Lightweight WordPress LMS plugin to track lessons, student progress, and completions with visual progress bars, checkmarks, and easy course navigation.

== Description ==

**Course Tracker** is a lightweight, shortcode-driven WordPress plugin that lets you **build your own mini LMS directly inside WordPress** - no coding or external LMS required.  

It's powered by the **WordPress Menu Builder**, which you use to structure your course outline. Each menu item (lesson) automatically becomes part of a side navigation panel - complete with **progress checkmarks and arrows** that update as students mark lessons complete.  

Fully compatible with **Classic Editor, Gutenberg, and all major page builders** such as Bricks Builder, Elementor, and Beaver Builder, Course Tracker helps you track lessons, show progress bars, and guide students through your course in a clean, visual way.

Designed for creators who want course progress tracking without complex LMS setups, it delivers everything you need to create a motivating learning experience - fast, flexible, and privacy-friendly.

### Key Features

- **Shortcode-Driven:** Add course navigation, progress bars, and completion buttons anywhere - no coding required.  
- **Menu-Based Navigation:** Uses the native WordPress Menu Builder to create your course outline and automatically show lesson checkmarks and arrows as students progress.  
- **Lesson Completion Tracking:** Students can mark lessons complete and instantly see their updated progress.  
- **Progress Bars & Checkmarks:** Display lesson progress visually with customizable bars, icons, and completion text.  
- **Build Your Own LMS:** Create a complete learning experience directly inside WordPress - no third-party LMS plugins or subscriptions needed.  
- **Works with All Editors:** Compatible with Classic Editor, Gutenberg, Bricks Builder, Elementor, and other page builders.  
- **Lightweight & Fast:** Built for speed, simplicity, and compatibility with any theme.  
- **Save & Restore Progress:** Students can export or import progress data anytime - no external accounts or sync required.  
- **Privacy-First:** All progress data stays in your WordPress database, never sent elsewhere.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin files to the `/wp-content/plugins/course-tracker` directory or install via the WordPress plugin installer.  
2. Activate the plugin through the **Plugins** menu in WordPress.  
3. Go to **Settings → Course Tracker** to select your course navigation menu and configure options.  
4. Add shortcodes (see below) to your lesson or course pages.

== Usage ==

After setup, use these shortcodes in your pages or templates:

* `[ctrkr_nav]` - Displays course navigation with checkmarks.  
* `[ctrkr_complete_button text=" "]` - Adds a button to mark the current lesson as complete.  
* `[ctrkr_nav_arrows]` - Adds Previous/Next lesson arrows.  
* `[ctrkr_course_outline]` - Shows progress bar and course outline.  
* `[ctrkr_lesson_position]` - Displays text like Lesson X of Y.  
* `[ctrkr_progress_text]` - Displays Completed X of Y lessons with navigation arrows.

**Example:**  
Place `[ctrkr_nav]` in your sidebar or course page for navigation.  
Add `[ctrkr_complete_button]` to each lesson page so students can mark it complete.  

== Settings ==

- **Course Navigation Menu:** Choose the WordPress menu that represents your course.  
- **Show Navigation Title:** Display a title above the course navigation.  
- **Slide-in Tracker Panel:** Optionally enable a floating slide-in menu for navigation.  
- **Styling:** Customize button colors with the built-in Button Styler, or fine-tune further using the WordPress Customizer or your theme's CSS.  
- **Student Reports:** View student progress and export to a spreadsheet.  

== External Services ==

This plugin connects to [SureCart](https://surecart.com/) via `api.surecart.com` for license verification (to unlock the premium version).  

- **What:** The entered license key is sent to SureCart for validation.  
- **When:** Only when you enter or remove a license key in the plugin settings.  
- **Data sent:** License key only - no student or course data.  
- **Purpose:** To enable premium features after purchase.  
- [SureCart Privacy Policy](https://surecart.com/privacy-policy/)

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Does this plugin require another LMS like LearnDash or TutorLMS? =  
No. **Course Tracker is completely standalone** - it's not an add-on for any LMS platform. It uses your WordPress menu system and shortcodes to build your own lightweight learning platform directly inside WordPress.

= How does Course Tracker use the WordPress menu builder? =  
Course Tracker connects to the **native WordPress Menu Builder** to create your course structure. Each menu item (lesson) becomes part of a visual course navigation panel. When a student marks a lesson as complete, a **checkmark** automatically appears next to that lesson.

= Do I need to code or edit templates? =  
No coding is required. Course Tracker is **100% shortcode-driven**, so you can insert navigation, progress bars, and completion buttons anywhere. It works seamlessly with **Classic Editor, Gutenberg, Bricks Builder, Elementor**, and most other page builders.

= Do I need to use all the shortcodes? Which ones are required? =  
You only need to use the **course navigation** shortcode (`[ctrkr_nav]`) and the **complete button** shortcode (`[ctrkr_complete_button]`) for the plugin to function effectively.  
However, we suggest adding all shortcodes to a test post to see what each one does and how they enhance your course layout.

= Can I use this directly on a page or post? =  
Yes, you can. But we recommend creating a **course or lesson template** in your page builder so your shortcodes appear consistently across all lessons. Otherwise, you'll need to insert shortcodes manually on each page, which isn't ideal.  
For more about templates, please visit [rankbydesign.com](https://rankbydesign.com) and click **LMS** for video examples on building a course in Bricks Builder. More guides for other themes are coming soon, as Course Tracker works independently of any theme.

= Can I style the buttons and navigation? =  
Yes! The plugin includes a built-in **Button Styler** to easily change colors and styles. You can also fine-tune the look using the **WordPress Customizer or theme CSS**.  
Need a hand matching your site's design? **Reach out anytime** - we're happy to help.

= Where is student progress stored? =  
All student progress is stored privately in your **own WordPress database** and never sent to any external service. Students can also export/import their own progress files if needed.

= Does it work with my theme? =  
Yes! Course Tracker is designed to work with **any modern WordPress theme or page builder.** Because it uses shortcodes and menus instead of theme-specific templates, it adapts cleanly to your layout.

= Is Course Tracker free? =  
Yes. You can track progress for up to **20 users** (including the admin) for free.  
For larger sites or unlimited users, you can upgrade with a small one-time fee, which helps support ongoing improvements and new features.

== Screenshots ==

1. Settings page.  
2. Navigation setup.  
3. Button styling.  
4. Slide-in panel.  
5. Student progress view.  
6. Lesson example.  
7. Course outline example.

== Changelog ==

= 1.1.7 =
* Improved look for course navigation
* New navigation styling settings added
* Fixed an CSV export issue for student reports.
* Tightened shortcodes security & stability 

= 1.1.6 =
* Initial version released at WordPress Plugin Directory  
* Improved button styling and settings UI.  

= 1.1.5 =
* Refinements and new options added to the Slide-in panel.  

= 1.1.4 =
* Fixed remaining domain handling errors with PCP.  

= 1.1.3 =
* Fixed domain handling and improved data sanitation.  
* No changes to plugin features or functionality.  

= 1.1.0 =
* Plugin completely refactored for simplicity and security.  
* Always saves progress permanently to WP database, even in free mode.  
* Free mode supports up to 20 users; premium unlocks unlimited.  
* Added color picker and slide-in tracker panel.  
* Improved admin settings and license activation.  

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial working version released at rankbydesign.com.