=== AJ Category Posts ===
Contributors: jahidshah
Donate link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jahidshah
Tags: category posts, post listing, shortcode posts, wordpress category plugin, display posts
Requires at least: 5.2
Requires PHP: 7.2
Tested up to: 6.9
Stable tag: 1.1.2
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

A simple & powerful plugin to display WordPress posts by category using customizable shortcodes. Ideal for bloggers, news websites & content creators.

== Description ==

**AJ Category Posts** allows you to display your posts in a structured, category-wise format using flexible shortcodes. Create custom blocks with specific categories, control how many posts to show, and how many per row. This plugin is lightweight, Elementor-compatible, and optimized for performance.

## Key Features

* Create unlimited category-based post showcases  
* Display posts by category in a grid or block layout  
* Assign specific categories to each block via shortcode  
* Each block has a unique shortcode (e.g., `[ajcapos id="123"]`)  
* Fully responsive and mobile-friendly  
* Shortcode and widget support  
* Elementor compatible  
* Lightweight and fast  
* Unlimited color customization  
* Easy setup and customization from the dashboard
* Multiple shortcodes to display a single latest post, multiple latest posts, and most viewed posts.

== Installation ==

= Minimum Requirements =  
* WordPress 4.5 or greater  
* PHP version 7.4 or greater  
* MySQL version 5.0 or greater  

= Installation Process =

1. **Automatic Installation (Recommended):**  
   - Go to your WordPress Dashboard  
   - Navigate to **Plugins > Add New**  
   - Search for **AJ Category Posts**  
   - Click **Install Now**, then activate the plugin  

2. **Manual Installation:**  
   - Download the plugin ZIP file  
   - Upload the `aj-category-posts` folder to the `/wp-content/plugins/` directory  
   - Activate the plugin via the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress  

= Usage =  
- Go to **AJ Category Posts > Add New Shortcode** from your admin dashboard  
- Fill in the required settings, including:
  - **Category (slug or ID)**: Use an existing category from your site  
  - **Total Posts to Display**  
  - **Number of Posts Per Row**  
  - **Excerpt Length (number of words)**  
- Copy the generated shortcode and paste it into any page, post, or widget area  
- Optionally use Elementor to visually insert your shortcode block


== Shortcodes Overview ==

AJ Category Posts provides multiple shortcodes to display posts dynamically on your site. They can be used individually or together for a complete post showcase.

### Latest Post
Displays the latest post with a featured image overlay including category, title, author, and date.  
Use this shortcode: `[latest_post_overlay]`

### Multiple Latest Posts
Displays multiple posts in a grid layout. You can specify the number of posts with the `posts` attribute. A "See More" button can redirect to a custom URL set from the dashboard.  
Use this shortcode: `[latest_posts_grid posts="4"]`

### Most Read Posts
Displays the most read posts based on view count. You can control the number of posts displayed using the `posts` attribute.  
Use this shortcode: `[most_read_posts posts="3"]`

These shortcodes allow you to create dynamic post sections anywhere on your site—pages, posts, or widgets. Each shortcode supports category selection, post count, and styling via CSS.


== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= How do I display the Category Posts? =  
After creating a shortcode from the admin panel, copy the shortcode (e.g., `[ajcapos id="123"]`) and paste it into any page, post, or widget. This will display posts from the selected category in your chosen layout.

= What can I customize? =  
You can customize:  
- The category (slug or ID) to display  
- Total number of posts  
- Number of posts per row  
- Excerpt length (number of words)  
- Block and text styling (colors, typography, etc.)

= Is this plugin responsive? =  
Yes, AJ Category Posts is fully responsive and looks great on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.

= Complete Overview of This Plugin =  
With this plugin, you can create shortcodes to display category-wise posts. You can display a single latest post using `[latest_post_overlay]`. To display multiple latest posts anywhere, use `[latest_posts_grid posts="4"]` (this will show 4 posts per row). You can also use `[most_read_posts posts="3"]` to display the most read posts.

== Screenshots ==

1. Frontend Example  
2. Customization Settings  
3. Admin Panel View  

== Changelog ==

= 1.1.0 =
* Added multiple latest posts grid shortcode: [latest_posts_grid posts="4"]
* Added most read posts shortcode: [most_read_posts posts="3"]
* Added custom "See More" URL option in the latest posts grid
* Updated documentation and readme.txt
* Fixed minor styling and shortcode usage improvements

= 1.0.1 =
* Initial stable release of the plugin.

== Other Notes ==

### Customization Options:

* Change block background color  
* Change text background color  
* Customize text color and typography  
* Customize hover effects

== Support & Contact ==

Need help or want to report an issue? 
For any issues, please open a support ticket in the WordPress plugin repository or visit our [support page](https://www.jahidshah.com/contact/).