# Slide Crafter Reborn — User Guide

*Version 1.7.0*

Slide Crafter Reborn builds responsive carousels (Swiper) as a WordPress custom post type. You author slides in **Slides**, then place them with a shortcode or a Gutenberg block.

## Create a slider

1. Go to **Slides → Add New Slide**.
2. Set the title (this is the slide’s name in the admin and the carousel’s accessible label).
3. Choose a **data source** in the sidebar:
   - *Manual (HTML)* — up to 10 cards you write (or generate with AI if the WordPress AI plugin is connected).
   - *WordPress Posts (dynamic)* — latest posts of a public type, with count, order, and optional category slug.
   - *Featured Products* — if WooCommerce is active.
4. Adjust slides per view, spacing, loop, pagination, arrows, autoplay, speed, and animation (slide / fade / cube).
5. Save. Copy the shortcode from the sidebar or the Slides list column.

The real-time preview above the cards uses the same Swiper instance as before; it is not a separate engine.

## Insert on the front-end

**Shortcode** (unchanged):

`[slidecrafterreborn_slide id="123"]`

**Block:** in the editor, insert **Slide Crafter** and pick the slide. The block is dynamic: it renders that shortcode. If you leave the selector empty, nothing is output.

## Images and performance

Images inside cards that do not already set `loading` get `loading="lazy"` and `decoding="async"`. The first visible slides (according to “slides per view”) use `loading="eager"` so the first screen is not delayed. Swiper’s own files are the same 8.4.7 bundle as 1.6.0.

## Accessibility

- The carousel is a labelled `region` with prev/next `aria-label`s.
- Arrow keys work when the slider is in view (Swiper keyboard module).
- If the visitor has **prefers-reduced-motion: reduce**, autoplay does not run. They can still change slides with arrows, pagination, or the keyboard.

## Custom CSS

The “Custom CSS (Restricted)” field only allows a short list of properties (color, spacing, borders, etc.). It is applied to `.swiper-slide` for that slider.

## AI cards

When the WordPress **AI** plugin has a connector, a Generate panel appears above the card editor. Describe the slider; generated HTML is sanitized like manual cards.

## Frequently asked questions

**Can I use two sliders on one page?** Yes — each shortcode/block instance has its own unique Swiper id.

**Why is autoplay off on my laptop?** Check the OS “reduce motion” setting.

**Did you replace Swiper?** No. 1.7.0 only adds attributes, ARIA, keyboard/a11y flags, and a reduced-motion check around the existing init.