=== MerKit Theme Builder and Template Library for Elementor ===
Contributors: hojaj
Tags: elementor, theme builder, header footer builder, elementor templates, elementor addons
Requires at least: 6.0
Tested up to: 7.1
Requires PHP: 7.4
Requires Plugins: elementor
Stable tag: 1.1.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Elementor requires at least: 3.10
Elementor tested up to: 4.3.2

Theme Builder and Template Library for Elementor. Build headers, footers, and page sections -- no Elementor Pro needed.

== Description ==

MerKit gives you a full Theme Builder and a growing Template Library for Elementor -- completely free, forever. Import a complete landing page in one click, or pick individual sections, headers and footers.

= Key Features =

**Theme Builder (no Pro required)**

* Build custom Headers and Footers with Elementor's drag-and-drop editor
* Flexible display conditions: show templates site-wide, on specific pages, post types, archives, or the 404 page
* Works with any theme that supports standard WordPress hooks
* Hello Elementor theme location support built-in

**Free Template Library**

* 48 instant-import premade templates across 15 categories -- headers, footers, heroes, logo strips, feature grids, how-it-works, stats, stories, work galleries, menus, testimonials, pricing, FAQs, contact/hours and CTA banners
* Three complete demo landing pages (Nimbus SaaS, Atelier Norr studio, Harvest & Oak restaurant) plus the MerKit Demos hub -- every section importable on its own, filterable by brand
* Templates carry the Global Colors and Global Fonts they use -- missing ones are created in Site Settings on import, so sections look right on any site
* Import a complete demo landing page in one click -- every section in order, plus its header and footer assigned to that page, created as a draft for you to review
* Template images are copied into your Media Library on import, so nothing is hotlinked and every image is editable on your site
* All templates use the modern Elementor Container (flexbox) system and are fully responsive
* Fully editable after import -- nothing is locked
* New templates added with each release

**Bundled Widgets**

* Nav Menu -- dropdown-ready navigation widget, no Pro required
* Site Logo -- displays your custom logo or site name as a fallback

= Requirements =

* WordPress 6.0+
* Elementor (free) 3.10+
* PHP 7.4+

= External services =

When you import a bundled template or demo page, the plugin downloads that template's demo images from https://demos.merkiting.com (a site operated by the plugin author) into your Media Library. This happens only during an import you start in wp-admin; nothing is requested on the front end of your site, and no information about your site or visitors is sent. If a download fails, the template keeps the original image URL instead.

= Compatibility =

* Works with Elementor free -- Elementor Pro is NOT required
* Uses the modern Flexbox Container layout system (Elementor 3.6+)
* Tested with Hello Elementor, Astra, GeneratePress, OceanWP, and Blocksy

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or install via **Plugins -> Add New**.
2. Activate the plugin.
3. Install and activate **Elementor** (free) if not already active.
4. Go to **MerKit Addons -> Template Library** to import a full demo page or individual sections.
5. Go to **MerKit Addons -> Theme Builder** to create or assign header/footer templates.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Does this require Elementor Pro? =

No. This plugin works entirely with the free version of Elementor.

= Does this work with the new Elementor Container (Flexbox) system? =

Yes. All bundled templates use the modern Container layout. Legacy Section/Column layouts are not used.

= Which themes does the Theme Builder support? =

All classic themes. The plugin implements Elementor's theme-location system — the same mechanism Elementor Pro uses — so themes with native Elementor support (Hello Elementor, Astra, GeneratePress, OceanWP, Neve, and many more) automatically replace their own header/footer with yours. Themes without location support are handled through a header/footer template override. No manual theme settings needed.

= Are the templates really free? =

Yes. All templates included in the plugin are free, with no upsells or locked items.

= Can I add my own templates? =

Yes. Go to **MerKit Addons -> Theme Builder** and use **Import Template from JSON** to upload a template exported from this plugin or from Elementor (.json). You can also **Export** any of your templates back to a JSON file from the same page — handy for backups or moving a template between sites. After importing, every template is fully editable in Elementor.

= How do I embed a template in a post or page? =

Use the shortcode: [merkit_template id="123"] -- replace 123 with the template post ID shown in the Theme Builder admin page.

== Changelog ==

= 1.1.0 =
* New: 39 section templates split from the demo landing pages at demos.merkiting.com -- Nimbus (SaaS analytics), Atelier Norr (dark editorial studio), Harvest & Oak (restaurant) and the MerKit Demos hub; each demo also ships its header and footer
* New: 10 more library categories -- Logos & Proof, Features, How It Works & Services, Stats, Story & About, Work & Gallery, Menus & Lists, Testimonials, FAQ, Contact & Hours
* New: Brand filter in the Template Library page and in the in-editor picker (section type x brand)
* New: Global Colors / Fonts importer -- template JSON may carry a `globals` block; any referenced global missing from the active kit is created via Elementor's kit API (existing globals are never overwritten). Runs for library imports, in-editor inserts and custom JSON uploads
* New: Template export now bundles the custom Global Colors / Fonts a template references, so exported files are portable between sites
* New: In-editor insert declares the new --e-global-* variables in the preview and refreshes the global pickers, so inserted sections render correctly without reloading the editor
* New: Import full demo landing pages (Nimbus, Atelier Norr, Harvest & Oak, Demos hub) -- creates a draft page with every section in order and imports the matching header and footer, assigned to that page
* New: Template images are downloaded into the Media Library on import instead of being hotlinked from the demo site (each image is fetched once and reused on later imports)
* Templates are portable: bundled templates carry no attachment or menu IDs from the demo site, links inside them point to sections on the same page, and each one ships only the Global Colors / Fonts it references
* Nav Menu widget falls back to the site's first menu when none is selected or the selected menu no longer exists
* Fix: template export now captures Global Fonts referenced from CSS inside HTML widgets, and strips site-specific attachment and menu IDs
* Fix: three original templates had element IDs Elementor could not parse
* Harvest & Oak gallery is built from Image widgets so it renders on any site
* Security: the [merkit_template] shortcode only renders published MerKit templates; imported typography values are sanitized before reaching the kit stylesheet
* New: Sticky Header for header templates (Elementor free) -- stick to top on scroll, with optional background color, blur, shadow and smaller padding once the page is scrolled (header template -> Settings -> Sticky Header)
* New: Nav Menu widget -- mobile panel border, shadow, item typography and item padding, plus an "Underline Current Page" switch
* Templates contain no HTML/CSS widgets: every style is a normal Elementor or MerKit setting you can edit in the panel

= 1.0.1 =
* Confirmed compatibility with WordPress 7.1 (no jQuery UI, block-editor, admin-toolbar, or cross-frame editor code paths affected)

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release
* Theme Builder with display conditions (header, footer, block)
* Template Library with 9 bundled templates (headers, footers, heroes, pricing table, CTA banners)
* Template import/export (.json) — bring your own templates or back yours up
* In-editor template library button — insert templates without leaving Elementor
* Nav Menu widget (sticky header, hover animations, dropdowns, mobile panel styling controls)
* Site Logo widget

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.1.0 =
39 new section templates, full demo page import, a Brand filter and a Global Colors / Fonts importer. No settings change; existing templates are untouched.

= 1.0.0 =
Initial release.
