=== TechPad – WhatsApp for Simply Schedule Appointments ===
Contributors: thetechpad
Tags: simply schedule appointments whatsapp, ssa whatsapp, whatsapp booking notifications, appointment whatsapp reminders, whatsapp business api
Requires at least: 6.0
Tested up to: 7.1
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 Simply Schedule Appointments booking notifications straight to your WhatsApp — never miss an appointment.

== Description ==

Send Simply Schedule Appointments booking notifications straight to your WhatsApp — never miss an appointment.

Email gets buried. When a new booking happens on your WordPress site, the details land in your WhatsApp instantly — so you can act on it right away instead of finding out hours later.

This plugin connects Simply Schedule Appointments 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 alerts** — every new booking sends a WhatsApp message to you (or any number you choose).
* **Per-appointment type control** — enable notifications per appointment type, override the recipient and template for each one.
* **Field mapping** — map the data to template variables in {1}, {2}… order, or send every field automatically.
* **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.
* **Runs in the background** — notifications are queued and sent via WordPress cron, so nothing on your site slows down.

= How it works =

1. Install and activate this plugin (it needs Simply Schedule Appointments 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 appointment types 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-simply-schedule-appointments` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or install the plugin through WordPress's “Add Plugins” screen.
2. Activate the plugin. Simply Schedule Appointments 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 appointment types 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 notify my customer instead of myself? =

Yes, with explicit opt-in. Set the recipient per appointment type, or map a phone field captured with consent. Sending to a number without opt-in violates WhatsApp's policy.

= Does this slow down my site? =

No. Notifications are queued and sent in the background via WordPress cron — nothing on your site waits for WhatsApp.

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release: per-appointment type WhatsApp notifications, approved-template picker, field mapping, per-appointment type recipient override, test send, and a delivery log with automatic retry.
