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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

★ 1stars

Install

Download source zip No release zip yet

This is the repository archive. It installs, but the folder name will carry the branch suffix and updates will not flow.

Install straight from GitHub with WP-CLI:

wp plugin install https://github.com/zeeshan-sshaikh/wpc-seat-time-plugin/archive/refs/heads/master.zip
No built-in updater. New versions won't appear under Dashboard → Updates. Install new releases yourself, or let Git Updater track the repository.
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.