Admin Settings

---

Complete guide to configuring Submittal & Spec Sheet Builder

---

Overview #

The Settings page allows administrators to configure all aspects of the plugin including branding, PDF generation, frontend behavior, and Pro features.

Access Settings:

WordPress Admin → Submittal Builder → Settings

Required Capability: manage_options (Administrator role)

---

Settings Navigation #

Settings are organized into tabs for easy navigation:

Tab	Purpose
General	Core plugin settings
Branding	Logo, colors, company info
Frontend	Builder page and user interface
PDF	PDF generation and formatting
Pro	License and Pro feature configuration
Advanced	Developer options and debugging

---

General Settings #

Core configuration options that affect overall plugin behavior.

Plugin Status #

Enable/Disable Plugin

Temporarily disable the plugin without deactivating it.

• Enabled (default): Plugin fully functional
• Disabled: Builder page shows maintenance message

Use Case:

• Maintenance periods
• Catalog updates
• Temporary downtime

---

Catalog Settings #

Default View Mode

Choose how products display by default on the frontend builder.

Options:

• Gallery View (default) – Cards with thumbnails
• List View – Compact table format

Tip: Users can still toggle between views; this just sets the default.

---

Products Per Page

Number of products to display before pagination.

Default: 50
Range: 10-200
Recommended: 50-100 for best performance

Considerations:

• Lower numbers: Faster page load, more pagination
• Higher numbers: Fewer page loads, slower initial render
• Large catalogs (500+ products): Use 50-75

---

Enable Search

Allow users to search products on frontend builder.

Enabled by default (recommended)

When to Disable:

• Small catalogs (< 20 products)
• Custom search implementation
• Performance issues on very large catalogs

---

Enable Category Filters

Allow users to filter products by category.

Enabled by default (recommended)

When to Disable:

• Single-category catalogs
• Custom filtering implementation

---

PDF Storage #

PDF Retention Period

How long generated PDFs are stored before automatic cleanup.

Default: 24 hours
Range: 1 hour – 7 days

Considerations:

• Shorter periods: Less disk space used, users must download quickly
• Longer periods: More user-friendly, more disk space used
• Recommended: 24-48 hours

Note: PDFs are stored in /wp-content/uploads/submittal-builder/ and cleaned up automatically via cron job.

---

Branding Settings #

Customize the appearance of generated PDFs to match your brand.

Logo #

Upload Company Logo

Your logo appears on the PDF cover page.

Recommendations:

• Format: PNG with transparent background (preferred) or JPG
• Size: 300×100 pixels (optimal)
• Max file size: 2 MB
• Aspect ratio: ~3:1 (horizontal)

Upload Steps:

1. Click “Upload Logo” button
2. Select image from media library or upload new
3. Crop if needed
4. Click “Select”
5. Save settings

Preview:
Logo preview appears below upload button showing how it will look in PDFs.

To Remove Logo:
Click “Remove Logo” button below preview.

---

Brand Colors #

Primary Brand Color

Main color used throughout PDFs (cover page, headings, accents).

Input Methods:

• Color picker (visual selection)
• Hex code (e.g., #0066CC)
• RGB values

Recommendations:

• Use your company’s primary brand color
• Ensure good contrast with white text
• Avoid very light colors (hard to read)

Default: #0073aa (WordPress blue)

Preview:
Color preview box shows selected color immediately.

---

Secondary Color (Pro)

Accent color for tables, borders, and secondary elements.

Default: Darker shade of primary color
Available in: Pro and Agency licenses

---

Company Information #

Information displayed on PDF cover page and footer.

Company Name (required)

Your company’s legal or trade name.

Example: “Acme Steel & Supply Co.”

Appears:

• PDF cover page (large)
• PDF footer (small)
• Email signatures (Pro)

---

Contact Information

Optional fields for contact details:

• Phone: (555) 123-4567
• Email: info@company.com
• Website: https://company.com
• Address: 123 Main St, City, ST 12345

Appears:

• PDF cover page
• Contact section
• Footer (abbreviated)

---

Footer Text

Custom text displayed at bottom of every PDF page.

Default: “{Company Name} | {Website} | Page {X} of {Y}”

Variables Available:

• {company} – Company name
• {website} – Website URL
• {phone} – Phone number
• {page} – Current page number
• {total} – Total pages
• {date} – Generation date

Example:

Acme Steel & Supply | www.acme.com | Page {page} of {total}

---

Frontend Settings #

Configure the builder page and user-facing interface.

Builder Page #

Builder Page

Select which page contains the [submittal_builder] shortcode.

Options:

• Dropdown showing all published pages
• “Auto-Create Page” button

Auto-Create Page:

1. Click “Auto-Create Builder Page” button
2. Plugin creates new page titled “Spec Sheet Builder”
3. Adds shortcode automatically
4. Publishes page
5. Sets as builder page in settings

Manual Setup:

1. Create page yourself
2. Add [submittal_builder] shortcode
3. Publish page
4. Select from dropdown in settings

---

User Interface #

Show Product Thumbnails

Display product images/thumbnails in cards (if available).

Enabled by default

Requirements:

• Products must have featured images set
• Thumbnails generated automatically

When to Disable:

• No product images available
• Faster page load desired
• Bandwidth concerns

---

Enable View Toggle

Allow users to switch between gallery and list views.

Enabled by default (recommended)

When to Disable:

• Force specific view mode
• Simplified interface desired

---

Show Specifications in Cards

Display key specs directly on product cards in gallery view.

Enabled by default (recommended)

Specs Shown: First 4-5 key specifications (Size, Thickness, KSI, etc.)

When to Disable:

• Cleaner card appearance desired
• Specs not critical for selection

---

Lead Capture (Pro) #

Enable Lead Capture

Show form before PDF download to collect user information.

Available in: Pro and Agency licenses

Fields Collected:

• Name
• Email (required)
• Company
• Phone
• Project name

Use Cases:

• Lead generation
• Customer tracking
• Email marketing list building
• Project documentation

Privacy:

• Complies with GDPR/CCPA (users opt-in)
• Data stored locally in WordPress
• Exportable as CSV

To Configure:

1. Enable checkbox
2. Choose required vs optional fields
3. Set custom success message
4. Configure auto-email (optional)

---

PDF Settings #

Configure PDF generation, formatting, and appearance.

PDF Generation #

PDF Engine

Choose which library generates PDFs.

Options:

• DomPDF (default) – Faster, good compatibility
• TCPDF – More features, slower

Recommendation: Use DomPDF unless you need specific TCPDF features.

---

Page Size

Paper size for generated PDFs.

Options:

• Letter (8.5″ × 11″) – US standard, default
• A4 (210mm × 297mm) – International standard
• Legal (8.5″ × 14″) – US legal documents

Choose based on:

• Geographic region
• Industry standards
• Client requirements

---

Page Orientation

Layout orientation for PDF pages.

Options:

• Portrait (default) – Vertical, standard for most documents
• Landscape – Horizontal, better for wide tables

Recommendation: Portrait for most use cases.

---

PDF Content #

Include Cover Page

Generate branded cover page with logo, project name, and date.

Enabled by default (recommended)

Cover Page Includes:

• Logo
• Project name
• Date generated
• Company information
• Brand colors

When to Disable:

• Minimal PDFs desired
• Cover page created separately

---

Include Table of Contents

Generate clickable table of contents with page numbers.

Enabled by default (recommended)

TOC Features:

• Lists all products
• Page numbers
• Clickable navigation (in PDF viewers)

When to Disable:

• Small packets (< 5 products)
• Minimal formatting desired

---

Include Summary Table

Generate overview table with all products and key specs.

Enabled by default (recommended)

Summary Table Shows:

• Product model numbers
• Categories and types
• Key specifications (Size, Thickness, KSI)
• Compact reference on single page

Use Case:

• Quick reference for architects
• Bid comparison
• Project planning

---

Spec Sheet Format

How individual product spec sheets are formatted.

Options:

• Full Page (default) – One product per page, all specs visible
• Compact – Multiple products per page, condensed format

Recommendation: Full page for compliance submittals.

---

PDF Themes (Pro) #

Select PDF Theme

Choose from three professionally designed color themes that apply across your entire PDF.

Available in: Pro and Agency licenses

Themes Available:

Theme	Color	Best For
Engineering (Default)	Dark Gray (#111827)	Technical submittals, construction
Architectural	Sky Blue (#0ea5e9)	Architecture, design, modern aesthetic
Corporate	Emerald Green (#10b981)	Corporate, sustainability, healthcare

What Changes:

• Cover page accent colors
• Section header colors
• Table header backgrounds
• Border colors
• Overall color scheme

To Apply:

1. Navigate to Settings → Branding
2. Find “PDF Theme” dropdown (Pro only)
3. Select: Engineering, Architectural, or Corporate
4. Click “Save Changes”
5. Generate a new PDF to see theme applied

Note: Your logo and brand colors are preserved; only accent colors change.

---

PDF Watermark (Pro) #

Add Custom Watermark

Add a custom text watermark that appears diagonally across all pages.

Available in: Pro and Agency licenses

Visual Style:

• Diagonal orientation (-20° rotation)
• Semi-transparent (6% opacity)
• Large, prominent text (64px)
• Appears on ALL pages

How to Enable:

1. Navigate to Settings → Branding
2. Find “PDF Watermark” field (Pro only)
3. Enter custom text (e.g., “DRAFT”, “CONFIDENTIAL”)
4. Leave blank to disable watermark
5. Click “Save Changes”

Common Uses:

• DRAFT – Work in progress
• CONFIDENTIAL – Sensitive information
• FOR REVIEW ONLY – Review copies
• PRELIMINARY – Not finalized
• SAMPLE – Demo materials

Best Practices:

• Keep text short (under 20 characters)
• Use all caps for visibility
• Test opacity on printed pages

---

Approval Signature Block (Pro) #

Include Signature Block

Add a professional 3-column approval table at the end of each product sheet.

Available in: Pro and Agency licenses

Note: This option is configured during PDF generation on the Frontend Builder review page, not in Settings.

Visual Layout:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ APPROVED BY       │ TITLE              │ DATE           │
│ ───────────────   │ ─────────────────  │ ──────────     │
│ [Name]            │ [Job Title]        │ [Date]         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

How to Enable:

1. Navigate to Frontend Builder or Review page
2. Check “Include Approval Signature Block” (Pro only)
3. Fill in fields:
   • Approved By: Name of approver
   • Title: Job title or role
   • Date: Approval date
4. Generate PDF

Features:

• Appears on EACH product page
• Professional table layout
• Print-friendly signature lines
• Page-break protection

Use Cases:

• Construction submittals requiring approval
• Compliance documentation
• Quality assurance sign-offs
• Project manager approvals
• AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) approval

---

White-Label Mode (Agency) #

Enable White-Label

Remove all plugin branding from PDFs and admin interface.

Available in: Agency license only

Removes:

• “Generated by Submittal Builder” footer text
• Plugin branding in admin pages
• Plugin name in PDF metadata

Use Case:

• Agencies reselling to clients
• White-label solutions
• Complete brand control

---

Pro Settings #

Configure license and Pro features.

License Activation #

License Key

Enter your license key to unlock Pro features.

Steps:

1. Copy license key from purchase email or account
2. Paste into “License Key” field
3. Click “Activate License” button
4. Wait for verification (2-5 seconds)
5. Status updates to “Active”

License Status:

• 🟢 Active – License valid, Pro features enabled
• 🟡 Expired – License expired, renew to restore features
• 🔴 Invalid – License key incorrect or revoked

Troubleshooting:

• Verify key is correct (copy/paste carefully)
• Check site URL matches activated domain
• Contact support if issues persist

---

License Type

Displays your current license tier:

• Free – Core features only
• Pro Single Site – Pro features on 1 site
• Pro Agency – Pro features on up to 5 sites

Activated On:
Shows site URL where license is activated.

Deactivate License:
Click “Deactivate” to free up activation for use on different site.

---

Pro Features #

Server-Side Drafts

Save product selections to server for later retrieval.

Enabled by default when Pro license active

Use Case:

• Users can save progress
• Resume later
• Share draft URLs with team

---

PDF Tracking

Track when recipients view generated PDFs.

Enabled by default when Pro license active

Features:

• View count per PDF
• Timestamps
• Recipient information
• Analytics dashboard

See PDF Tracking Guide for details.

---

Auto Email Packets

Automatically email PDFs to users after generation.

Configuration:

• Enable checkbox – Turn feature on/off
• From Name – Sender name (default: site name)
• From Email – Sender email (default: admin email)
• Subject Line – Email subject (supports variables)
• Message – Email body (supports HTML)

Variables Available:

• {project} – Project name
• {company} – Company name
• {date} – Generation date

Example Subject:

Your Submittal Packet for {project}

---

Lead Routing (Agency)

Automatically forward leads to external CRM or email.

Available in: Agency license only

Options:

• Email Forwarding – Send to specific email addresses
• Webhook – POST to external URL (Zapier, Make, custom API)

Webhook Configuration:

• URL endpoint
• Authentication header (optional)
• Custom payload format

---

Advanced Settings #

Developer and debugging options.

Debug Mode #

Enable Debug Logging

Log detailed plugin activity for troubleshooting.

Disabled by default

When Enabled:

• Logs stored in /wp-content/debug.log
• Includes PDF generation details
• REST API requests/responses
• AJAX handler activity

When to Enable:

• Troubleshooting errors
• Support requests
• Development/testing

Important: Disable after debugging (log files can grow large).

---

Performance #

Enable Caching

Cache product data for faster frontend loading.

Enabled by default (recommended)

Cache Duration: 1 hour (adjustable)

When to Disable:

• Frequent product updates
• Real-time data requirements
• Cache conflicts with other plugins

---

Optimize Images

Automatically compress/resize product images.

Enabled by default (recommended)

Optimizations:

• Resize large images to max 800px width
• Compress to reduce file size
• Faster page loads

When to Disable:

• Images already optimized
• High-quality images required

---

REST API #

Enable REST API

Allow external applications to interact with plugin via REST API.

Enabled by default

When to Disable:

• Security concerns
• No external integrations needed

Documentation: See API Reference for endpoints and usage.

---

Cleanup #

Automatic Cleanup

Automatically delete old PDFs and temporary files.

Enabled by default (recommended)

Runs: Daily via WordPress cron

Cleans Up:

• PDFs older than retention period
• Temporary files
• Expired draft data (Pro)

Manual Cleanup:
Click “Run Cleanup Now” button to immediately clean files.

---

Saving Settings #

Important: Always click “Save Changes” button at bottom of settings page after making changes.

Save Indicators:

• Success message appears
• Settings saved to database
• Changes take effect immediately

If Changes Don’t Appear:

1. Refresh browser page
2. Clear browser cache
3. Check for JavaScript errors in console
4. Verify user has manage_options capability

---

Importing/Exporting Settings #

Export Settings (Agency)

Export all plugin settings to JSON file for backup or transfer.

Use Case:

• Backup before changes
• Transfer settings to another site
• Share configuration with team

Steps:

1. Click “Export Settings” button
2. JSON file downloads
3. Save securely

---

Import Settings (Agency)

Import previously exported settings.

Steps:

1. Click “Import Settings” button
2. Select JSON file
3. Confirm import
4. Settings applied

Warning: Importing overwrites current settings. Export first as backup.

---

Troubleshooting Settings #

Changes not saving #

Cause: Browser cache or plugin conflict.

Solution:

1. Clear browser cache
2. Try different browser
3. Deactivate other plugins temporarily
4. Check browser console for JavaScript errors

---

Settings page blank #

Cause: PHP error or theme conflict.

Solution:

1. Enable WordPress debug mode
2. Check error logs
3. Switch to default theme temporarily
4. Contact support with error details

---

License key won’t activate #

Cause: Key invalid, site URL mismatch, or connection issue.

Solution:

1. Copy key carefully (no extra spaces)
2. Verify site URL matches purchase
3. Check internet connection
4. Contact support if issue persists