=== EasyBar ===

Contributors: easylaunch, aleksei-sukhoverkhov
Tags: notification bar, promotion, countdown, sticky bar, announcement
Requires at least: 5.9
Tested up to: 6.9
Stable tag: 1.0.0
Requires PHP: 7.2
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

A lightweight, pure JavaScript WordPress plugin to create and display highly customizable notification and promotion bars with countdown timers and scrolling text.

== Description ==

**EasyBar: Awesome Notification Bar** is a lightweight, highly functional plugin designed to display customizable notification, announcement, or promotion bars.

It utilizes **pure JavaScript** to minimize impact on performance and includes advanced features like a **countdown timer** and several **scrolling text (marquee) modes**.

**IMPORTANT FOR REVIEWERS:**
Upon activation, the plugin is **enabled by default** with a moving "Alternate Scroll" animation. You will see a blue moving notification bar on the frontend immediately.

**Where to find settings:**
The settings page is NOT under "Settings". You will find a dedicated **"EasyBar"** menu item directly in your WordPress **main left sidebar** (top-level menu).

Ideal for:
* Announcing sales and limited-time promotions with a deadline.
* Displaying critical site-wide alerts (e.g., shipping delays).
* Showing urgent calls-to-action to maximize conversions.

---

### ✳️ Main Features:
* **Countdown Timer:** Simple, precise timer utilizing UTC time standards.
* **Expiration Handling:** Automatically replaces the timer with a custom "Expired Text" or hides the bar completely when the deadline is reached.
* **Scrolling Text (Marquee):** Choose from Static, Scroll Left, Scroll Right, and Scroll Alternate animations with adjustable speed.
* **Full Styling:** Easy-to-use settings for background color, text color, font size, bold/italic styles, and top/bottom margins.
* **Lightweight:** Zero jQuery dependency for a faster front-end experience.
* **Translation-Ready:** Uses the standard WordPress text domain `easybar`.

---

### 💡 Author Contact

Developed by **Aleksei Sukhvoverkhov**
Website: [EasyLaunch.eu](https://easylaunch.eu)
Email: easylaunchstudio@gmail.com

---

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin files to `/wp-content/plugins/easybar/`, or install directly via the WordPress Plugin Directory.
2. Activate through the **'Plugins'** menu in WordPress.
3. **NOTE:** Locate the **EasyBar** menu in your WordPress dashboard **main sidebar** (left-hand menu).
4. The bar is enabled by default with animation. Simply customize your text and styles, then click **'Save Settings'**.
5. Visit your homepage to see the bar in action.

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release.
* Added activation hook for default settings with animation.
* Fixed CSS overlap with WordPress Admin Bar for logged-in users.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Where are the settings located? =
Look at your main WordPress dashboard menu on the left. You will see a top-level menu item called **EasyBar**. Click it to access all configuration options.

= I installed the plugin, but I don't see the bar. Why? =
The bar is now enabled by default upon activation. If you still don't see it, ensure the "Enable EasyBar" checkbox is checked. Version 1.0.0 also includes a fix for the WordPress Admin Bar, so it will not be covered by the admin panel.

= How does the expiration logic work? =
When the countdown timer expires:
1. **If the "Text After Expiration" field is empty**, the notification bar will be hidden.
2. **If the field is filled**, the main content will be replaced by your custom expired message.

= Can I include links in the bar text? =
Yes. Both the main text and the expired text fields support basic HTML (like `<a>` tags) for links.

== License ==

This plugin is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the **GNU General Public License** as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

== Disclaimer ==

This plugin is distributed **free of charge**, without any warranty, expressed or implied.
There are **no premium or paid versions** of this plugin, nor are any planned. All current and future features will remain free.
Custom development, integration requests, or specialized support may be handled individually by the author upon request.