=== Styler Mate for Contact Form 7 ===

Contributors: badhonrocks, plugpressco
Tags: contact form 7, cf7, form styler, ai form generator, multi-step form
Requires at least: 6.0
Tested up to: 6.9
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 3.0.4
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Style Contact Form 7 visually, generate forms with AI, and add multi-step, conditional logic, entries, analytics, and more on top of CF7.

== Description ==

CF7 Mate (formerly CF7 Styler for Divi) is a complete toolkit for Contact Form 7. It adds visual styling for every major page builder, an AI form generator that writes CF7 forms from a plain-English prompt, new field types, layout tools, and a full set of advanced features such as multi-step forms, conditional logic, form entries storage, form analytics, scheduling, and conditional email routing.

CF7 Mate works alongside Contact Form 7. You continue to create and manage forms inside the regular CF7 editor — CF7 Mate adds the styling controls, additional fields, and advanced functionality on top, with no shortcodes to memorize and no custom CSS required.

Supported builders: Divi 4, Divi 5, the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg), Elementor, and Bricks.

Useful links: [Product site](https://cf7mate.com) | [Documentation](https://cf7mate.com/docs) | [Pricing and Pro features](https://cf7mate.com/pricing) | [Source on GitHub](https://github.com/plugpress-io/cf7-styler-for-divi)

= AI Form Generator for Contact Form 7 (Free) =

Build any Contact Form 7 form in seconds by describing it in plain English. The CF7 Mate AI form builder reads your prompt, generates a valid CF7 form tag block, and inserts it directly into a new Contact Form 7 form for you to save, edit, and embed.

Because the output is standard Contact Form 7 markup, every generated form remains fully editable in the regular CF7 editor. You can rename fields, change validation, add custom CSS classes, or extend the form with any other CF7 plugin or add-on you already use. There is no lock-in and no proprietary format.

What you can generate:

* Contact and inquiry forms with name, email, subject, and message
* Booking and appointment request forms with date, time, and service selection
* Registration and signup forms with conditional fields
* Survey, feedback, and Net Promoter Score (NPS) forms
* Quote request forms for service businesses and agencies
* Job application forms with file upload fields
* Multi-section forms with grouped questions

Field type coverage: text, email, URL, telephone, number, date, dropdown (select), radio buttons, checkboxes, acceptance, file upload, textarea, and submit button — every standard Contact Form 7 field type is supported.

Provider support: Bring your own API key from OpenAI (GPT models) or any OpenAI-compatible provider. You pay only your provider's usage cost (typically a fraction of a cent per generated form). Your API key is stored in your own WordPress database and never sent to PlugPress.

= Visual CF7 Form Styler (Free) =

CF7 Mate replaces hand-written CSS with a complete visual styling system for Contact Form 7 forms. Every control is exposed inside the page builder you already use, with separate values for desktop, tablet, and mobile breakpoints.

Field styling:

* Background color, border color, border width, and border radius
* Text color, font family, font size, font weight, and letter spacing
* Field height, internal padding, and outer margin
* Focus-state background, border, and text color so you can clearly indicate active fields
* Disabled-state styling

Button styling:

* Text color, background color, hover-state color and background
* Padding, height, border, and border radius
* Typography (font family, weight, size)
* Full-width or auto-width button layout

Label and placeholder styling:

* Label typography, color, and spacing above the field
* Placeholder text color
* Required-mark color and position

Radio button and checkbox styling:

* Custom box and circle size
* Border and background color
* Checked-state color and icon
* Spacing between options

Validation messages:

* Success banner background, text color, and padding
* Inline error message color, font, and spacing
* Custom border styling for fields in an error state

Responsive design:

* Independent values for desktop, tablet, and mobile
* Standard page-builder breakpoints inherited from Divi, Elementor, or Bricks
* Per-breakpoint visibility for individual fields (where the builder supports it)

= Page Builder Integrations (Free) =

CF7 Mate ships native integrations for every supported builder. These are first-class modules and elements — not generic shortcode wrappers — so they integrate with the builder's own design controls, presets, responsive system, and global styles.

**Divi 4 Module for Contact Form 7**
A full Divi Builder module with the standard Divi controls panel. Pick a CF7 form from the dropdown, then style every part of it using the same Design tab and responsive controls you already use for other Divi modules. Works with Divi Theme Options, presets, global colors, and the Divi visual builder.

**Divi 5 Module for Contact Form 7**
A dedicated module purpose-built for the new Divi 5 architecture. Uses the new module API, supports the Divi 5 visual builder, and is forward-compatible with the upcoming Divi 5 features.

**Gutenberg Block for Contact Form 7**
A WordPress block with a live server-rendered preview directly inside the block editor. Insert the block, choose your CF7 form, configure styling in the block sidebar, and see the styled output as you edit. Works in posts, pages, full site editing templates, and inside any block-based theme.

**Elementor Widget for Contact Form 7**
A dedicated Elementor widget with native Elementor controls. All styling options appear in the standard Elementor side panel under Content and Style tabs. Compatible with the free Elementor builder and Elementor Pro.

**Bricks Element for Contact Form 7**
A custom element built for the Bricks Builder, fully integrated with Bricks' Style tab and class system. Supports Bricks global styles and templates.

= Extra Form Fields (Free) =

CF7 Mate registers additional field types as standard Contact Form 7 form tags, so they save, validate, and email exactly like CF7's built-in fields. Each field has its own visual styling controls and can be combined with grid layout and conditional logic.

* **Star Rating field** — Collect numeric ratings (1 to 5 or 1 to 10) with a clickable star widget. Useful for reviews, feedback forms, and customer satisfaction surveys.
* **Range Slider field** — Numeric input rendered as a slider with configurable minimum, maximum, and step values. Useful for budget selectors, quantity pickers, and quote calculators.
* **International Phone Number field** — Phone input with a country flag picker, country-code prefixing, and per-country number formatting and validation.
* **Heading field** — Visual section headings inside a form, with full typography control. Useful for breaking long forms into clear sections.
* **Separator field** — A visual divider line between field groups for clearer form structure.
* **Image field** — Embed a static image inside the form (logo, illustration, or example image).
* **Icon field** — Insert an icon element for visual labeling or section markers.

= Form Layout Tools (Free) =

* **Grid Layout** — Arrange fields into responsive multi-column grids with independent column counts for desktop, tablet, and mobile. Avoids the common "stacked single column" look of default CF7 forms.

= Pro Features =

The following advanced features require a CF7 Mate Pro license. See [cf7mate.com/pricing](https://cf7mate.com/pricing) for plans.

**Multi-Step Forms for Contact Form 7 (Pro)**
Convert any long Contact Form 7 form into a guided, wizard-style multi-step experience. Reduces visible complexity, improves perceived progress, and is shown to reduce abandonment rates on long forms.

* Split fields into as many steps as you need with simple drag-and-drop step markers
* Configurable progress indicator (numbered, bar, or hidden)
* Per-step validation — users cannot advance until the current step is valid
* Back and Next button styling and labels
* Optional review step that summarizes the user's answers before submission
* Works with Conditional Logic to skip entire steps based on user input

**Conditional Logic for Contact Form 7 (Pro)**
Build smart, dynamic Contact Form 7 forms that adapt to user input in real time. Show or hide individual fields, groups of fields, and entire steps based on the values entered or selected earlier in the form.

* Per-field rules: show if, hide if, equals, not equals, contains, is empty
* Group fields with conditional containers
* AND / OR logic for compound rules
* Browser-side evaluation — no page reloads, no flicker
* Conditional steps in multi-step forms

**Form Entries: Save Contact Form 7 Submissions to Database (Pro)**
Stop losing leads when an email fails to deliver. CF7 Mate Pro saves every Contact Form 7 submission to your own WordPress database, where you can view, search, and export it from a dedicated admin page.

* Every submission stored with timestamp, source page URL, and user IP (configurable)
* Search by field value, filter by date range, sort by any column
* One-click CSV export of any filtered selection
* Per-form storage toggle — you decide which forms save entries
* File-upload attachments stored in the WordPress uploads directory and linked from the entry
* GDPR-friendly: delete individual entries or bulk-delete by date range

**Form Analytics for Contact Form 7 (Pro)**
Measure how each of your Contact Form 7 forms is performing. CF7 Mate Pro tracks views and submissions per form and computes the conversion rate so you can see which forms convert and which need attention.

* Per-form view counter (page impressions where the form was rendered)
* Per-form submission counter
* Conversion rate computed automatically (submissions / views)
* Time-series view across the last 7, 30, or 90 days
* No external analytics service required — data is stored in your own database

**Form Scheduling: Open and Close Forms by Date (Pro)**
Set start and end dates for any Contact Form 7 form. Outside of the scheduled window, visitors see a custom message instead of the form. Ideal for time-limited registrations, event sign-ups, and seasonal offers.

* Per-form start date, end date, and timezone
* Custom "form closed" message with full HTML support
* Optional "opens soon" message before the start date
* Schedule preview from the admin so you can verify the open and closed states

**Conditional Email Routing for Contact Form 7 (Pro)**
Send Contact Form 7 notification emails to different recipients based on what the user submitted. For example, route sales inquiries to one address and support requests to another, without setting up multiple separate forms.

* Route rules based on any field value (dropdown, radio, checkbox, or text)
* Multiple rules per form
* Fallback recipient if no rule matches
* Works alongside standard CF7 Mail and Mail (2) settings

**Partial Save and Resume (Pro)**
Let visitors save their progress on a long Contact Form 7 form and return to complete it later. The form sends them a resume link by email; opening that link restores their saved answers exactly as they left them.

* "Save and continue later" button on long or multi-step forms
* Resume link sent to the user's email address
* Configurable retention period for saved drafts
* Recommended for application forms, surveys, and onboarding flows

**Style Presets for Contact Form 7 (Pro)**
Save any styled form as a reusable preset and apply it to other forms in one click. Build your library once and reuse a consistent design across every form on your site.

* Save the current form's styling as a named preset
* Apply a preset to any other CF7 Mate form
* Manage and delete presets from the admin
* Works across all supported page builders

**Advanced Multi-Column Layouts (Pro)**
Extends the free Grid Layout tool with advanced configurations: nested rows, asymmetric column widths, and granular per-breakpoint controls for complex layouts.

**White Label for Agencies (Pro, Agency plan only)**
Replace CF7 Mate's branding, logo, and links inside the WordPress admin with your own. Your clients see your agency's brand instead of the plugin's. Useful for agencies delivering forms as part of a client engagement.

* Replace plugin name and menu label
* Replace logo in the CF7 Mate admin dashboard
* Replace documentation and support links with your own URLs
* Hide upgrade prompts and external links from the admin UI

= Who Should Use CF7 Mate =

* **Agencies and freelancers** building branded, pixel-perfect Contact Form 7 forms for clients across multiple builders
* **eCommerce stores** that need styled inquiry, pre-order, and quote-request forms
* **Service businesses** capturing leads with multi-step and conditional Contact Form 7 forms
* **Membership and community sites** running registration, application, and onboarding forms
* **Event organizers** that need scheduled open and close windows for registration
* **WordPress developers** extending Contact Form 7 with new fields and advanced behavior
* **Anyone using Contact Form 7** who wants modern styling and advanced features without writing code

= Privacy and Data Handling =

* The free plugin does not send form submissions or personal data to any external service.
* The AI form generator sends only your design prompt (not user submissions) to the AI provider you configure. You provide your own API key and remain in control of every request.
* The Pro license check exchanges your license key with the CF7 Mate licensing server to validate the key. No site content, form data, or submission data is transmitted.
* When the Form Entries Pro feature is enabled, submissions are stored only in your own WordPress database. They are never sent to PlugPress or any third party.

= Source Code =

The free plugin source is publicly available on [GitHub](https://github.com/plugpress-io/cf7-styler-for-divi). Issues and pull requests are welcome.

== Installation ==

= Standard Installation =

1. In your WordPress admin, go to **Plugins > Add New** and search for "CF7 Mate".
2. Click **Install Now**, then **Activate**.
3. Ensure [Contact Form 7](https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-7/) is also installed and active.
4. Go to **CF7 Mate** in the admin sidebar to enable the features you want to use.
5. Open your page builder and insert the CF7 Mate module, block, widget, or element.

= Manual Installation =

1. Download the plugin ZIP file from WordPress.org or your account at cf7mate.com.
2. In your WordPress admin, go to **Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin** and upload the ZIP file.
3. Activate the plugin from the Plugins screen.
4. Follow steps 3 to 5 above.

= Requirements =

* WordPress 6.0 or higher
* PHP 7.4 or higher
* [Contact Form 7](https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-7/) installed and active
* One supported page builder if you want visual styling: Divi 4, Divi 5, the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg), Elementor, or Bricks

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Is CF7 Mate free? =

Yes. CF7 Mate is free to install and use on unlimited sites. The AI form generator, visual styling for every supported builder, all extra field types, and the grid layout tool are included in the free version. Advanced features — multi-step forms, conditional logic, form entries storage, form analytics, scheduling, email routing, partial save and resume, style presets, and white label — require a CF7 Mate Pro license.

= Is the AI form generator really free? =

Yes. The AI form generator itself is part of the free plugin. You bring your own API key from your AI provider (for example OpenAI). CF7 Mate sends your design prompt to that provider, which charges you only its standard usage cost. Generating a typical form costs a fraction of a cent.

= Does CF7 Mate replace Contact Form 7? =

No. CF7 Mate extends Contact Form 7. You continue to create, edit, and manage your forms inside the regular CF7 editor. CF7 Mate adds visual styling, additional field types, layout tools, and Pro features such as entries and multi-step on top of the standard CF7 workflow.

= Do I need Divi to use CF7 Mate? =

No. CF7 Mate works with Divi 4, Divi 5, the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg), Elementor, and Bricks. You only need one supported builder. If you do not use a page builder at all, you can still use the Gutenberg block in the standard WordPress editor or place a CF7 shortcode anywhere on your site.

= Is CF7 Mate compatible with Divi 5? =

Yes. CF7 Mate ships a dedicated module built for the new Divi 5 architecture, alongside continued support for Divi 4. The same plugin handles both Divi versions automatically.

= Can I save Contact Form 7 submissions to my WordPress database? =

Yes, with CF7 Mate Pro. The Form Entries feature saves every submission to your own database and provides an admin page to view, search, filter by date, and export entries as CSV. You decide on a per-form basis which forms save entries.

= Do multi-step forms work with conditional logic? =

Yes, in Pro. Conditional logic and multi-step forms work together. You can show or hide individual fields and skip entire steps based on what the user has already entered.

= Can I schedule when a Contact Form 7 form opens and closes? =

Yes, with Pro. Form Scheduling lets you set a start and end date for any form and configure a custom message that is shown when the form is closed. Useful for events, time-limited registrations, and seasonal offers.

= Can I route Contact Form 7 emails based on field values? =

Yes, with Pro. The Conditional Email Routing feature sends notification emails to different recipients based on what the user selected or entered. For example, route sales inquiries to one address and support requests to another.

= Will CF7 Mate slow down my site? =

No. CF7 Mate only enqueues its CSS and JavaScript on pages that actually render a CF7 Mate form. Pages without a CF7 Mate form load zero additional assets from the plugin. The plugin uses asynchronous loading where supported and the admin app code is split out of front-end bundles.

= Can I use the free version on multiple sites? =

Yes. The free plugin is GPL-licensed and may be used on unlimited sites at no cost.

= Where can I get support? =

* Documentation: [cf7mate.com/docs](https://cf7mate.com/docs)
* Support requests: [cf7mate.com/support](https://cf7mate.com/support)
* Community: [PlugPress Facebook Group](https://facebook.com/groups/plugpress)
* WordPress.org support forum (free plugin only): the Support tab on this plugin's WordPress.org page

= Why is the plugin slug "cf7-styler-for-divi" if it works with other builders? =

The plugin was originally released as CF7 Styler for Divi. The WordPress.org slug cannot be changed without losing the install base, ratings, and review history, so the slug remains the same while the product name has been updated to CF7 Mate. The plugin now supports Gutenberg, Elementor, and Bricks in addition to Divi.

= What happens if I install Pro alongside the free plugin? =

The free plugin detects when CF7 Mate Pro is also active and automatically deactivates itself to avoid running two copies. You will see a one-time admin notice confirming this. All settings, feature toggles, and form configurations are preserved across the switch.

= Does CF7 Mate work with caching plugins and page caching? =

Yes. CF7 Mate renders forms through standard Contact Form 7 hooks, so any caching plugin that already works with CF7 (WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, and others) works with CF7 Mate too. AJAX submissions remain dynamic and are not affected by full-page caching.

= Is the data stored by Form Entries GDPR-compliant? =

Form Entries stores submission data only in your own WordPress database — no third-party service is involved. To support GDPR data-subject requests you can delete individual entries from the admin, bulk-delete by date range, or export an entry to fulfill an access request. You are responsible for displaying your own privacy policy and obtaining consent through the form (the standard CF7 Acceptance field can be used for this).

== Screenshots ==

1. AI form generator. Describe a Contact Form 7 form in plain English and receive a ready-to-use CF7 shortcode.
2. Visual form styling inside the Divi Builder. Customize every part of a Contact Form 7 form without writing CSS.
3. Gutenberg block with live server-rendered preview in the WordPress editor.
4. Multi-step Contact Form 7 form with progress indicator and per-step navigation (Pro).
5. Form Entries admin page. View, search, filter, and export every Contact Form 7 submission (Pro).
6. Conditional logic editor. Show or hide fields based on user answers (Pro).
7. CF7 Mate admin dashboard with feature toggles and per-feature settings panels.

== Changelog ==

= 3.0.4 =
* Improved: "More from PlugPress" sidebar redesigned with colored brand avatars, a "See all" link, and a curated product list.
* Improved: Admin app bundles are now cache-busted by file modification time so source updates take effect without a manual hard reload.
* Fixed: The free plugin now correctly auto-deactivates when CF7 Mate Pro is also active, with a one-time confirmation notice.
* Fixed: "Go to CF7 Mate dashboard" button on the onboarding Finish step now actually navigates to the dashboard.
* Fixed: Stale `cf7-mate-settings` admin slug references in onboarding redirects, the review notice, and the upsell placeholder now resolve to the current `cf7-mate` slug.
* Fixed: Review link in the admin sidebar now uses the correct WordPress.org plugin slug.
* Fixed: Onboarding feature toggles (including AI Form Generator and Heading) are no longer silently dropped when completing the wizard.

= 3.0.3 =
* New: AI Form Generator moved to the free plugin — available to all users with no Pro plan required.
* New: Top-level CF7 Mate admin menu replaces the prior Settings-submenu location.
* Improved: Admin UI redesigned for a cleaner, faster, more focused layout.
* Improved: Features page presents all modules in a single organized list.
* Improved: Tools tab consolidates AI Generator settings.

= 3.0.2 =
* Fixed: Minor bug fixes and performance improvements.
* Improved: Free vs Pro feature detection.
* Compatibility: WordPress 6.9.

= 3.0.1 =
* Fixed: Plugin naming corrections.

= 3.0.0 =
* New: Rebranded to CF7 Mate (formerly CF7 Styler for Divi).
* New: Divi 5 module with full visual builder support.
* New: Gutenberg block with live server-rendered preview.
* New: Admin dashboard with feature toggles.
* New: Elementor and Bricks builder integrations.
* Improved: Codebase rewritten for better performance and maintainability.

= 2.3.4 =
* Improved: Admin notice system.
* Improved: Review request flow.
* Fixed: Minor performance optimizations.

= 2.3.3 =
* Fixed: Compatibility with recent WordPress versions.
* Improved: Form styling performance and mobile responsiveness.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 3.0.4 =
Fixes for onboarding navigation, admin slug references, sidebar redesign, and auto-deactivation when CF7 Mate Pro is also active. Recommended update.

= 3.0.3 =
AI Form Generator is now free for all users. New top-level CF7 Mate admin menu and a refreshed admin UI. Recommended update.

= 3.0.0 =
Major update. The plugin is now CF7 Mate, with Divi 5 support, a Gutenberg block, and integrations for Elementor and Bricks. Existing settings carry over automatically.
