=== WP Alerts Bars ===
Contributors: shuvo66
Tags: alert bar, notification bar, announcement bar, notice bar, sticky bar
Requires at least: 5.6
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.2
Stable tag: 2.0.0
License: GPL v2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Create unlimited announcement / alert bars with page targeting, scheduling, and a dismiss-and-remember option. No code required.

== Description ==

WP Alerts Bars lets you add eye-catching notification bars to your WordPress site in minutes — no shortcodes to memorize, no coding needed. Manage every bar from a simple admin screen, the same way you manage posts and pages.

**Free features:**

* Create unlimited alert bars
* Manage bars from a dedicated admin screen (add, edit, publish/draft, trash)
* Custom background and text color per bar, with a live preview
* Show bars at the top or bottom of the screen (fixed position)
* Target a bar to the entire site, homepage only, or specific pages/posts
* Show/hide per device (desktop only, mobile only, or both)
* Optional close button with "remember dismissal" cookie (choose how many days)
* Optional scheduling — show a bar only between two dates
* Entrance animation (slide or fade) or none
* Lightweight — no jQuery/Bootstrap dependency on the front end
* Backward compatible with the old `[wab_bars type="primary"]Message[/wab_bars]` shortcode

**Looking for more?** Countdown timers, email capture, WooCommerce cart bars, user-role and geo targeting, and click analytics are planned for WP Alerts Bars Pro.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin files to `/wp-content/plugins/wp-alerts-bars`, or install directly through the WordPress plugins screen.
2. Activate the plugin through the "Plugins" screen in WordPress.
3. Go to the new "Alert Bars" menu in your admin sidebar and click "Add New Bar".
4. Set your message, colors, position, and display rules, then Publish.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= How many bars can I create? =
Unlimited. Each bar is managed like a normal post — draft it to hide it, publish it to show it.

= Will this slow down my site? =
No. The plugin loads one small CSS file and one small JS file, with no external framework dependencies.

= Can I show different bars on different pages? =
Yes — each bar has its own display rule: entire site, homepage only, or a list of specific pages/posts you choose.

= Does the close button remember that a visitor dismissed the bar? =
Yes, if you enable "Dismissible" on that bar. It sets a cookie for the number of days you choose (0 = show again every visit).

= I used the old `[wab_bars]` shortcode in version 1.x — will it still work? =
Yes, the shortcode still works for backward compatibility, though we recommend switching to the new Alert Bars admin screen for full control over targeting and scheduling.

== Screenshots ==

1. Add New Bar screen with style, display rule, and dismiss/schedule settings
2. Example bar shown at the top of a page
3. Alert Bars list screen showing multiple bars at a glance

== Changelog ==

= 2.0.0 =
* Complete rebuild: new admin screen for managing unlimited bars (no more shortcode-only workflow)
* Added page/post targeting, homepage-only option, and device targeting
* Added dismiss-and-remember (cookie-based) close button
* Added scheduling (start/end date)
* Added slide/fade entrance animations
* Removed Bootstrap dependency; replaced with a lightweight custom stylesheet
* Added a Settings screen with an uninstall data option
* Kept the legacy `[wab_bars]` shortcode for backward compatibility

= 1.1.0 =
* Initial shortcode-based release

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 2.0.0 =
Major rebuild with a new admin interface, page targeting, scheduling, and dismiss options. Your old `[wab_bars]` shortcodes will keep working, but we recommend creating bars from the new "Alert Bars" menu instead.
