Installation Guide

Installing AI Product Tools is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few minutes. This guide will walk you through the system requirements, the different methods available for installing the plugin on your WordPress site, and how to verify that everything is working correctly.

Pre-Installation Checklist

Before you begin, ensure you have the following ready to go. This will make the installation process much smoother and prevent any common errors:

• WordPress Admin Access: You need an account with administrator privileges to install and activate plugins.
• WooCommerce Active: Verify that WooCommerce is already installed and active on your site.
• PHP Version Check: Ensure your server is running PHP 7.4 or higher.
• Backup: It is always recommended to have a recent backup of your site before adding new software.
• Internet Connection: A stable connection is needed to download the plugin and communicate with AI providers later.
• Disk Space: Ensure you have at least 50MB of free disk space on your server for the plugin files.

System Requirements

Before you begin the installation, please ensure that your web server meets the following minimum requirements. These specifications are necessary to ensure that the AI processing and background tasks run without interruption.

• WordPress: Version 5.0 or higher. We recommend staying updated with the latest version of WordPress for security and performance.
• WooCommerce: Version 6.0 or higher. The plugin is specifically designed to integrate with WooCommerce product data.
• PHP: Version 7.4 or higher. PHP 8.0, 8.1, or 8.2 is highly recommended for better performance and security.
• MySQL: Version 5.7 or higher (or MariaDB 10.2+). This is required for storing generation history and automation job data.
• Memory Limit: At least 256MB of PHP memory is recommended, especially if you plan to use bulk generation or automation features.
• cURL: The cURL library must be enabled on your server to allow the plugin to communicate with AI provider APIs.
• OpenSSL: Required for secure encryption of your API keys.

Meeting these requirements ensures that the plugin runs smoothly and can communicate effectively with AI providers like OpenAI and Google.

Installation Methods

There are two primary ways to install AI Product Tools: searching the WordPress plugin directory or manually uploading the plugin files. Choose the method that is most convenient for you.

Method 1: WordPress Plugin Directory (Recommended)

This is the easiest and most common method for installing the plugin. It ensures that you always get the latest stable version directly from the official repository.

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins in the left-hand menu and click on Add New.
3. In the search bar at the top right, type AI Product Tools.
4. Find the plugin in the search results (look for the official AI Product Tools logo).
5. Click the Install Now button. WordPress will automatically download and extract the plugin files.
6. Once the installation is complete, the button will change to Activate. Click it to enable the plugin on your site.
7. You will be redirected to the welcome screen to begin the setup process.

Method 2: Manual Upload

If you have downloaded the plugin as a ZIP file from our website or another source, you can upload it manually through the WordPress admin.

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins and click on Add New.
3. Click the Upload Plugin button at the top of the page, next to the "Add Plugins" title.
4. Click Choose File and select the ai-product-tools.zip file from your computer's downloads folder.
5. Click the Install Now button. WordPress will upload the file and install the plugin.
6. After the plugin is installed, click the Activate Plugin button to finish the process.
7. You will be redirected to the welcome screen to begin the setup process.

First-Time Setup and Activation

After activating the plugin, you will be redirected to the AI Product Tools welcome screen. This screen is designed to help you get started quickly and efficiently.

Freemius Account Creation

AI Product Tools uses Freemius for licensing, updates, and support. Upon activation, you will be prompted to opt-in to security and feature updates.

• Why Opt-In? Opting in allows us to notify you of important security updates and new features. It also enables us to provide better support if you encounter any issues.
• Premium Features: If you have purchased a Pro or Business plan, you must connect your account through Freemius to activate your license and unlock advanced features.
• Privacy: We take your privacy seriously. Freemius only collects the data necessary to manage your license and provide updates. Your data is never sold or shared with third parties.
• Account Management: You can manage your account, view invoices, and upgrade your plan at any time through the AI Product Tools > Account page.

Verifying the Installation

To ensure that the plugin is installed correctly and ready for use, check for the following indicators in your dashboard:

• Sidebar Menu: A new menu item labeled AI Product Tools should appear in your WordPress admin sidebar, usually near the bottom.
• Product Editor: When editing any WooCommerce product, you should see an AI Product Tools box in the sidebar. This is where you will generate individual descriptions.
• Toolkit Page: Navigate to AI Product Tools > Toolkit. This page should load a dashboard with various tool cards (Bulk Generator, Title Generator, etc.).
• Settings Page: Navigate to AI Product Tools > Settings. You should be able to see the various configuration tabs for API, Prompts, and General settings.

Post-Installation Checklist

Once the plugin is active, complete these steps to ensure you are ready to generate content:

• Configure API Provider: Go to Settings and add your API key.
• Validate Key: Use the validation button to ensure the connection is working.
• Check Metabox: Open a product and ensure the AI Product Tools box is visible.
• Review Default Prompts: Take a look at the default prompts in Settings to see if they match your brand voice.

Common Installation Issues and Solutions

If you encounter any problems during installation, don't worry. Here are some common solutions to the most frequent issues:

Plugin Fails to Activate

If the plugin fails to activate, the most common reason is that WooCommerce is not active. AI Product Tools relies on WooCommerce functions to operate. Ensure WooCommerce is installed and active, then try activating AI Product Tools again.

Memory Limit Errors

AI processing and bulk operations can be resource-intensive. If you see a "Fatal error: Allowed memory size of... exhausted" message, you need to increase your PHP memory limit.

• How to fix: Add define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); to your wp-config.php file, just before the line that says "That's all, stop editing!". Alternatively, ask your hosting provider to increase the limit for you.

Missing Menu Item or Metabox

If you don't see the AI Product Tools menu or the metabox on the product page:

1. Refresh your browser: Sometimes the admin menu needs a hard refresh to show new items.
2. Check Screen Options: On the product edit page, click Screen Options at the top right and make sure "AI Product Tools" is checked.
3. User Permissions: Ensure you are logged in as an Administrator. Some menu items may be hidden for users with lower permission levels.
4. Plugin Conflict: Deactivate other plugins temporarily to see if the menu item reappears.

Conflict with Other Plugins

In rare cases, another plugin might conflict with AI Product Tools. If you experience strange behavior, try deactivating other plugins one by one to identify the conflict. Security plugins, caching plugins, or "Coming Soon" plugins are common culprits.

White Screen of Death (WSOD)

If your site goes blank after activation, it is likely due to a PHP error or memory issue.

• How to fix: Access your site via FTP and rename the ai-product-tools folder in /wp-content/plugins/ to something else (like ai-product-tools-old). This will deactive the plugin and restore your site. Then, check your server's error logs to find the cause.

"The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive"

This error occurs when your server's upload limit is lower than the size of the plugin ZIP file.

• How to fix: Contact your hosting provider to increase the upload_max_filesize and post_max_size in your PHP configuration. Alternatively, use Method 1 (Plugin Directory) which avoids this limit.

Best Practices for Installation

To ensure the best experience with AI Product Tools, follow these tips:

• Backup Your Site: It is always a good practice to create a backup of your WordPress site before installing new plugins, especially those that modify your product data.
• Use a Staging Site: If you have a very large store, consider testing the plugin on a staging site first to see how it handles your specific catalog and server environment.
• Keep Plugins Updated: Regularly update both WooCommerce and AI Product Tools to benefit from the latest features, performance improvements, and security patches.
• Check Server Logs: If something goes wrong, your server's error logs are the best place to find clues about what happened.
• Review Permissions: Ensure your WordPress file permissions are set correctly (usually 755 for folders and 644 for files).

Summary of Installation Steps

1. Verify system requirements and WooCommerce status.
2. Install via the WordPress directory or manual upload.
3. Activate the plugin and opt-in to updates.
4. Verify the menu and metabox are visible.
5. Configure your API provider in the settings.

Conclusion

Installing AI Product Tools is the first step toward a more efficient and automated WooCommerce store. By following this guide, you have laid the foundation for high-quality, AI-driven content that will help your products stand out and sell more.

What's Next?

Now that you have successfully installed the plugin, the next step is to configure your AI provider. This is a one-time setup that allows the plugin to communicate with the AI models and start generating content for your store.

Go to API Provider Setup