Get ECI Beta 6.2.7
Create an Easy Project on the Start page instead of an Advanced Project to see the changes. Even more so if you are using ShopperPress, ClassiPress or CouponPress. Please note that you can use all features in the same way with an Easy Project as an Advanced Project. The Easy approach simply configures most of your settings for you and you post content design etc
Please Note
This is still a beta. This new Easy Project system is mass creating posts at a very fast rate and doing a lot of work after just a couple clicks so I would like to remind users of some things.
Limited Undo Tools: There are limited tools to undo the changes the plugin makes at this time. I will be focusing on such tools very soon so that testing is made easier. Until then, please test with small files. I test with 10 rows. Featured images, tags, categories and custom field meta data may all be added per post.
Server Maximum Execution Time: although I put preventions in place to avoid users pushing their server too far, I still think it is possible to do. Usually the limit is 30 seconds. With each WordPress post being even more complex now than they were about 2 years ago, each post takes that bit longer to create. I used to let my server bring the site down for a little while (5 minutes) for the sake of getting as many posts created as possible. This is fine for a new domain however it can now cause the plugin to miscount progress due to the server stopping scripts before they complete.
Easy Project Custom Fields
When creating an Easy Project, Easy CSV Importer will now compare all your CSV column titles to the custom field keys your theme uses. It will even consider variations of the same title, in order to try and make a positive match. By default ECI will create a custom field with every single column and the custom field key will be exactly the same as your CSV column title.
The Result
I’ve done most of my testing on ShopperPress. I’m focusing on the global system rather than individual themes at this point but ClassiPress and CouponPress already have extra support. So far with ShopperPress I can fully populated posts, with featured image, price, link and description. The posts are created within 3 clicks of my mouse, it is impressive even if I do say so myself.
Easy Project Post Design
If you create an Easy Project, the plugin will use your themes name to extract the snippets required to prepare your post design. A new design will be created and available for editing on the Designs page just as if you were on an Advanced Project. However, if you use the full features of Easy Projects and do no manual configuration before creating posts then the default template for your theme will be used. If your theme is not supported with a built-in design then a default post design will be used instead.
You can contact the webmaster@webtechglobal.co.uk with your design requirements to have this done for you. If you purchased Easy CSV Importer a month before your request then you may be charged £9.99 for this, depending on the current level of demand.
Easy Project Special Data Functions
The plugin has individual functions that can be applied to columns you manually select but in an Easy Project the plugin does this for you. It assumes your needs. This may not be perfect on first run, all you need to do is go to the Project Configuration page and change the Data Function settings there. Then create posts on the Finish page just as if you were on an Advanced Project. This is where the Undo Tools will be needed. If you create posts and your not happy with the automated configuration ECI comes up with, you will need to undo every change ECI made before creating posts the old way.