user-submitted-posts / readme.txt

readme.txt in User Submitted Posts – Enable Users to Submit Posts from the Front End 20260110, at readme.txt

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1	=== User Submitted Posts – Enable Users to Submit Posts from the Front End ===
2
3	Plugin Name: User Submitted Posts
4	Plugin URI: https://perishablepress.com/user-submitted-posts/
5	Description: Enables your visitors to submit posts and images from anywhere on your site.
6	Tags: frontend post, submit post, guest post, visitor post, public post
7	Author: Jeff Starr
8	Author URI: https://plugin-planet.com/
9	Donate link: https://monzillamedia.com/donate.html
10	Contributors: specialk
11	Requires at least: 4.7
12	Tested up to: 6.9
13	Stable tag: 20260110
14	Version: 20260110
15	Requires PHP: 5.6.20
16	Text Domain: usp
17	Domain Path: /languages
18	License: GPL v2 or later
19
20	Enable visitors to submit posts and images from the front-end of your site. Many features including anti-spam security, content restriction, and more.
21
22
23
24	== Description ==
25
26	🏆 The #1 Plugin for User-Generated Content!
27
28	Enable visitors to submit posts from the front end of your site.
29
30	User Submitted Posts (USP) provides a front-end form that enables visitors to submit posts and upload images. Just add the following shortcode to any Post, Page, or Widget:
31
32	[user-submitted-posts]
33
34	That's all there is to it! Your site now can accept user generated content. Everything is super easy to customize via Plugin Settings page.
35
36	The post-submission form may include any/all of the following fields:
37
38	* Name
39	* Email
40	* URL
41	* Post Title
42	* Post Tags
43	* Post Category
44	* Post Content
45	* Custom Field 1
46	* Custom Field 2
47	* Custom Checkbox
48	* Challenge Question
49	* Google reCAPTCHA (v2 or v3)
50	* Post Images
51	* Agree to Terms
52
53	Each of these fields may be set as required, optional, or disabled. You can set the Post Status of submitted posts as "Pending", "Draft", "Publish Immediately", or publish after a specific number of approved posts.
54
55	USP enables users to upload any number of images when submitting a post. You can customize the min/max width, height, and number of submitted images.
56
57	USP also includes a Login/Register Form, and three shortcodes to control access and restrict content (more information below).
58
59
60	🚀 User Submitted Posts is the first and best plugin for front-end content!
61
62
63	### ✨ Core Features ###
64
65	* Includes a fast & secure post-submission form
66	* Includes a simple login/register/password form
67	* Display forms anywhere via shortcode or template tag
68	* Includes shortcode to display a list of submitted posts
69	* Includes shortcodes to control access and restrict content
70	* Includes template tags to display submitted post content
71	* Includes configurable Custom Field for the post-submit form
72	* You choose which fields to display on the post-submit form
73	* Automatically display all submitted content on the front end
74	* Display post-submit & login forms via Text or HTML widgets
75	* Receive email notification alerts for submitted posts
76	* Image preview thumbnails for selected images
77	* NEW: front-end post deletion (via email link)
78
79	Boost your site value with user-generated content!
80
81
82	### ✨ Form Features ###
83
84	* Google reCAPTCHA: v2 ("I am not a bot") or v3 (hidden recaptcha)
85	* Built-in client-side form validation with [Parsley](https://parsleyjs.org/)
86	* Stops spam via input validation, captcha, and hidden field
87	* Use either Challenge Question, Google reCAPTCHA, or both!
88	* Option to set submitted images as WP Featured Images
89	* Option to require users to be logged in to use the form
90	* Option to use WP's Rich Text Editor (RTE) for post content
91	* Redirect user to any URL or current page after submission
92	* Use the default HTML5 form or customize your own form
93	* Use the default form styles or add your own custom CSS
94	* Form fields may be set as optional or required
95	* Many action & filter hooks for advanced customization
96
97	USP is simple to use and built with clean, secure code via the WP API!
98
99
100	### ✨ More Features ###
101
102	* Translated into 20+ languages
103	* Automatically detects logged-in users
104	* Regularly updated to stay current with WordPress
105	* Multiple emails supported in email alerts
106	* Option to set a default post category
107	* Option to disable loading of form JavaScript & CSS
108	* Option to specify URL for targeted resource loading
109	* Option to disable tracking of IP addresses
110	* Option to specify custom email alert subject
111	* Option to specify custom email alert message
112	* Option to submit posts as WP Posts or Pages
113	* Choose which categories users are allowed to select
114	* Assign submitted posts to any registered user
115	* Customizable success, error, and upload messages
116	* Works with or without Gutenberg Block Editor
117
118	USP provides many options to help you create the perfect form!
119
120
121	### ✨ Content Restriction ###
122
123	USP provides three "Access Control" shortcodes to control access and restrict content. Here are some examples to give you an idea of how it works.
124
125	Display form and/or content only to users with a specific capability:
126
127	[usp_access cap="read" deny="Message for users without read capability"]
128	[user-submitted-posts] // Put the USP form or any other content here.
129	[/usp_access]
130
131	Display form and/or any content to logged-in users:
132
133	[usp_member deny="Message for users who are not logged in"]
134	[user-submitted-posts] // Put the USP form or any other content here.
135	[/usp_member]
136
137	Display form and/or any content to visitors only:
138
139	[usp_visitor deny="Message for users who are logged in"]
140	[user-submitted-posts] // Put the USP form or any other content here.
141	[/usp_visitor]
142
143	You can add and use Access Control shortcodes on any WP Post or Page. Tip: you can find this information (and more) in the plugin settings, under "Display the Form" > "Access Control".
144
145
146	### ✨ Image Uploads ###
147
148	* Optionally enable visitors to upload any number of images
149	* Specify minimum & maximum allowed images for each post
150	* Specify minimum & maximum width & height for images
151	* Automatically set submitted images as Featured Images
152	* Automatically display submitted images on the front end
153	* Includes template tags to display submitted images
154	* Includes shortcodes to display submitted images
155
156
157	### ✨ Post Management ###
158
159	* Custom Fields saved w/ each post: name, IP, URL, and image URLs
160	* Set posts to any status: Draft, Pending, Publish, or Moderate
161	* One-click filtering of submitted posts on the Admin Posts page
162
163	Plus much more! Too many features to list them all!
164
165
166	### ✨ Translations ###
167
168	User Submitted Posts supports translation into any language. Current translations include the following languages:
169
170	Arabic - usp-ar
171	Bengali - usp-bn_BD
172	Chinese (Simplified) - usp-zh_CN
173	Chinese (Traditional) - usp-zh_TW
174	Czech - usp-cs_CZ
175	Dutch - usp-nl_NL
176	French (France) - usp-fr_FR
177	German - usp-de_DE
178	Greek - usp-el
179	Hebrew - usp-he_IL
180	Hindi - usp-hi_IN
181	Irish - usp-ga
182	Italian - usp-it_IT
183	Japanese - usp-ja
184	Korean - usp-ko_KR
185	Norwegian - usp-no
186	Panjabi - usp-pa_IN
187	Persian - usp-fa_IR
188	Polish - usp-pl_PL
189	Portuguese (Brazil) - usp-pt_BR
190	Portuguese (Portugal) - usp-pt_PT
191	Romanian - usp-ro_RO
192	Russian - usp-ru_RU
193	Serbian - usp-sr_RS
194	Slovenian - usp-sl_SI
195	Spanish (Spain) - usp-es_ES
196	Swedish - usp-sv_SE
197	Turkish - usp-tr_TR
198	Urdu - usp-ur
199
200	__Note:__ most of the default translations are made via Google Translate. So they are automated and may be a little rough. Feel free to make your own translation as desired. Need a translation into your language? [Let me know!](https://plugin-planet.com/support/#contact)
201
202
203	### ✨ Pro Version ###
204
205	__USP Pro__ now available at [Plugin Planet](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro/)!
206
207	Pro version includes many more features and settings, with unlimited custom forms, infinite custom fields, multimedia file uploads, and much more. Pro features include:
208
209	* Unlimited forms
210	* Post-Submit forms
211	* User-registration forms
212	* Contact forms
213	* COMBO forms (e.g., forms that submit posts AND register users)
214	* Unlimited form fields
215	* Unlimited custom fields
216	* Ready-to-go demo forms
217	* All field types, including textarea, checkboxes, radio, select, file(s), plus input types like text, password, url, search, email, month, time, color, date, range, number, and more
218	* Add your own custom script and style
219	* Supports unlimited Custom Post Types
220	* Supports custom taxonomy fields
221	* Supports Post Formats
222	* Supports Custom Post Status
223	* Custom email alerts for each form
224	* Advanced shortcodes
225	* Advanced template tags
226	* Unlimited file uploads
227	* Custom error messages
228	* Custom redirects
229	* Fine-grain user access control
230	* Built-in user statistics
231	* Advanced shortcode to display submitted posts on front end
232	* Free extensions to add more functionality
233	* Advanced security features
234
235	..plus everything the free version can do and more!
236
237	👉🏻 Learn more and [get USP Pro »](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro/)
238
239
240	### ✨ Privacy ###
241
242	__User Data:__ This plugin enables users to submit post content. It collects data _only_ from users who voluntarily submit content via the USP form. The only involuntary data that is collected is the IP address of the person submitting the form. The plugin provides an option to disable IP collection completely.
243
244	__Cookies:__ This plugin uses simple cookies to enable dynamic form functionality. No cookies are used for any other purpose.
245
246	__Services:__ This plugin provides an option to enable Google reCaptcha, which is provided by Google as a third-party service. For details on privacy and more, please refer to official documentation for [Google reCaptcha](https://developers.google.com/recaptcha/). No other outside services or locations are accessed/used by this plugin.
247
248
249	### ✨ Developer ###
250
251	User Submitted Posts is developed and maintained by [Jeff Starr](https://x.com/perishable), 15-year [WordPress developer](https://plugin-planet.com/) and [book author](https://books.perishablepress.com/).
252
253
254
255	== Installation ==
256
257	### How to install the plugin ###
258
259	1. Upload the plugin to your blog and activate
260	2. Configure your options via the plugin settings
261	3. Display the form via shortcode or template tag
262
263	[More info on installing WP plugins](https://wordpress.org/support/article/managing-plugins/#installing-plugins)
264
265
266	### How to use the plugin ###
267
268	To display the form on any WP Post, Page, or widget, add the shortcode:
269
270	[user-submitted-posts]
271
272	Or, to display the form anywhere in your theme, add the template tag:
273
274	<?php if (function_exists('user_submitted_posts')) user_submitted_posts(); ?>
275
276
277	### Customizing the form ###
278
279	There are three main ways of customizing the form:
280
281	* Plugin settings, you can show/hide fields, configure options, etc.
282	* Custom form template (see "Custom Submission Form" for more info)
283	* By using USP action/filter hooks (advanced)
284
285	USP Hooks:
286
287	`Filters:
288	usp_post_status
289	usp_post_author
290	usp_form_shortcode
291	usp_mail_subject
292	usp_mail_message
293	usp_new_post
294	usp_input_validate
295	usp_require_login
296	usp_default_title
297
298	Actions:
299	usp_submit_success
300	usp_submit_error
301	usp_insert_before
302	usp_insert_after
303	usp_files_before
304	usp_files_after`
305
306	Check out the [complete list of action hooks for User Submitted Posts](https://perishablepress.com/action-filter-hooks-user-submitted-posts/)
307
308	More info about [WordPress Actions and Filters](https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API#Hooks.2C_Actions_and_Filters)
309
310
311	### Custom Submission Form ###
312
313	Out of the box, User Submitted Posts provides a highly configurable submission form. Simply visit the plugin settings to control which fields are displayed, set the Challenge Question, configure submitted images, and much more.
314
315	There are situations, however, where advanced form configuration may be required. In order to allow for this, USP makes it possible to create a custom submission form. Here are the steps:
316
317	First, copy these two plugin files:
318
319	/user-submitted-posts/resources/usp.css
320	/user-submitted-posts/views/submission-form.php
321
322	Then, paste those two files into a directory named `/usp/` in your theme:
323
324	/wp-content/themes/your-theme/usp/usp.css
325	/wp-content/themes/your-theme/usp/submission-form.php
326
327	Lastly, visit the plugin settings and change "Form style" to "Custom Form + CSS". You now may customize the two files as desired; they will not be overwritten when the plugin is updated. For help with making basic changes to the custom form, check out the [USP FAQs](https://perishablepress.com/faqs-user-submitted-posts/#customize-form) at Perishable Press.
328
329	Alternately, you can set the option "Form style" to "HTML5 Form + Disable CSS" to use the default USP form along with your own CSS. FYI: here is a list of [USP CSS selectors](https://m0n.co/e).
330
331	Or, to go further with unlimited custom forms, [check out USP Pro](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro/) :)
332
333
334	### Displaying submitted posts ###
335
336	User-submitted posts are handled by WordPress as regular WP Posts. So they are displayed along with your other posts according to your theme design. Additionally, each submitted post includes a set of Custom Fields that include the following information:
337
338	* `is_submission` - indicates that the post is a user-submitted post
339	* `user_submit_image` - the URL of the submitted image (one custom field per image)
340	* `user_submit_ip` - the IP address of the submitted-post author
341	* `user_submit_name` - the name of the submitted-post author
342	* `user_submit_url` - the submitted URL
343	* `usp_custom_field` - configurable Custom Field
344
345	There are numerous ways to display these Custom Fields. The easiest way is to visit the plugin settings and configure the options available under "Auto-Display Content". There you can enable auto-display of submitted email address, URL, and images. Note that submitted images also are uploaded to the WP Media Library.
346
347	For more flexibility, you can use a variety of WP Template Tags (e.g., [get_post_meta()](https://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_post_meta)) to display Custom Fields. Here are some tutorials for more information:
348
349	* [WordPress Custom Fields, Part I: The Basics](https://perishablepress.com/wordpress-custom-fields-tutorial/)
350	* [WordPress Custom Fields, Part II: Tips and Tricks](https://perishablepress.com/wordpress-custom-fields-tips-tricks/)
351
352	And here are some tutorials that may help with custom display of submitted images:
353
354	* [Display all images attached to post](https://wp-mix.com/display-images-attached-post/)
355	* [Display images with links](https://wp-mix.com/display-images-with-user-submitted-posts/)
356
357	Also, here is a [Helper Plugin to display Custom Fields](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro-custom-field-helper-plugin/). It originally is designed for use with USP Pro, but also works great with the free version of USP.
358
359
360	### Auto Display Images ###
361
362	To automatically display submitted images on the front end, visit the plugin settings, "Images Auto-Display" and select whether to display the images before or after post content. Save changes.
363
364
365	### Featured Images ###
366
367	To set submitted images as Featured Images (aka Post Thumbnails) for submitted posts, visit the plugin settings, "Image Uploads" and check the box to enable "Featured Image". Save changes.
368
369
370	### Shortcodes ###
371
372	User Submitted Posts provides a set of useful shortcodes. Check out the "Display the Form" panel in the plugin settings for examples and more information.
373
374	[user-submitted-posts] : displays the form on any Post or Page
375	[usp-login-form] : displays a login/register/password form
376	[usp_display_posts] : displays list of all submitted posts
377	[usp_gallery] : displays a gallery of all submitted images for the current post
378	[usp-reset-button url="https://example.com/"] : displays a button to reset the form
379	[usp_access cap="read" deny=""][/usp_access] : limits access to specific user capability
380	[usp_visitor deny=""][/usp_visitor] : limits access to visitors (not logged in) only
381	[usp_member deny=""][/usp_member] : limits access to logged-in users
382
383
384	Here is more info about these shortcodes:
385
386	__`[user-submitted-posts]`__
387
388	Displays the post-submit form. This shortcode does not accept any attributes.
389
390
391	__`[usp-login-form]`__
392
393	Displays the login/register/password form. This shortcode does not accept any attributes.
394
395	To add Google reCaptcha to the form, you can use any good reCaptcha plugin. Here are a few examples:
396
397	* [reCAPTCHA Lite](https://wordpress.org/plugins/recaptcha-lite/)
398	* [Smart Captcha (reCAPTCHA)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/smart-recaptcha/)
399	* [reCaptcha by BestWebSoft](https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-captcha/)
400
401	These are not endorsements for these plugins. They have been tested and work with the USP login/register/password form.
402
403
404	__`[usp_display_posts]`__
405
406	Displays a list of all submitted posts. This shortcode accepts two optional attributes, "userid" and "numposts". Examples:
407
408	[usp_display_posts] : default displays all submitted posts by all authors
409	[usp_display_posts userid="current"] : displays all submitted posts by current logged-in user
410	[usp_display_posts userid="1"] : displays all submitted posts by registered user with ID = 1
411	[usp_display_posts userid="Pat Smith"] : displays all submitted posts by author name "Pat Smith"
412	[usp_display_posts userid="all"] : displays all submitted posts by all users/authors
413	[usp_display_posts userid="all" numposts="5"] : limit to 5 posts from all users
414	[usp_display_posts post_type="page"] : display only submitted pages
415
416	So the shortcode attributes can be used to customize the post list as desired. Note that the Pro version of USP provides many more options for the [display-posts shortcode](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro-display-list-submitted-posts/).
417
418
419	__`[usp_gallery]`__
420
421	__Note:__ This shortcode works only when added to a submitted post. It does nothing when added anywhere else.
422
423	Displays a gallery of all submitted images for the current post. Customize via the following attributes:
424
425	size = image size as thumbnail, medium, large or full -> default = thumbnail
426	format = whether to make the image a linked image -> default = image (can use image or image_link)
427	target = whether to open linked image in new tab -> default = blank (can use blank or self)
428	class = optional custom class name(s) -> default = none
429	number = the number of images to display for each post -> default = 100
430	post_id = an optional post ID to use -> default = false (uses global/current post)
431
432	Check out the source code inline notes for more info
433
434
435	__`[usp-reset-button]`__
436
437	Displays a button to reset the form. Accepts the following attributes:
438
439	class = classes for the parent element (optional, default: none)
440	value = link text (optional, default: "Reset form")
441	url = the URL where your form is displayed (required, default: none)
442	custom = any attributes or custom code for the link element (optional, default: none)
443
444	Note that the `url` attribute accepts `%%current%%` for the current URL (useful when the form is displayed in the sidebar).
445
446
447	__`[usp_access]`__
448
449	Limits access to specific user capability. Example:
450
451	[usp_access cap="read"]
452	Content for users that have "read" access
453	[/usp_access]
454
455	The `cap` attribute specifies the required capability or capabilities (comma-separated). This shortcode also accepts an optional `deny` attribute. The `deny` attribute displays a message to users who are denied access. Tip: to include markup in the deny message, you can use `{tag}` to display `<tag>`. Check out the "Display the Form" panel in the plugin settings for examples and more info.
456
457
458	__`[usp_visitor]`__
459
460	Limits access to visitors (not logged in) only. Example:
461
462	[usp_visitor]
463	Content for for users who are not logged in
464	[/usp_visitor]
465
466	This shortcode accepts an optional `deny` attribute. The `deny` attribute displays a message to users who are denied access. Tip: to include markup in the deny message, you can use `{tag}` to display `<tag>`. Check out the "Display the Form" panel in the plugin settings for examples and more info.
467
468
469	__`[usp_member]`__
470
471	Limits access to logged-in users. Example:
472
473	[usp_member]
474	Content for for users who are logged in
475	[/usp_member]
476
477	This shortcode accepts an optional `deny` attribute. The `deny` attribute displays a message to users who are denied access. Tip: to include markup in the deny message, you can use `{tag}` to display `<tag>`. Check out the "Display the Form" panel in the plugin settings for examples and more info.
478
479
480	### Template tags ###
481
482	User Submitted Posts provides a set of useful template tags:
483
484	/*
485	Display the Post-Submission Form
486	Usage: <?php if (function_exists('user_submitted_posts')) user_submitted_posts(); ?>
487	*/
488
489	user_submitted_posts()
490
491
492	/*
493	Display the Login/Register/Password Form
494	Usage: <?php if (function_exists('usp_login_form')) usp_login_form(); ?>
495	*/
496
497	usp_login_form()
498
499
500	/*
501	Display a configurable list of submitted posts
502	Usage: <?php if (function_exists('usp_display_posts')) echo usp_display_posts(array('userid' => 'all', 'numposts' => -1)); ?>
503	*/
504
505	usp_display_posts()
506
507
508	/*
509	Check if post is a submitted post
510	Returns true or false
511	Usage: <?php if (usp_is_public_submission()) return true; ?>
512	*/
513
514	usp_is_public_submission()
515
516
517	/*
518	Get all image URLs
519	Returns an array of image URLs that are attached to the current submitted post
520	Usage: <?php $images = usp_get_post_images(); foreach ($images as $image) echo $image; ?>
521	*/
522
523	usp_get_post_images()
524
525
526	/*
527	Display all images
528	Outputs a set of <img> tags for images attached to the current submitted post
529	Usage: <?php usp_post_attachments($size, $beforeUrl, $afterUrl, $numberImages, $postId); ?>
530	Parameters:
531	$size = image size: thumbnail, medium, large or full -> default = full
532	$beforeUrl = text/markup displayed before each image URL -> default = <img src="
533	$afterUrl = text/markup displayed after each image URL -> default = " />
534	$numberImages = number of images to display for each post -> default = false (display all)
535	$postId = an optional post ID to use -> default = uses global post
536	*/
537
538	usp_post_attachments()
539
540
541	/*
542	Display submitted author name and URL
543	This tag displays one of the following:
544	- The author's submitted name as a link (if both 'User Name' and 'User URL' fields are included in the form)
545	- The author's submitted name as plain text (if 'User Name' is included in the form, but 'User URL' is not included)
546	- The author's registered username as a link to the author's post archive (if 'User Name' is not included in the form)
547
548	Usage: <?php usp_author_link(); ?>
549	*/
550
551	usp_author_link()
552
553
554	/*
555	Get an array of image URLs, wrapped in optional HTML
556	Syntax: <?php if (function_exists('usp_get_images')) $images = usp_get_images($size, $format, $target, $class, $number, $post_id); ?>
557	Usage: <?php if (function_exists('usp_get_images')) $images = usp_get_images(); foreach ($images as $image) echo $image; ?>
558	Parameters:
559	$size = image size as thumbnail, medium, large or full -> default = thumbnail
560	$format = whether to make the image a linked image -> default = image (can use image or image_link)
561	$target = whether to open linked image in new tab -> default = blank (can use blank or self)
562	$class = optional custom class name(s) -> default = none
563	$number = the number of images to display for each post -> default = 100
564	$post_id = an optional post ID to use -> default = false (uses global/current post)
565
566	Check out the source code inline notes for more info
567	*/
568
569	usp_get_images()
570
571
572	These template tags should work out of the box when included in your theme template file(s). Keep in mind that for some of the tags to work, there must be some existing submitted posts and/or images available.
573
574	The source code for these tags is located in `/library/template-tags.php` and `shortcode-login.php`.
575
576
577	### Upgrades ###
578
579	To upgrade User Submitted Posts, remove the old version and replace with the new version. Or just click "Update" from the Plugins screen and let WordPress do it for you automatically.
580
581	__Important!__ The `/custom/` directory is deprecated. If you are using a custom form template, please move it to `/wp-content/your-theme/usp/`. For more information, check out the "Custom Submission Form" section under [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/user-submitted-posts/#installation).
582
583	__Note:__ uninstalling the plugin from the WP Plugins screen results in the removal of all settings from the WP database. Submitted posts are NOT removed if you deactivate the plugin, reset default options, or uninstall the plugins; that is, all submitted posts must be removed manually.
584
585
586	### Restore Default Options ###
587
588	To restore default plugin options, either uninstall/reinstall the plugin, or visit the plugin settings > Restore Default Options.
589
590
591	### Uninstalling ###
592
593	This plugin cleans up after itself. All plugin settings will be removed from the WordPress database when the plugin is uninstalled via the Plugins screen.
594
595	__Note:__ This plugin never deletes any posts. When uninstalled or reset, the plugin removes/restores the settings only. _All submitted posts and related meta data must be removed manually_.
596
597
598	### Pro Version ###
599
600	Pro version of USP now available! USP Pro includes many more awesome features and settings, with unlimited custom forms, infinite custom fields, multimedia file uploads, and much, much more.
601
602	* [Check out USP Pro for virtually limitless form-building action »](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro/)
603	* [Read what users are saying about USP Pro »](https://plugin-planet.com/testimonials/)
604
605
606	### Like the plugin? ###
607
608	If you like USP, please take a moment to [give a 5-star rating](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/user-submitted-posts/reviews/?rate=5#new-post). It helps to keep development and support going strong. Thank you!
609
610
611
612	== Upgrade Notice ==
613
614	Visit the WordPress Plugins screen, locate the plugin, and click "Update" :)
615
616	__Note:__ Deleting this plugin via the WordPress Plugins screen will remove all of its settings from the WordPress database. Submitted posts are NOT removed if you deactivate the plugin, reset default options, or uninstall the plugin. All submitted posts (and any attached meta data) must be removed manually.
617
618
619
620	== Screenshots ==
621
622	1. USP Settings Screen (panels toggled closed)
623	2. USP Plugin Settings, showing default options (panels toggle open/closed)
624	3. USP Form (with all fields enabled)
625	4. USP Form (with just a few fields enabled)
626	5. Example showing how to display the form on a Page (using a shortcode)
627
628	More screenshots and infos available at the [USP Homepage](https://perishablepress.com/user-submitted-posts/)
629
630
631
632	== Frequently Asked Questions ==
633
634	Can you add this feature or that feature?
635
636	Please check the [Pro version of USP](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro/), which includes many of the most commonly requested features from users. The free version also may include new features in future updates.
637
638
639	Images are not uploaded or displaying
640
641	If everything is configured properly, USP will display submitted images on the front-end. If that is not happening, here are some things to check:
642
643	* Make sure that the setting "Images Auto-Display" is enabled
644	* And/or make sure that the setting "Featured Image" is enabled
645	* And/or make sure that your theme is set up to display submitted images
646
647	Assuming that everything is set up to display submitted images, here are some further things to check:
648
649	* Is there any error message when trying to submit an image?
650	* Check that the submitted images are uploaded to the Media Library
651	* Check that the URL of the submitted image is attached to the submitted post as a Custom Field (on Edit Post screen)
652	* Check the permission settings on the upload folder(s) by ensuring that you can successfully upload image files directly via the Media Uploader
653	* Double-check that all the "Image Uploads" settings make sense, and that the images being uploaded meet the specified requirements
654
655	Note: when changing permissions on files and folders, it is important to use the least-restrictive settings possible. If you have to use more permissive settings, it is important to secure the directory against malicious activity. For more information check out: [Secure Media Uploads](https://digwp.com/2012/09/secure-media-uploads/)
656
657
658	How to set submitted image as the featured image?
659
660	Here are the steps:
661
662	1. Visit USP settings > Options panel > Image Uploads > Featured Image
663	2. Check the box and click "Save Settings" to save your changes
664
665	Note that this setting merely assigns the submitted image as the Featured Image; it's up to your theme's single.php file to include `the_post_thumbnail()` to display the Featured Images. If your theme is not so equipped, [check out this tutorial at WP-Mix](https://wp-mix.com/set-attachment-featured-image/).
666
667
668	How to require login?
669
670	Visit the plugin settings and enable the option to "Require User Login". That will display the submission form only to logged-in users. To go further and require login for other types of content, there are many techniques available to you. For more information check out my WP-Mix post, [WordPress Require User Login](https://wp-mix.com/wordpress-require-user-login/), which provides a good summary of the possibilities. Also note: [USP Pro includes built-in shortcodes](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro-display-form-logged-in-users/) to display forms and other content to registered/logged-in users and/or guests/logged-out users.
671
672
673	How do I change the appearance of the submission form?
674
675	The easiest way to customize the form is via the plugin settings. There you can choose one of the following form configurations:
676
677	* HTML5 Form + Default CSS (Recommended)
678	* HTML5 Form + Disable CSS (Provide your own styles)
679	* Custom Form + Custom CSS (Provide your own form template & styles)
680
681	Additionally, you can configure the settings to show/hide specific fields, control the number and size of submitted images, customize the Challenge Question, and much more.
682
683	To go beyond what's possible with the plugin settings, USP enables creation of a custom submission form. To learn how, check out the "Custom Submission Form" section under [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/user-submitted-posts/installation/). And for advanced customization, developers can use [USP action and filter hooks](https://perishablepress.com/action-filter-hooks-user-submitted-posts/).
684
685	Or, to go further with unlimited custom forms, [check out USP Pro](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro/) :)
686
687
688	What is the "alternate" form?
689
690	Inside of the `/views/` directory, you will find an alternate form template named `submission-form-alt.php`. This template is identical to that used for the default form, with the exception that it returns the post-submit form in addition to the success message. You can use the alternate form template by following the steps provided via the "Custom Submission Form" section of the plugin documentation/readme.
691
692
693	What about security and spam?
694
695	User Submitted Posts uses the WordPress API to keep everything secure, fast, and flexible. The plugin also features Google reCAPTCHA, Challenge Question, and hidden anti-spam field to stop automated spam and bad bots.
696
697
698	Can I include video?
699
700	The free version of USP supports uploads of images only, but some hosted videos may be included in the submitted content (textarea) by simply including the video URL on its own line. See [this page](https://codex.wordpress.org/Embeds) for more info. Note that [USP Pro](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro/) enables users to [upload video and much more](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro-allowed-file-types/#file-formats).
701
702
703	How do I reset the plugin settings?
704
705	To reset plugin settings to factory defaults:
706
707	1. Visit "Restore Default Options" in the plugin settings
708	2. Check the box and save your changes
709	3. Deactivate the plugin and then reactivate it
710	4. Plugin settings now are restored to defaults
711
712	Restoring default settings does not delete any submitted posts. Even if you completely remove the plugin, the submitted posts will not be deleted. You have to remove them manually, if desired.
713
714
715	How do I enable the "Add Media" button for all users?
716
717	Question: How do I enable the "Add Media" button for all users (even if not registered)?
718
719	Answer: Users must have sufficient capabilities to access the Media Library and the "Add Media" button. This is a security measure aimed at preventing foul play. The Pro version of USP provides an option to [enable Add Media uploads for all user levels](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro-enable-non-admin-users-upload-media/).
720
721
722	Can you explain the setting "Registered Username"?
723
724	When "Registered Username" is enabled:
725
726	* If the user is logged in, their registered username is used as the Post Author
727	* If the user is logged out, the setting "Assigned Author" is used as the Post Author
728
729	When "Registered Username" is disabled:
730
731	* The setting "Assigned Author" always is used as the Post Author for all users (whether logged in or not)
732
733
734	How can I translate this plugin?
735
736	Currently the easiest and most flexible method is to [use GlotPress to translate USP](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/user-submitted-posts). That is the recommended translation route going forward, but for the time being you may also translate using a plugin such as [Loco Translate](https://wordpress.org/plugins/loco-translate/). FYI, USP's translation files are located in the `/languages/` directory.
737
738
739	Why am I not receiving the Email Alerts?
740
741	Normally the plugin sends an Email Alert each time a post is submitted. If that is not happening in your case, you will need to troubleshoot your setup. Here is a guide on [Troubleshooting Email](https://perishablepress.com/email-troubleshooting-guide/) that should help.
742
743
744	How to disable image preview feature?
745
746	To disable the image-preview thumbnail feature, add the following line to the plugin setting, "Custom Content":
747
748	`<script>var usp_disable_previews = true;</script>`
749
750	Save changes and done.
751
752
753	How to disable fancy category/tag select script?
754
755	USP uses the Chosen.js library to enhance the behavior and appearance of the Category and Tag fields. The enhanced fields will be displayed when either/both of the following are true:
756
757	* The option "Multiple Categories" is enabled (for Category field)
758	* The option "Use Existing Tags" is enabled (for Tag field)
759
760	If you want to disable the fancy Chosen script for these fields, you can do so by adding the following code snippet to your WordPress site:
761
762	`<script>var usp_disable_chosen = true;</script>`
763
764	Save changes and done. Also just FYI, here is a guide that explains [how to add custom code to WordPress](https://digwp.com/2022/02/custom-code-wordpress/).
765
766
767	How to change the language for Google reCaptcha?
768
769	By default, the Google reCaptcha field is displayed in English. To change that to some other language, first locate the two-digit abbreviation for your language [here](https://developers.google.com/recaptcha/docs/language). Then add the following code to your theme (or child theme) functions.php, or add via [custom plugin](https://digwp.com/2022/02/custom-code-wordpress/):
770
771	`function usp_recaptcha_querystring($query) { return 'en'; }
772	add_filter('usp_recaptcha_querystring', 'usp_recaptcha_querystring');`
773
774	Notice where it says `en`, that is the two-character language code you want to replace with your own. Then save changes and done.
775
776
777	Where can I check out a demo of the USP form?
778
779	There is a simplified [USP Demo](https://perishablepress.com/wp/wp-content/online/pages/user-submitted-posts-demo.html) at Perishable Press. Note the demo form is non-functional, just there to give you a general idea. The actual form provided by the plugin has more features, functionality, etc.
780
781
782	How to allow blank targets in post content?
783
784	By default, USP removes any `target="_blank"` attributes in submitted post content. This is a recommended security feature. It is possible however to allow blank targets:
785
786	`function usp_content_patterns($array) { return array(); }
787	add_filter('usp_content_patterns', 'usp_content_patterns');`
788
789	That code can be added via theme (or child theme) functions.php, or add via [custom plugin](https://digwp.com/2022/02/custom-code-wordpress/).
790
791
792	How to disable all HTML tags in submitted posts?
793
794	Add the code snippet provided [here](https://perishablepress.com/faqs-user-submitted-posts/#allowed-tags).
795
796
797	How does the remote delete post link work?
798
799	When `%%delete_link%%` is included in your email alert template, a link will be included that the user can click to delete their submitted post. This works when the user who submitted the post is logged in to WordPress. It does not work for users who are not logged in, or are not the post author. For more details and tips, check out the [USP FAQs](https://perishablepress.com/faqs-user-submitted-posts/#delete-post-message) at Perishable Press.
800
801
802	How to remove placeholder text on submission form?
803
804	You can either enable the custom form and modify the output/HTML directly, or you can just add the following to the plugin's "Custom Content" option:
805
806	`<script>jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
807	$('.usp-title label').text('This is the label');
808	$('.usp-title input').attr('placeholder', 'This is the placeholder');
809	});</script>`
810
811	Change the two text strings, "This is the label" and "This is the placeholder" to whatever you would like. Then save changes and done.
812
813
814	More FAQs
815
816	Want to read some more FAQs? Check out the [USP FAQs at Perishable Press](https://perishablepress.com/faqs-user-submitted-posts/)
817
818
819	Questions? Feedback?
820
821	Send any questions or feedback via my [contact form](https://plugin-planet.com/support/#contact). Thanks! :)
822
823
824
825	== ✨ Support Development ==
826
827	I develop and maintain this free plugin with love for the WordPress community. To show support, you can [make a donation](https://monzillamedia.com/donate.html) or purchase one of my books:
828
829	* [The Tao of WordPress](https://wp-tao.com/)
830	* [Digging into WordPress](https://digwp.com/)
831	* [.htaccess made easy](https://htaccessbook.com/)
832	* [WordPress Themes In Depth](https://wp-tao.com/wordpress-themes-book/)
833	* [Wizard's SQL Recipes for WordPress](https://books.perishablepress.com/downloads/wizards-collection-sql-recipes-wordpress/)
834
835	And/or purchase one of my premium WordPress plugins:
836
837	* [BBQ Pro](https://plugin-planet.com/bbq-pro/) - Blazing fast WordPress firewall
838	* [Blackhole Pro](https://plugin-planet.com/blackhole-pro/) - Automatically block bad bots
839	* [Banhammer Pro](https://plugin-planet.com/banhammer-pro/) - Monitor traffic and ban the bad guys
840	* [GA Google Analytics Pro](https://plugin-planet.com/ga-google-analytics-pro/) - Connect WordPress to Google Analytics
841	* [Head Meta Pro](https://plugin-planet.com/head-meta-pro/) - Ultimate Meta Tags for WordPress
842	* [Simple Ajax Chat Pro](https://plugin-planet.com/simple-ajax-chat-pro/) - Unlimited chat rooms
843	* [USP Pro](https://plugin-planet.com/usp-pro/) - Unlimited front-end forms
844
845	Links, tweets and likes also appreciated. Thanks! :)
846
847
848
849	== Changelog ==
850
851	Thank you to everyone who shares feedback for User Submitted Posts!
852
853	If you like USP, please take a moment to [give a 5-star rating](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/user-submitted-posts/reviews/?rate=5#new-post). It helps to keep development and support going strong. Thank you!
854
855
856	20260110
857
858	* Improves sanitization of input fields
859	* Tests on WordPress 6.9
860
861
862	Full changelog @ [https://plugin-planet.com/wp/changelog/user-submitted-posts.txt](https://plugin-planet.com/wp/changelog/user-submitted-posts.txt)
863