=== StepraEngine Lite – Multi-Step Checkout for WooCommerce ===
Contributors: Arcscripter
Tags: woocommerce, multi-step checkout, woocommerce checkout, checkout steps, checkout customization
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 7.1
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.3.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Build a flexible WooCommerce multi-step checkout with steps, checkout fields, validation, progress, responsive layouts, and form-builder support.

== Description ==

StepraEngine Lite turns WooCommerce Classic Checkout into a flexible WooCommerce multi-step checkout without replacing WooCommerce. Add, rename, reorder, and remove supported checkout steps; organize standard and supported custom checkout fields; restore the standard step structure; choose progress styles and checkout layouts; and customize the basic checkout presentation.

WooCommerce continues to control checkout fields, customer values, shipping, totals, coupons, payment gateways, validation, order review, and final order placement.

StepraEngine Lite also creates multi-step forms for Contact Form 7, WPForms, Forminator, and Elementor Forms.

== Live Demo ==

See StepraEngine Lite running on WooCommerce before installing it.

* [Explore the Live Demo](https://stepraengine.com/demo/)

= Build a Flexible WooCommerce Multi-Step Checkout =

Build a focused checkout flow around the WooCommerce Classic Checkout. StepraEngine Lite lets you:

* Add flexible checkout steps.
* Rename and reorder checkout steps.
* Remove supported checkout steps.
* Drag checkout fields into clear steps.
* Restore the standard Stepra checkout step structure.

WooCommerce checkout uses StepraEngine's flexible checkout-step system. The three-step Lite limit applies only to the supported regular form-builder integrations.

= Organize Checkout Steps and Fields =

Organize standard WooCommerce checkout fields, supported custom checkout fields, and supported checkout-editor-added fields into clear Billing, Contact, Shipping, Additional information, and merchant-created steps.

StepraEngine protects the billing and shipping structure WooCommerce depends on while giving merchants practical control over checkout field organization.

= Physical and Virtual Product Checkout =

StepraEngine adapts the active WooCommerce checkout flow to the products in the cart.

For physical or shippable products, shipping steps and shipping fields remain available when WooCommerce requires them. For virtual-only carts, unnecessary shipping-only steps are removed from the active checkout flow when WooCommerce does not require shipping.

When shipping becomes relevant again, StepraEngine restores the appropriate shipping steps in their original positions while preserving the saved checkout structure.

= Keep WooCommerce in Control =

StepraEngine does not replace WooCommerce checkout. WooCommerce remains responsible for:

* Checkout data and billing or shipping values.
* Shipping methods, taxes, and totals.
* Coupons and returning customer login.
* Payment methods and payment gateways.
* Checkout validation and order review.
* Final order submission.

StepraEngine organizes the live WooCommerce checkout into steps around that native behavior. It does not create a separate payment or order system.

= Step Validation and Error Recovery =

StepraEngine validates the active checkout step before moving forward, while WooCommerce remains the final validation authority. Required fields and WooCommerce field validation stay part of the native checkout process.

When checkout validation reports an error, StepraEngine can navigate back to the relevant active checkout step so the customer can find and correct the invalid field.

For supported regular form builders, StepraEngine retains its existing validation helpers for required fields and supported email, URL, phone, postal-code, and date inputs. Builder validation remains authoritative for final submission.

= Progress, Layouts and Basic Styling =

Choose the checkout presentation that fits your theme:

* Bar progress or Numbered progress.
* A current step heading.
* Side-by-Side, Stacked, or Theme checkout layouts.
* Stepra Style on or off.
* Step Shadow on or off.
* Progress colors and progress text color.
* Custom Next and Previous labels.
* Basic Next and Previous button colors.

Numbered progress in Lite displays step numbers without progress step headings. Progress Step Headings are available in StepraEngine Pro.

= Mobile-Friendly Responsive Checkout =

StepraEngine's WooCommerce multi-step checkout is designed to adapt across desktop, tablet, and mobile screens. Checkout steps, progress, navigation, checkout fields, order review, and payment presentation respond to the available space.

On smaller screens, the responsive WooCommerce checkout keeps the flow focused with clear progress and mobile-friendly navigation. The final mobile checkout appearance can still depend on the active theme and checkout customizations.

= Elementor WooCommerce Checkout Support =

StepraEngine supports the Elementor WooCommerce Checkout widget in tested one-column and two-column layouts. StepraEngine organizes the guided checkout presentation while WooCommerce continues handling the checkout itself.

Heavily customized Elementor templates and third-party checkout replacements may require separate compatibility testing.

= Also Works With Popular Form Builders =

These Lite integrations remain available for regular WordPress forms, with up to three steps:

* Contact Form 7 multi-step form: use supported H3 or H4 headings for manual step breaks.
* WPForms multi-step form: StepraEngine uses supported WPForms field containers for automatic splitting.
* Forminator multi-step form: use supported Section fields to define step breaks.
* Elementor multi-step form: use HTML fields containing supported H3 or H4 headings.

Strict H3 mode remains available when only H3 headings should create manual step breaks. Disable a builder's native pagination or multi-step feature on forms where StepraEngine is active to avoid competing step systems.

= StepraEngine Lite Features =

* WooCommerce Multi-Step Checkout
* Flexible Checkout Steps
* Add, Rename, Reorder & Remove Checkout Steps
* Checkout Field Organization
* Standard & Supported Custom Checkout Fields
* Restore Standard Steps
* Physical & Virtual Product Checkout Handling
* Dynamic Shipping Step Handling
* Step Validation & Error Recovery
* Native WooCommerce Payments, Shipping & Totals
* Coupons & Returning Customer Login
* Elementor WooCommerce Checkout
* Side-by-Side, Stacked & Theme Layouts
* Bar & Numbered Progress
* Mobile-Friendly Responsive Checkout
* Stepra Style ON/OFF
* Step Shadow
* Basic Progress Colors
* Next / Previous Labels
* Basic Button Styling
* Contact Form 7
* WPForms
* Forminator
* Elementor Forms

= StepraEngine Pro =

StepraEngine Lite provides the complete multi-step checkout foundation. Pro adds deeper checkout insights and more presentation control with:

* Step Summary
* Checkout Analytics
* Progress Step Headings
* Advanced Checkout Customization
* Priority Pro Support

= Compatibility =

* WooCommerce Classic Checkout is supported.
* WooCommerce Block Checkout is not the current Stepra checkout target.
* Elementor WooCommerce Checkout is supported in the tested one-column and two-column layouts.
* WooCommerce HPOS compatibility is maintained.
* Physical, shippable, and virtual-only cart flows adapt to WooCommerce shipping requirements.

Do not run StepraEngine alongside another multi-step checkout system on the same checkout. Third-party multi-step checkout plugins, heavily customized checkout templates, custom checkout replacements, and extension-provided checkout fields may require compatibility testing.

For regular form builders, disable native pagination or multi-step systems on forms where StepraEngine is active. Advanced fields, conditional behavior, third-party add-ons, and heavily customized form templates may also require compatibility testing.

== Installation ==

1. Install and activate StepraEngine Lite.
2. Confirm WooCommerce Classic Checkout is in use.
3. Open StepraEngine > WooCommerce.
4. Enable Stepra checkout.
5. Organize checkout steps and checkout fields.
6. Choose progress, layout, and presentation options.
7. Test physical and virtual product checkout flows where relevant.
8. Test checkout on desktop, tablet, and mobile.

For Contact Form 7, WPForms, Forminator, or Elementor Forms, build the form in its original builder, add the supported headings, sections, or containers where needed, then configure StepraEngine settings. Regular form-builder integrations support up to three steps in Lite.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Does StepraEngine replace WooCommerce checkout? =

No. WooCommerce retains ownership of checkout fields, customer values, shipping, totals, coupons, payment gateways, validation, order review, and order placement. StepraEngine adds the guided multi-step checkout presentation.

= Is WooCommerce checkout limited to three steps in Lite? =

No. The three-step Lite limit applies to the supported regular form-builder integrations. WooCommerce uses StepraEngine's flexible checkout-step system.

= Can I add, rename and reorder checkout steps? =

Yes. You can add flexible checkout steps, rename them, reorder them, remove supported steps, and restore the standard Stepra structure.

= Can StepraEngine organize custom WooCommerce checkout fields? =

Yes. StepraEngine can organize standard WooCommerce fields and supported custom or checkout-editor-added fields. Structural safeguards keep billing and shipping field ownership compatible with WooCommerce.

= Does StepraEngine work with physical and virtual products? =

Yes. StepraEngine adapts the active WooCommerce checkout flow to the cart. Shipping-related steps remain available for physical or shippable products and are removed from the active flow for virtual-only carts when WooCommerce does not require shipping.

= What happens to shipping steps for virtual products? =

Shipping-only steps become inactive when WooCommerce does not require shipping. The saved checkout structure is preserved, so the appropriate shipping steps return in their original positions when shipping becomes relevant again.

= Does StepraEngine support dynamically visible shipping fields? =

Yes. The active checkout flow responds when WooCommerce changes the visibility of supported shipping fields. A step containing WooCommerce's native shipping-address control can remain available while shipping-only field steps hide or return as required.

= Does WooCommerce still handle payment and order placement? =

Yes. WooCommerce continues to own payment methods, payment gateways, order review, checkout validation, and final order submission.

= Is StepraEngine's WooCommerce checkout mobile responsive? =

Yes. StepraEngine is designed for responsive WooCommerce checkout flows across desktop, tablet, and mobile screens.

= Does StepraEngine work on phones and tablets? =

Yes. Checkout steps, progress, navigation, fields, order review, and payment presentation adapt to smaller screens. Final presentation can still depend on the theme and checkout customizations.

= Does StepraEngine support Elementor WooCommerce Checkout? =

Yes. StepraEngine supports the Elementor WooCommerce Checkout widget in the tested one-column and two-column layouts while WooCommerce remains responsible for checkout behavior.

= Does StepraEngine support WooCommerce Block Checkout? =

No. WooCommerce Classic Checkout is the current Stepra checkout target. WooCommerce Block Checkout is not currently supported.

= What happens when Stepra Style is turned off? =

StepraEngine keeps the guided checkout flow while allowing the active theme and WooCommerce styling to remain the primary presentation layer.

= Does Lite include Step Summary? =

No. Step Summary is a StepraEngine Pro feature.

= Which other form builders are supported? =

Lite also supports Contact Form 7, WPForms standard forms, Forminator, and Elementor Forms using their documented Stepra integration methods.

= How many steps do regular form-builder integrations get in Lite? =

Regular Contact Form 7, WPForms, Forminator, and Elementor Forms integrations support up to three steps in Lite. This limit does not describe the WooCommerce checkout integration.

= Can I upgrade to Pro? =

Yes. Use the Upgrade page in StepraEngine to access the official Freemius pricing and upgrade flow. Pro adds Step Summary, Checkout Analytics, Progress Step Headings, Advanced Checkout Customization, and Priority Pro Support.

= Where can Lite users get support? =

Lite users can use the official WordPress.org support forum.

== Screenshots ==

WooCommerce Multi-Step Checkout
A focused checkout flow with clear steps, progress, and Next/Previous navigation.

Drag & Drop Checkout Builder
Organize checkout steps and fields visually, reorder steps, and manage the WooCommerce checkout structure.

Checkout Layouts
Choose Side-by-Side, Stacked, or Theme layout to fit your store.

Numbered Step Progress
Clean numbered progress that makes the customer’s position in checkout easy to understand.

Smart Shipping Steps
Checkout automatically adapts shipping steps for physical products, virtual products, and shipping-address changes.

Checkout Style Controls
Customize Stepra Style, step shadows, progress colors, and navigation buttons.

Mobile Checkout
Responsive multi-step checkout designed to remain clear and usable on smaller screens.

Elementor WooCommerce Checkout
StepraEngine works with Elementor WooCommerce Checkout layouts while keeping the multi-step flow intact.

Supported Form Builders
Create multi-step forms with Contact Form 7, WPForms, Forminator, and Elementor Forms.

Lite vs Pro
Compare Lite with StepraEngine Pro features directly from the Upgrade page.
== Changelog ==

= 1.2.0 =

* Expanded WooCommerce Lite to use flexible checkout steps while the existing three-step Lite limit remains specific to regular form-builder integrations.
* Added flexible WooCommerce checkout step management with add, rename, reorder, remove, and Restore Standard Steps controls.
* Added checkout field organization with support for standard and supported editor-added WooCommerce checkout fields.
* Added domain-safe checkout organization to protect WooCommerce billing and shipping structure.
* Added physical and virtual product checkout handling so the active checkout flow adapts to WooCommerce shipping requirements.
* Added dynamic active-step handling so shipping-only steps can hide and return with WooCommerce shipping state while preserving the saved checkout structure.
* Improved checkout navigation, active-step calculation, validation recovery, and final-step handling.
* Added Side-by-Side, Stacked, and Theme checkout presentation layouts.
* Added Lite presentation controls for Stepra Style, step shadow, progress colors, navigation labels, and basic button styling.
* Improved Bar and Numbered progress presentation for WooCommerce checkout.
* Improved responsive checkout presentation across desktop, tablet, and mobile layouts.
* Added and improved Elementor WooCommerce Checkout compatibility for supported one-column and two-column layouts.
* Improved WooCommerce Payment and Your Order presentation on the final checkout stage.
* Improved Returning Customer and coupon interactions while preserving WooCommerce-owned forms and handlers.
* Updated the StepraEngine Lite admin to make WooCommerce checkout the primary product workflow while retaining Contact Form 7, WPForms, Forminator, and Elementor Forms support.
* Updated the Freemius SDK to version 2.13.4.
* Refreshed the Lite-to-Pro Upgrade page with clearer current feature comparison and Pro positioning.

= 1.1.2 =

* Updated the Freemius SDK to the latest maintenance release.
* Improved readme wording for clearer plugin description and form-builder setup guidance.

= 1.1.1 =

* Improved Lite upgrade flow to connect users with the StepraEngine Pro checkout.
* Refined upgrade screen messaging and pricing presentation.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.2.0 =

Adds the new WooCommerce-first multi-step checkout experience with flexible checkout steps, field organization, physical and virtual product handling, responsive layouts, validation, presentation controls, and refreshed Lite admin.
