=== StepraEngine Lite ===
Contributors: arcscripter
Tags: multi-step form, contact form 7, elementor forms, forminator, wpforms
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.1.1
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Create responsive multi-step forms for Contact Form 7, Elementor Forms, Forminator, and WPForms without rebuilding forms.

== Description ==

StepraEngine Lite turns long WordPress forms into clean, responsive multi-step forms. It adds progress navigation, Next and Previous buttons, step validation, and mobile-friendly form flow without rebuilding your existing form.

Stepra works on the frontend with supported form builders. Your original form plugin still controls fields, submissions, email notifications, entries, spam protection, and integrations. Stepra improves only the step layout and user navigation.

= How to use StepraEngine Lite =

1. Install and activate StepraEngine Lite.
2. Build your form normally in Contact Form 7, Elementor Forms, Forminator, or WPForms.
3. Add clear step headings or sections:
   * Contact Form 7: use H3 or H4 headings in the form template.
   * Elementor Forms: use HTML fields containing H3 or H4 headings.
   * Forminator: use Section fields.
   * WPForms: Stepra uses WPForms field containers for automatic splitting.
4. Add the form to a page.
5. Open Stepra settings to choose the progress style, colors, button labels, validation language, and heading behavior.
6. Test the form on desktop and mobile.

Lite supports up to 3 steps.

= Supported form builders =

StepraEngine Lite supports:

* Contact Form 7
* Elementor Forms
* Forminator
* WPForms standard forms

Stepra is designed to preserve your existing form design. Your theme and form builder continue controlling field width, spacing, labels, typography, and layout while Stepra adds progress, navigation, validation flow, and step visibility.

= Progress styles =

StepraEngine Lite includes two progress styles:

* Bar progress: a clean horizontal progress bar.
* Numbered progress: a 1, 2, 3 step indicator with animated connecting lines.

With the numbered style, visitors can click completed previous steps to go back. Future steps remain locked so visitors cannot skip required validation.

= Contact Form 7 multi-step forms =

Stepra can split Contact Form 7 forms automatically, or you can control step breaks with H3 or H4 headings inside the Contact Form 7 form template.

Example headings:

* 1. Contact Information
* 2. Project Details
* 3. Budget and Timeline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJj4JZRSBUM

= Elementor Forms multi-step forms =

Stepra can split Elementor Forms using Elementor field groups. For manual step control, add Elementor HTML fields containing H3 or H4 headings.

Stepra ignores common Elementor system fields such as hidden fields, honeypot fields, and reCAPTCHA fields so they do not become visible steps.

= Forminator multi-step forms =

Stepra can split Forminator forms using Forminator rows. For manual step control, use Forminator Section fields.

Stepra supports common Forminator field types such as text, email, phone, select, radio, checkbox, date, time, calculation, HTML, hidden fields, and consent fields.

= WPForms multi-step forms =

Stepra can split WPForms standard forms using WPForms field containers.

If WPForms native multi-page fields are detected, Stepra pauses on that form to avoid conflicts.

= Automatic and manual step splitting =

StepraEngine Lite supports two split methods:

* Automatic split: Stepra divides supported long forms into steps when no manual headings or sections are used.
* Manual split: You control where each step starts using supported headings or sections.

Manual split support:

* Contact Form 7: use H3/H4 headings in the form template.
* Elementor Forms: use HTML fields containing H3/H4 headings.
* Forminator: use Forminator Section fields.
* WPForms: uses WPForms field containers for automatic splitting.

You can enable Strict H3 mode in Stepra settings if you want only H3 headings to create manual step breaks.

= Key features =

* Create responsive multi-step forms
* Choose bar or numbered progress style
* Add Next and Previous navigation
* Validate required fields before moving to the next step
* Show visible validation messages
* Preserve existing form styling
* Keep the original form plugin in control of submission
* Support automatic and manual step splitting
* Pause when native multi-step or pagination conflicts are detected
* Configure colors, labels, validation language, heading behavior, and progress style
* Limit Lite forms to a maximum of 3 steps

= Validation and user experience =

Stepra checks the current step before allowing visitors to continue. If a required field is empty or a common field format is invalid, Stepra highlights the field and shows a visible message.

Validation helpers include:

* Required fields
* Email format
* URL fields requiring http:// or https://
* Phone number format
* Postal code format
* Date year range

If the original form plugin returns a validation error after submission, Stepra can return the visitor to the step containing the invalid field when supported by that builder.

= Good use cases =

StepraEngine Lite is useful for:

* Contact forms
* Quote request forms
* Booking request forms
* Lead capture forms
* Onboarding forms
* Survey forms
* User registration style forms
* Service request forms
* Multi-page form layouts
* Form wizard layouts

= Compatibility notes =

StepraEngine Lite does not replace your form builder. Your original form plugin remains responsible for fields, entries, email notifications, spam protection, integrations, and final form submission.

If your form builder already has native multi-step, pagination, or a known multi-step add-on active on the same form, Stepra pauses on that form to help prevent layout and validation conflicts.

To use StepraEngine Lite for a form, disable the form builder's native multi-step or pagination feature for that form.

Advanced Pro-only fields, payment fields, conditional logic, third-party add-ons, or heavily customized form templates may require additional compatibility testing.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/` or install it from the WordPress plugin screen.
2. Activate StepraEngine Lite.
3. Go to **Stepra** in the WordPress admin menu.
4. Configure colors, labels, validation language, heading behavior, and progress style.
5. Open a page that contains a supported form.
6. Test the form on desktop and mobile.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Do I need to rebuild my form? =

No. StepraEngine Lite works with supported existing forms on the frontend. Your original form plugin still handles fields, submissions, notifications, entries, spam protection, and integrations.

= Which form builders are supported? =

StepraEngine Lite supports Contact Form 7, Elementor Forms, Forminator, and WPForms standard forms.

= How many steps are available in Lite? =

StepraEngine Lite supports up to 3 steps.

= What progress styles are available? =

StepraEngine Lite includes the original bar progress style and a numbered 1, 2, 3 progress style.

= Can visitors click the numbered progress steps? =

Visitors can click completed previous steps to go back. Future steps stay locked so visitors cannot skip required validation.

= What happens if I do not add headings or sections? =

Stepra automatically splits supported long forms into steps.

= How do I manually control steps in Contact Form 7? =

Add H3 or H4 headings inside the Contact Form 7 form template where each new step should begin.

= How do I manually control steps in Elementor Forms? =

Add Elementor HTML fields containing H3 or H4 headings. Stepra uses those headings to create step sections.

= How do I manually control steps in Forminator? =

Use Forminator Section fields. Stepra uses those section fields to create step sections.

= How does manual step control work in WPForms? =

WPForms support in StepraEngine Lite uses WPForms field containers for automatic splitting. If you use WPForms native multi-page fields, Stepra will pause to avoid conflicts.

= Does Stepra preserve my form design? =

Stepra is designed to keep existing form styling intact. Your form builder and theme continue controlling field width, spacing, labels, typography, and layout. Stepra adds the progress bar, navigation buttons, validation flow, and step visibility.

= Can I use Stepra for booking forms, surveys, user registration, or lead capture forms? =

Yes, if those forms are built with a supported form builder and use supported standard field markup.

= Does Stepra replace conditional logic, drag-and-drop editing, or AJAX submission? =

No. StepraEngine Lite is not a drag-and-drop form builder and does not replace your form builder's conditional logic, AJAX submission, notifications, entries, spam protection, or integrations.

= Does Stepra work with shortcode or block-based forms? =

Stepra works on the frontend when the supported form builder outputs standard supported form markup. Forms added through shortcodes, widgets, or page-builder layouts should be tested after setup.

= Does StepraEngine Lite work on mobile? =

Yes. StepraEngine Lite includes responsive progress navigation and mobile-friendly layout behavior for supported forms.

= Does StepraEngine Lite work if I have multiple forms on my website? =

Yes. Stepra can detect supported forms across your website and apply the step-by-step layout to supported forms that meet the plugin conditions. Each form should be tested after setup.

= Does Stepra submit the form itself? =

No. Your original form builder still handles final form submission, email notifications, entries, spam protection, and integrations.

= What if my form already has multi-step or pagination enabled? =

StepraEngine Lite detects common native multi-step or pagination features and pauses on that form to avoid conflicts. Disable the native multi-step feature if you want Stepra to control the steps.

= Does Lite support WooCommerce checkout? =

No. WooCommerce checkout splitting is not included in StepraEngine Lite.

= Does Lite include summary receipts? =

No. Summary receipts are not included in StepraEngine Lite.

= Where can I get support? =

Use the WordPress.org support forum for StepraEngine Lite.

== Screenshots ==

1. Stepra Engine admin overview.
2. Responsive frontend multi-step progress bar and navigation.
3. Contact Form 7 heading-based split.
4. Forminator conflict detection notice.
5. Elementor Forms heading-based split using HTML fields.
6. Settings for colors, labels, validation language, heading behavior, and progress style.
7. Upgrade information.

== Changelog ==

= 1.1.1 =
* Added the Freemius-powered Lite to Pro upgrade path inside the StepraEngine admin Upgrade tab.
* Updated the Lite vs Pro comparison to show basic customization, advanced customization, Pro summaries, WooCommerce checkout, and priority support.
* Kept Lite runtime free-only with no Pro checkout or premium feature code.

= 1.1.0 =
* Added an optional numbered 1, 2, 3 progress style.
* Added clickable completed step numbers for safe backward navigation.
* Added animated numbered progress previews in the admin settings.
* Kept the original progress bar style as the default option.

= 1.0.1 =
* Reduced visual flash/flicker during form initialization and step navigation.
* Improved scroll behavior during Next and Previous step navigation.
* Improved focus handling so the first field in the active step is selected after navigation.
* Preserved Contact Form 7 field width behavior while switching between steps.
* Improved readme wording for multi-step form, multi-page form, form wizard, and supported builder search clarity.
* Updated compatibility metadata after testing with WordPress 7.0.

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial Lite release.
* Added support for Contact Form 7.
* Added support for Elementor Forms.
* Added support for Forminator.
* Added support for WPForms standard forms.
* Added automatic form splitting.
* Added H3/H4 heading-based splitting where supported.
* Added Forminator Section field support.
* Added responsive progress bar and navigation buttons.
* Added required-field validation before moving to the next step.
* Added visible validation messages.
* Added email, phone, postal code, date, and URL validation helpers.
* Added invalid-field step jump behavior after supported submission errors.
* Added conflict detection for native multi-step and pagination features.
* Added admin controls for colors, labels, validation language, and heading behavior.
