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WPC Seat Time Estimates for LearnDash

A WordPress plugin that automatically calculates and displays estimated seat time for LearnDash courses, lessons, topics, and quizzes. This provides students with a clear and accurate time commitment, helping them better plan their learning schedule.

by WPC · github.com/zeeshan-sshaikh/wpc-seat-time-plugin

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Install

No release zip yet. The repository archive installs, but the folder name will carry the branch suffix and updates will not flow:

wp plugin install https://github.com/zeeshan-sshaikh/wpc-seat-time-plugin/archive/refs/heads/master.zip
Readme github.com/zeeshan-sshaikh/wpc-seat-time-plugin ↗

A WordPress plugin that automatically calculates and displays estimated seat time for LearnDash courses, lessons, topics, and quizzes. This provides students with a clear and accurate time commitment, helping them better plan their learning schedule.

Features

  • Automated Time Calculation: Calculates word counts for all LearnDash content and converts them into "Seat Time" (in minutes) based on adjustable reading speeds.
  • Media & Interactive Support:
    • YouTube: Automatically retrieves video duration via YouTube Data API v3.
    • Vimeo: Fetches duration automatically via oEmbed.
    • Local Media: Uses getID3 to parse metadata from self-hosted MP3/MP4 files.
    • H5P: Detects H5P shortcodes and applies configurable completion estimates.
  • Smart Cumulative Display: The time displayed for a course, lesson, or topic is a cumulative total of its own content plus all nested content.
  • Performance Optimized: Calculations occur on save/update using WordPress Transients for caching.

Prerequisites

  • WordPress 5.0 or higher.
  • PHP 7.2 or higher.
  • LearnDash plugin installed and activated.

Quick Start

Development Setup

  1. Environment: Ensure you have a WordPress environment with LearnDash 4.0+ installed.
  2. Plugin Activation: Activate the "WPC Seat Time Estimates for LearnDash" plugin.
  3. Settings:
    • Navigate to LearnDash LMS > Settings > Seat Time Estimates.
    • Configure your "Average Reading Speed" and "Slow Reading Speed".
    • Set a "Default H5P Time" (optional).
    • Add a YouTube API key for reliable duration detection (optional).

Feature Usage

  • Automatic Estimation: Create or edit a LearnDash Lesson, Topic, or Quiz. Add text, embed videos, or H5P shortcodes and save. The plugin calculates the estimate automatically.
  • Manual Overrides: Use the Seat Time Settings meta box on the Lesson/Topic edit page to manually set duration in seconds.

Installation

  1. Download the plugin as a .zip file from the Releases page.
  2. In your WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New.
  3. Click Upload Plugin and select the .zip file.
  4. Click Install Now, and then Activate Plugin.
  5. Navigate to Settings > Seat Time Estimates to configure options.

Development Environment Setup

Instructions for developers who want to contribute.

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/zeeshan-sshaikh/wpc-seat-time-plugin.git
cd wpc-seat-time-plugin

2. Local Environment

Place the cloned directory inside your local WordPress wp-content/plugins/ folder and activate it.

3. Dependencies

Self-contained; requires no composer or npm dependencies for core functionality.