=== TechPad – WhatsApp for Gravity Forms ===
Contributors: thetechpad
Tags: whatsapp, gravity forms, whatsapp notification, whatsapp business api, lead, form, notification
Requires at least: 6.0
Tested up to: 6.9
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.0.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Send Gravity Forms submissions straight to your WhatsApp — never miss a lead.

== Description ==

Send Gravity Forms submissions straight to your WhatsApp — never miss a lead.

Every lead counts. When a visitor submits a form on your WordPress site, the details land in your WhatsApp instantly — so you can reply while the interest is hot, not hours later.

This plugin connects Gravity Forms to **The Tech Pad**, a WhatsApp Business API platform. It uses the official Meta WhatsApp Business API — no unofficial libraries, no click-to-chat links. Messages are sent as approved WhatsApp templates and replies come back into your Tech Pad inbox.

= Features =

* **Instant lead alerts** — every successful submission sends a WhatsApp message to you (or any number you choose).
* **Per-form control** — enable notifications per form, override the recipient and template for each one.
* **Field mapping** — map form fields to template variables in {1}, {2}… order, or send all fields automatically.
* **Customer confirmations (opt-in)** — when your form has a phone field and an opt-in checkbox, a confirmation goes to the submitter too (Meta-compliant).
* **Test send** — verify delivery from the settings page before going live.
* **Delivery log** — every send is recorded with status, Meta message id and errors; failed sends retry automatically and can be re-sent manually.
* **Spam & flood protection** — respects your form plugin's spam detection and rate-limits sends per form.

= How it works =

1. Install and activate this plugin (it needs Gravity Forms active).
2. Open **Settings → Tech Pad WhatsApp**.
3. Paste your API key and phone number ID from The Tech Pad dashboard (Developer settings) and pick an approved WhatsApp template.
4. Enable the forms you want notified and save.

The WhatsApp number the messages send from is your Tech Pad number, so all replies and conversations are managed in your Tech Pad inbox — campaigns, team inbox, automations and more.

Get a free workspace at **thetechpad.com**.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the `techpad-gravity-forms` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or install the plugin through WordPress's “Add Plugins” screen.
2. Activate the plugin. Gravity Forms must be installed and active.
3. Go to **Settings → Tech Pad WhatsApp**, paste your API key + phone number ID, pick your template and save.
4. Send a test message, then enable the forms you want notified.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Do I need a The Tech Pad account? =

Yes. The plugin sends through The Tech Pad's WhatsApp Business API platform. Create a free workspace at https://thetechpad.com — your first 1,000 conversations a month are free on WhatsApp's standard pricing.

= Do I need an approved template? =

Yes — WhatsApp template messages are required for the first contact with a number. Create your template in The Tech Pad Template hub and wait for Meta approval (usually a few hours). The plugin sends every notification as a template message.

= What happens if the send fails? =

The delivery log shows the error. Failed sends retry automatically up to 3 times, and a Retry button is available on the settings page.

= Can I send to my customer's number? =

Yes, with explicit opt-in. In the form settings, pick your form's opt-in checkbox field and phone field — when the visitor ticks the box, a confirmation goes to their number. Sending to a number without opt-in violates WhatsApp's policy.

= Does this slow down my form? =

No. Notifications are queued and sent in the background via WordPress cron — the visitor's submission completes instantly.

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release.
