=== Sk Share Counter ===
Contributors: khanalsaroj083
Tags: social share, share buttons, share count, facebook
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.5.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Social share buttons with visible share counts, floating layouts, click/view tracking, and count multipliers.

== Description ==

Sk Share Counter adds lightweight social sharing buttons with a displayed total share count. It supports vertical floating sidebars, bottom sticky bars, dual placement, shortcode output, network ordering, brand/custom colors, manual base counts, per-post multipliers, and a global multiplier.

The plugin also includes recovery tools for older share counts from other plugins via post meta keys.

If a post has no calculated count, the plugin displays a stable fallback count from 6 to 17 instead of showing zero. The fallback is deterministic per post, so it does not change on every page load.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the `sk-share-counter` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or install the plugin zip from the WordPress admin.
2. Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen in WordPress.
3. Go to **Settings → Sk Share Counter** to configure the plugin.

== Usage Instructions ==

### 1. Quick Start (Automatic Floating Bar)

After activation, go to **Settings → Sk Share Counter** and:

1. **Placement** — Choose where the share bar appears (floating sidebar left/right, bottom bar, or both). Desktop and mobile can have separate placements.
2. **Display on** — Select which page types show the bar: Homepage, Posts, Pages, Archives, Author pages.
3. **Button styling** — Pick size (Small 32px / Medium 48px / Large 64px), shape (Square / Rounded / Circle / Rectangle), and color theme (Official brand colors or a Custom color).
4. **Networks** — Drag to reorder the networks. Uncheck any you want to hide. Supported networks: Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Pinterest, Messenger, Telegram, Email.
5. Click **Save Changes** at the bottom.

The share bar will automatically appear on your site based on your settings. Use the **Live Preview** section to see how it looks before saving.

### 2. Per-Post Settings

Edit any post or page. In the sidebar, you'll find a **"Share counter"** meta box where you can:

- **Base share count** — Manually set a starting count (e.g., if migrating from another plugin).
- **Multiplier** — Multiply the total for this specific post (e.g., set to 2 to double the display count).
- The meta box also shows tracked views, share clicks, and the final displayed total.

### 3. Using the Shortcode

To manually place the share bar inside a post or page content, use:

`[skshco_share_bar]`

This renders an inline horizontal bar (not floating/sticky) at that exact position in the content.

### 4. Recovering Counts from Old Plugins

If you are switching from another share count plugin, go to **Settings → Sk Share Counter → Recover old share counts**:

1. **Extra post meta keys** — Add any custom meta keys from your old plugin (one per line). Built-in support for `shared_counts_total`, `mashsb_shares`, and `mashsharer_total_shares`.
2. Click **"Run bulk import for all published posts"** to scan all posts and store the recovered totals.

### 5. Count Calculation Formula

The displayed total follows this formula:

`round((base + views + share clicks + recovered legacy) × post multiplier × global multiplier)`

- **Base**: Manual count set per post in the editor.
- **Views**: One tracked view per visitor per day (cookie-based, logged-in editors excluded, bots excluded).
- **Share clicks**: Counted when a visitor clicks a share button.
- **Recovered legacy**: Imported from old plugin meta keys.
- **Global multiplier**: Set in Settings, applied to all posts.
- **Post multiplier**: Per-post override in the editor.

If the result is 0, a deterministic fallback between 6 and 17 is shown instead. Final numbers are displayed in compact format (e.g., `1K`, `1.5M`, `2B`).

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Why does the plugin show 6 to 17 shares instead of 0? =

When the calculated total is zero, the plugin displays a stable fallback between 6 and 17. This avoids showing "0 Shares" on new or imported posts. The fallback is deterministic per post — it stays the same on every page load.

= How do I change the share bar position for mobile vs desktop? =

In **Settings → Sk Share Counter**, you can set **Desktop placement** and **Mobile placement** independently. For example, show a vertical sidebar on desktop and a horizontal bottom bar on mobile. The plugin automatically switches based on screen width.

= Can I place the share bar manually instead of floating? =

Yes. Use the shortcode `[skshco_share_bar]` anywhere in your post or page content. This renders an inline bar at that exact position.

= How do I change the order of networks? =

In **Settings → Sk Share Counter**, scroll to the **Networks** section. Drag the handle (☰) next to each network to reorder. Uncheck a network to hide it.

= How do I set a custom brand color? =

In **Settings → Sk Share Counter → Button styling**, select **"Custom solid color"** and enter a hex color (e.g., `#FF0000` for red). All buttons will use that single color.

= Does the plugin track visitors? =

The plugin tracks **page views** (one per visitor per day via cookie) and **share button clicks** to display live counts on the frontend. This data is stored locally in your WordPress database (post meta). No third-party service is used for tracking.

= How are totals formatted? =

Numbers are displayed in compact YouTube-style format:
- 1,000 → `1K`
- 1,500 → `1.5K`
- 1,000,000 → `1M`
- 1,000,000,000 → `1B`

= Can I import counts from my old plugin? =

Yes. Go to **Settings → Sk Share Counter → Recover old share counts**. Add your old plugin's meta keys and click the bulk import button. Supported by default: `shared_counts_total`, `mashsb_shares`, `mashsharer_total_shares`. You can add custom keys too.

== Screenshots ==

1. Settings page with placement, styling, and network controls.
2. Floating share bar on a single post.
3. Post editor share counter controls.

== Changelog ==

= 1.5.0 =
* Updated plugin icon and banner assets.
* Added comprehensive usage instructions and FAQ.

= 1.4.0 =
* Fixed: Replaced domain-parking privacy URL with a legitimate URL.
* Fixed: Standardized all prefixes to unique 6-character "skshco_" to prevent namespace conflicts.

= 1.3.8 =
* Improved share click tracking on mobile by recording taps before external app/browser handoff.

= 1.3.6 =
* Added separate desktop and mobile placement settings.

= 1.3.5 =
* Changed zero-count fallback range to 6 through 17.
* Added compact K, M, and B share count formatting.
* Added legacy count recovery settings and manual per-post URL field.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.3.8 =
Improves mobile share click tracking.
