Certificate Generator

A WordPress plugin for issuing certificates in bulk to students, teachers and schools: template-based PDF generation, CSV import/export, email delivery with a queue and templates, QR-code verification, serial numbers and analytics. No limits, and nothing locked.

• Version: 7.6.0 (see doc/CHANGELOG.md)
• Requires: WordPress 6.0+, PHP 8.2+
• Tested up to: WordPress 7.1
• License: GPL-2.0-or-later (LICENSE.txt)
• Author: Eshaan Manchanda · techlovev.in
• WordPress.org readme: readme.txt
• Source: https://github.com/EshaanManchanda/TLV-Certificate-Generator

Free plugin and Pro add-on

This repository is the free plugin (WordPress.org). It has no usage limits, no license code, and never contacts a license server. An optional, separate Certificate Generator Pro add-on adds integrations with other plugins and a few extras. Full matrix and pricing: doc/guide/PLAN-COMPARISON.md.

How the two plugins fit together: doc/dev/ARCHITECTURE.md. Business plan: everything in Pro on custom terms (contact).

Features (free)

• Certificate templates — upload a background image (e.g. from Canva), drag-position fields, set font/size/colour per field. Long names shrink to fit.
• PDF generation with the bundled FPDF engine and open-licensed fonts.
• QR-code verification — every certificate gets a QR code linking to a public verification page ([certificate_generator_verify_certificate]).
• Serial numbers — configurable format (PREFIX-{YEAR}-{SEQ}), bulk assignment for existing records, revoke and reinstate.
• Students / Teachers / Schools — manual entry or CSV import/export, no row limits.
• Email — your own SMTP, Sender.net or Mandrill (or WordPress's mail), per-type email templates with placeholders, CC/BCC.
• Bulk send — filter by school, certificate type or import source; background queue; ZIP bundling when a recipient has several certificates; hourly rate limits; email logs with resend.
• Analytics — delivery charts, expiration reports, recipient renewal reminders.
• Search shortcodes — [certificate_generator_student_search], [certificate_generator_teacher_search], [certificate_generator_school_search] let recipients find and download their certificates.
• Badges and image fields — optional companion PNG badge; image fields for a signature or seal.

The in-plugin Certificate Generator → Documentation page has the full interactive guide (Getting Started, User Guide, Email & Bulk Send, Troubleshooting, FAQ). doc/guide/documentation.md has the same content plus every developer reference in one file.

Installation

1. Copy this folder to wp-content/plugins/ (or install the release ZIP via Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin).
2. Activate Certificate Generator — this creates the custom database tables.
3. Open Certificate Generator → Dashboard and follow the four setup steps: create a template, email yourself a test certificate, add a record, issue.
4. For reliable email, use an SMTP plugin such as WP Mail SMTP, or set SMTP / Sender.net / Mandrill under Settings → Email Templates.
5. Legacy sites only: if you still keep data in the old students/teachers/schools/certificates post types, run Certificate Generator → SQL Migration once.

Works standalone — records live in the plugin's own wp_cg_* tables (doc/dev/DATABASE.md). No other plugin is required.

Quick directory map

Full breakdown: doc/dev/ARCHITECTURE.md.

Documentation

All docs live in doc/, grouped as guide/ (using the plugin) and dev/ (developing and releasing). Index: doc/README.md.

Using the plugin

Developing

Support

Use the in-plugin Documentation → Troubleshooting / FAQ tabs for common issues (emails not sending, PDF generation failures, ZIP attachments, "0 certificates queued", debug logging), or doc/guide/FAQ.md. Contact: techlovev@gmail.com.

Security

Report vulnerabilities privately to techlovev@gmail.com — not in the public support forum. See SECURITY.md for the process and for how to verify a release ZIP with its SHA-256 checksum.