=== AB Checkout Steps for WooCommerce ===
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Requires Plugins: woocommerce
Stable tag: 3.0.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Author: Arman Basir
Author URI: https://armanbasir.com

Split the WooCommerce checkout into 3–4 customizable steps on one page, with an optional Cart step — no reload required.

== Description ==

Turns the WooCommerce checkout page into a 3 or 4 step flow on a single
page (no reload / page change), with an optional Cart step, a
customizable accent color, and multiple progress bar styles — all
configurable under Settings > AB Checkout Steps.

== Installation ==
1. In the WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
2. Choose the ab-checkout-steps.zip file and click Install Now.
3. Click Activate.
4. Go to Settings > AB Checkout Steps to choose 3 or 4 steps.
5. Open your store's checkout page — it will automatically display the
   configured number of steps.

== Settings ==
Under Settings > AB Checkout Steps you can choose:

- **Number of Steps** — 3 (Information, Shipping, Payment) or 4 (Cart,
  Information, Shipping, Payment). With 4 steps, a Cart summary (products,
  shipping cost, total) is shown as its own first step, taken from
  WooCommerce's normal order review table.
- **Accent Color** — pick any color with the built-in WordPress color
  picker. It's used for the active/completed step indicator and the
  "Next" button.
- **Progress Bar Style** — choose how the step indicator looks:
  - *Circles* — numbered circles connected by a line (default)
  - *Chevron* — a connected arrow ribbon
  - *Minimal* — plain text labels with an underline, no circles
  - *Progress Bar* — a thick track with small dot markers
  - *Dots* — small, compact dots with no numbers
  - *Boxes* — solid numbered square blocks

== How It Works ==
This plugin does NOT rebuild the checkout form from scratch. It uses
WooCommerce's own checkout fields (billing, shipping, order review, payment)
and groups them into steps via JavaScript + CSS, based on the step count
chosen in Settings:

1. Cart*       -> product summary, shipping cost, total (4-step mode only)
2. Information -> billing fields (name, email, phone, billing address)
3. Shipping    -> "Ship to a different address?" checkbox + shipping
                  address fields + order notes
4. Payment     -> shipping method (3-step mode) / payment method (4-step
                  mode) and the "Place Order" button

Because it only regroups elements that already exist, this plugin stays
compatible with most WooCommerce shipping/payment plugins. However, if your
theme uses a custom checkout builder (e.g. the Elementor Pro checkout
widget, or the new WooCommerce Blocks checkout), the step layout may need
extra adjustments — reach out to your developer for further customization.

== Notes ==
- Clicking "Next" validates the visible required fields in that step before
  allowing you to move to the next one.
- The "Place Order" button is still WooCommerce's original button in the
  last step — the checkout/payment process and security are completely
  unchanged; this plugin purely changes the VISUAL flow of checkout.
- The accent color and progress bar style are both configurable under
  Settings > AB Checkout Steps — no code editing required.

== Screenshots ==
1. Settings page — choose step count, accent color, and progress bar style.
2. Circles style — numbered circles connected by a line (default).
3. Chevron style — connected arrow ribbon.
4. Minimal style — plain text labels with an underline, no circles.
5. Progress Bar style — thick track with small dot markers.
6. Dots style — small compact dots, no numbers.
7. Boxes style — solid numbered square blocks.