=== Website Guy Order Messaging for WooCommerce ===
Contributors: gwame
Tags: woocommerce, order messaging, support tickets, customer support, helpdesk
Requires at least: 6.0
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 0.2.1
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Add two-way customer and staff messaging directly to WooCommerce orders.

== Description ==

Order Messaging for WooCommerce by Website Guy gives your customers a simple way to contact you about a specific order, while keeping every conversation organised inside WooCommerce.

Customers can start a conversation directly from **My Account → Orders**, while staff reply from the WooCommerce order screen. Every message stays attached to the order, making it easy to track delivery questions, order changes and post-purchase support.

Instead of juggling emails, support tickets and phone calls, all communication remains linked to the order it relates to. Notification emails simply alert customers that there's a new message and direct them back to their account to continue the conversation, ensuring everything stays organised in one place.

This plugin is ideal for stores that want a lightweight alternative to a full helpdesk for order-related customer support. It solves a common problem without introducing another platform for your staff or customers to learn.

Built from real-world experience managing a busy retail and ecommerce operation, this plugin focuses on solving genuine day-to-day pain points with a clean, familiar WooCommerce experience.

== Why you'll love it ==

* Keep every customer conversation attached to the correct WooCommerce order.
* Reduce support emails and avoid losing important information across inboxes.
* Give customers an easy way to request help directly from their order history.
* Let staff reply without leaving the WooCommerce order screen.
* No separate helpdesk or complicated ticketing platform required.
* Lightweight, familiar and easy to configure in just a few minutes.

== Features ==

* Add a "Message" button to eligible customer orders.
* Order-specific conversation threads for logged-in customers.
* Reply directly from the WooCommerce order edit screen.
* Automatic email notifications for customers and staff.
* Configurable notification sender name and email address.
* Optional support links in WooCommerce customer emails.
* Optional support links on WP Overnight PDF invoices.
* Settings page for notification, email and support link options.
* Uses WooCommerce customer-visible order notes for maximum compatibility.
* Lightweight and easy to configure.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin ZIP via **Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin**, or copy the plugin folder into `/wp-content/plugins/`.
2. Activate the plugin.
3. Go to **WooCommerce → Order Messaging** to configure your settings.
4. If the customer messaging page does not open correctly, visit **Settings → Permalinks** and click **Save Changes** once.

Messaging will automatically become available for eligible logged-in customer orders.

== Usage ==

**Customers**

1. Log in and open **My Account → Orders**.
2. Click **Message** beside an order.
3. View previous messages and send new ones.

**Staff**

1. Go to **WooCommerce → Orders**.
2. Open the relevant order.
3. Reply using the **Order Messaging** panel.

**Optional support links**

1. Go to **WooCommerce → Order Messaging**.
2. Enable or disable support links in customer emails and PDF invoices.
3. Customise the support heading and link text if required.

== FAQ ==

= Does this work for guest orders? =

No. This version is designed for logged-in customers using the WooCommerce My Account area.

= Does it replace WooCommerce order notes? =

No. Messages are stored using WooCommerce customer-visible order notes, providing excellent compatibility while presenting them in a cleaner conversation interface.

= Can staff reply from the order screen? =

Yes. A dedicated Order Messaging panel is added to the WooCommerce order edit screen.

= Can I notify multiple staff email addresses? =

Yes. Simply enter multiple email addresses, separated by commas, in the plugin settings.

= Can customers reply directly to notification emails? =

No. Notification emails direct customers back to their account so the full conversation remains attached to the order.

= Can I customise the sender email address? =

Yes. You can configure both the sender name and sender email address. Using an email address from your own domain (for example, [support@yourstore.com](mailto:support@yourstore.com)) is recommended.

= Does the PDF invoice support link require another plugin? =

Yes. This feature integrates with **PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce** by WP Overnight.

== Changelog ==

= 0.2.1 =

* Added WordPress tested-up-to metadata for WordPress 7.0 compatibility.
* Updated stable tag for the compatibility release.

= 0.2.0 =

* Renamed plugin to Website Guy Order Messaging for WooCommerce.
* Updated text domain to websiteguy-order-messaging.
* Added optional support links to WooCommerce customer emails.
* Added optional support links to WP Overnight PDF invoices.
* Added settings to customise support links.
* Added WooCommerce plugin dependency header.

= 0.1.1 =

* Added configurable notification sender name and email address.
* Improved email headers and reply handling.
* Clarified notification-only email behaviour.

= 0.1.0 =

* Initial release.
