{"id":232221,"date":"2025-10-17T20:09:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T20:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/course-tracker\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T21:49:22","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T21:49:22","slug":"course-tracker","status":"publish","type":"plugin","link":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/course-tracker\/","author":11817988,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","version":"1.1.7","stable_tag":"1.1.7","tested":"6.8.5","requires":"5.0","requires_php":"7.0","requires_plugins":null,"header_name":"Course Tracker","header_author":"Erik Z. (Rankbydesign)","header_description":"Tracks user progress for course lessons.","assets_banners_color":"f3dfbc","last_updated":"2025-11-13 21:49:22","external_support_url":"","external_repository_url":"","donate_link":"https:\/\/rankbydesign.com\/course-tracker-donate","header_plugin_uri":"https:\/\/rankbydesign.com\/course-tracker","header_author_uri":"https:\/\/rankbydesign.com","rating":0,"author_block_rating":0,"active_installs":0,"downloads":291,"num_ratings":0,"support_threads":0,"support_threads_resolved":0,"author_block_count":0,"sections":["description","installation","faq","changelog"],"tags":{"1.1.6":{"tag":"1.1.6","author":"erikzett","date":"2025-10-18 16:44:15"},"1.1.7":{"tag":"1.1.7","author":"erikzett","date":"2025-11-13 21:49:22"}},"upgrade_notice":[],"ratings":[],"assets_icons":{"icon-128x128.jpg":{"filename":"icon-128x128.jpg","revision":3380329,"resolution":"128x128","location":"assets","locale":""},"icon-256x256.jpg":{"filename":"icon-256x256.jpg","revision":3380329,"resolution":"256x256","location":"assets","locale":""}},"assets_banners":{"banner-1544x500.jpg":{"filename":"banner-1544x500.jpg","revision":3395349,"resolution":"1544x500","location":"assets","locale":""},"banner-772x250.jpg":{"filename":"banner-772x250.jpg","revision":3395349,"resolution":"772x250","location":"assets","locale":""}},"assets_blueprints":{},"all_blocks":[],"tagged_versions":["1.1.6","1.1.7"],"block_files":[],"assets_screenshots":{"screenshot-1.jpg":{"filename":"screenshot-1.jpg","revision":3380329,"resolution":"1","location":"assets","locale":""},"screenshot-2.jpg":{"filename":"screenshot-2.jpg","revision":3380329,"resolution":"2","location":"assets","locale":""},"screenshot-3.jpg":{"filename":"screenshot-3.jpg","revision":3380329,"resolution":"3","location":"assets","locale":""},"screenshot-4.jpg":{"filename":"screenshot-4.jpg","revision":3380329,"resolution":"4","location":"assets","locale":""},"screenshot-5.jpg":{"filename":"screenshot-5.jpg","revision":3380329,"resolution":"5","location":"assets","locale":""},"screenshot-6.jpg":{"filename":"screenshot-6.jpg","revision":3395349,"resolution":"6","location":"assets","locale":""},"screenshot-7.jpg":{"filename":"screenshot-7.jpg","revision":3380329,"resolution":"7","location":"assets","locale":""}},"screenshots":{"1":"Settings page.","2":"Navigation setup.","3":"Button styling.","4":"Slide-in panel.","5":"Student progress view.","6":"Lesson example.","7":"Course outline example."},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"plugin_section":[],"plugin_tags":[8102,40116,249392,2195,9351],"plugin_category":[36],"plugin_contributors":[249366],"plugin_business_model":[],"class_list":["post-232221","plugin","type-plugin","status-publish","hentry","plugin_tags-course","plugin_tags-lesson","plugin_tags-lesson-completion","plugin_tags-lms","plugin_tags-progress-bar","plugin_category-analytics","plugin_contributors-erikzett","plugin_committers-erikzett"],"banners":{"banner":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/course-tracker\/assets\/banner-772x250.jpg?rev=3395349","banner_2x":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/course-tracker\/assets\/banner-1544x500.jpg?rev=3395349","banner_rtl":false,"banner_2x_rtl":false},"icons":{"svg":false,"icon":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/course-tracker\/assets\/icon-128x128.jpg?rev=3380329","icon_2x":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/course-tracker\/assets\/icon-256x256.jpg?rev=3380329","generated":false},"screenshots":[{"src":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/course-tracker\/assets\/screenshot-1.jpg?rev=3380329","caption":"Settings page."},{"src":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/course-tracker\/assets\/screenshot-2.jpg?rev=3380329","caption":"Navigation setup."},{"src":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/course-tracker\/assets\/screenshot-3.jpg?rev=3380329","caption":"Button styling."},{"src":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/course-tracker\/assets\/screenshot-4.jpg?rev=3380329","caption":"Slide-in panel."},{"src":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/course-tracker\/assets\/screenshot-5.jpg?rev=3380329","caption":"Student progress view."},{"src":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/course-tracker\/assets\/screenshot-6.jpg?rev=3395349","caption":"Lesson example."},{"src":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/course-tracker\/assets\/screenshot-7.jpg?rev=3380329","caption":"Course outline example."}],"raw_content":"<!--section=description-->\n<p><strong>Course Tracker<\/strong> is a lightweight, shortcode-driven WordPress plugin that lets you <strong>build your own mini LMS directly inside WordPress<\/strong> - no coding or external LMS required.<\/p>\n\n<p>It's powered by the <strong>WordPress Menu Builder<\/strong>, which you use to structure your course outline. Each menu item (lesson) automatically becomes part of a side navigation panel - complete with <strong>progress checkmarks and arrows<\/strong> that update as students mark lessons complete.<\/p>\n\n<p>Fully compatible with <strong>Classic Editor, Gutenberg, and all major page builders<\/strong> such as Bricks Builder, Elementor, and Beaver Builder, Course Tracker helps you track lessons, show progress bars, and guide students through your course in a clean, visual way.<\/p>\n\n<p>Designed for creators who want course progress tracking without complex LMS setups, it delivers everything you need to create a motivating learning experience - fast, flexible, and privacy-friendly.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Key Features<\/h3>\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Shortcode-Driven:<\/strong> Add course navigation, progress bars, and completion buttons anywhere - no coding required.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Menu-Based Navigation:<\/strong> Uses the native WordPress Menu Builder to create your course outline and automatically show lesson checkmarks and arrows as students progress.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Lesson Completion Tracking:<\/strong> Students can mark lessons complete and instantly see their updated progress.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Progress Bars &amp; Checkmarks:<\/strong> Display lesson progress visually with customizable bars, icons, and completion text.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Build Your Own LMS:<\/strong> Create a complete learning experience directly inside WordPress - no third-party LMS plugins or subscriptions needed.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Works with All Editors:<\/strong> Compatible with Classic Editor, Gutenberg, Bricks Builder, Elementor, and other page builders.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Lightweight &amp; Fast:<\/strong> Built for speed, simplicity, and compatibility with any theme.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Save &amp; Restore Progress:<\/strong> Students can export or import progress data anytime - no external accounts or sync required.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Privacy-First:<\/strong> All progress data stays in your WordPress database, never sent elsewhere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3>Usage<\/h3>\n\n<p>After setup, use these shortcodes in your pages or templates:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><code>[ctrkr_nav]<\/code> - Displays course navigation with checkmarks.  <\/li>\n<li><code>[ctrkr_complete_button text=\" \"]<\/code> - Adds a button to mark the current lesson as complete.  <\/li>\n<li><code>[ctrkr_nav_arrows]<\/code> - Adds Previous\/Next lesson arrows.  <\/li>\n<li><code>[ctrkr_course_outline]<\/code> - Shows progress bar and course outline.  <\/li>\n<li><code>[ctrkr_lesson_position]<\/code> - Displays text like Lesson X of Y.  <\/li>\n<li><code>[ctrkr_progress_text]<\/code> - Displays Completed X of Y lessons with navigation arrows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong><br \/>\nPlace <code>[ctrkr_nav]<\/code> in your sidebar or course page for navigation.<br \/>\nAdd <code>[ctrkr_complete_button]<\/code> to each lesson page so students can mark it complete.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Settings<\/h3>\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Course Navigation Menu:<\/strong> Choose the WordPress menu that represents your course.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Show Navigation Title:<\/strong> Display a title above the course navigation.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Slide-in Tracker Panel:<\/strong> Optionally enable a floating slide-in menu for navigation.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Styling:<\/strong> Customize button colors with the built-in Button Styler, or fine-tune further using the WordPress Customizer or your theme's CSS.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Student Reports:<\/strong> View student progress and export to a spreadsheet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3>External Services<\/h3>\n\n<p>This plugin connects to <a href=\"https:\/\/surecart.com\/\">SureCart<\/a> via <code>api.surecart.com<\/code> for license verification (to unlock the premium version).<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>What:<\/strong> The entered license key is sent to SureCart for validation.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>When:<\/strong> Only when you enter or remove a license key in the plugin settings.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Data sent:<\/strong> License key only - no student or course data.  <\/li>\n<li><strong>Purpose:<\/strong> To enable premium features after purchase.  <\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/surecart.com\/privacy-policy\/\">SureCart Privacy Policy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<!--section=installation-->\n<ol>\n<li>Upload the plugin files to the <code>\/wp-content\/plugins\/course-tracker<\/code> directory or install via the WordPress plugin installer.  <\/li>\n<li>Activate the plugin through the <strong>Plugins<\/strong> menu in WordPress.  <\/li>\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings \u00e2\u2020\u2019 Course Tracker<\/strong> to select your course navigation menu and configure options.  <\/li>\n<li>Add shortcodes (see below) to your lesson or course pages.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<!--section=faq-->\n<dl>\n<dt id='does%20this%20plugin%20require%20another%20lms%20like%20learndash%20or%20tutorlms%3F'><h3>Does this plugin require another LMS like LearnDash or TutorLMS?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>No. <strong>Course Tracker is completely standalone<\/strong> - it's not an add-on for any LMS platform. It uses your WordPress menu system and shortcodes to build your own lightweight learning platform directly inside WordPress.<\/p><\/dd>\n<dt id='how%20does%20course%20tracker%20use%20the%20wordpress%20menu%20builder%3F'><h3>How does Course Tracker use the WordPress menu builder?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>Course Tracker connects to the <strong>native WordPress Menu Builder<\/strong> to create your course structure. Each menu item (lesson) becomes part of a visual course navigation panel. When a student marks a lesson as complete, a <strong>checkmark<\/strong> automatically appears next to that lesson.<\/p><\/dd>\n<dt id='do%20i%20need%20to%20code%20or%20edit%20templates%3F'><h3>Do I need to code or edit templates?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>No coding is required. Course Tracker is <strong>100% shortcode-driven<\/strong>, so you can insert navigation, progress bars, and completion buttons anywhere. It works seamlessly with <strong>Classic Editor, Gutenberg, Bricks Builder, Elementor<\/strong>, and most other page builders.<\/p><\/dd>\n<dt id='do%20i%20need%20to%20use%20all%20the%20shortcodes%3F%20which%20ones%20are%20required%3F'><h3>Do I need to use all the shortcodes? Which ones are required?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>You only need to use the <strong>course navigation<\/strong> shortcode (<code>[ctrkr_nav]<\/code>) and the <strong>complete button<\/strong> shortcode (<code>[ctrkr_complete_button]<\/code>) for the plugin to function effectively.<br \/>\nHowever, we suggest adding all shortcodes to a test post to see what each one does and how they enhance your course layout.<\/p><\/dd>\n<dt id='can%20i%20use%20this%20directly%20on%20a%20page%20or%20post%3F'><h3>Can I use this directly on a page or post?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>Yes, you can. But we recommend creating a <strong>course or lesson template<\/strong> in your page builder so your shortcodes appear consistently across all lessons. Otherwise, you'll need to insert shortcodes manually on each page, which isn't ideal.<br \/>\nFor more about templates, please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/rankbydesign.com\">rankbydesign.com<\/a> and click <strong>LMS<\/strong> for video examples on building a course in Bricks Builder. More guides for other themes are coming soon, as Course Tracker works independently of any theme.<\/p><\/dd>\n<dt id='can%20i%20style%20the%20buttons%20and%20navigation%3F'><h3>Can I style the buttons and navigation?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>Yes! The plugin includes a built-in <strong>Button Styler<\/strong> to easily change colors and styles. You can also fine-tune the look using the <strong>WordPress Customizer or theme CSS<\/strong>.<br \/>\nNeed a hand matching your site's design? <strong>Reach out anytime<\/strong> - we're happy to help.<\/p><\/dd>\n<dt id='where%20is%20student%20progress%20stored%3F'><h3>Where is student progress stored?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>All student progress is stored privately in your <strong>own WordPress database<\/strong> and never sent to any external service. Students can also export\/import their own progress files if needed.<\/p><\/dd>\n<dt id='does%20it%20work%20with%20my%20theme%3F'><h3>Does it work with my theme?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>Yes! Course Tracker is designed to work with <strong>any modern WordPress theme or page builder.<\/strong> Because it uses shortcodes and menus instead of theme-specific templates, it adapts cleanly to your layout.<\/p><\/dd>\n<dt id='is%20course%20tracker%20free%3F'><h3>Is Course Tracker free?<\/h3><\/dt>\n<dd><p>Yes. You can track progress for up to <strong>20 users<\/strong> (including the admin) for free.<br \/>\nFor larger sites or unlimited users, you can upgrade with a small one-time fee, which helps support ongoing improvements and new features.<\/p><\/dd>\n\n<\/dl>\n\n<!--section=changelog-->\n<h4>1.1.7<\/h4>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Improved look for course navigation<\/li>\n<li>New navigation styling settings added<\/li>\n<li>Fixed an CSV export issue for student reports.<\/li>\n<li>Tightened shortcodes security &amp; stability <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h4>1.1.6<\/h4>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Initial version released at WordPress Plugin Directory  <\/li>\n<li>Improved button styling and settings UI.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h4>1.1.5<\/h4>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Refinements and new options added to the Slide-in panel.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h4>1.1.4<\/h4>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Fixed remaining domain handling errors with PCP.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h4>1.1.3<\/h4>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Fixed domain handling and improved data sanitation.  <\/li>\n<li>No changes to plugin features or functionality.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h4>1.1.0<\/h4>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Plugin completely refactored for simplicity and security.  <\/li>\n<li>Always saves progress permanently to WP database, even in free mode.  <\/li>\n<li>Free mode supports up to 20 users; premium unlocks unlimited.  <\/li>\n<li>Added color picker and slide-in tracker panel.  <\/li>\n<li>Improved admin settings and license activation.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h4>1.0.0<\/h4>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Initial working version released at rankbydesign.com.<\/li>\n<\/ul>","raw_excerpt":"Lightweight WordPress LMS plugin to track lessons, student progress, and completions with visual progress bars, checkmarks, and easy course navigation &hellip;","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin\/232221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/plugin"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=232221"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wporg\/v1\/users\/erikzett"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=232221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"plugin_section","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_section?post=232221"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_tags?post=232221"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_category?post=232221"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_contributors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_contributors?post=232221"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_business_model","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pcd.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_business_model?post=232221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}