Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| WordPress | 6.4 or newer |
| WooCommerce | 8.0 or newer (tested up to 11.2) |
| PHP | 8.1 or newer |
| Hosting | Typical WordPress hosting with a working REST API |
| Permalinks | Any format other than “Plain”, e.g. “Post name” – without it the KDS, the courier app and the table QR codes return a 404 error. The setup wizard turns it on with one click |
| HTTPS | Required to install the team apps (KDS, courier, radio) and for push notifications |
| Team devices | Any device with an up-to-date browser and internet access: a tablet, a computer or a phone – also for the KDS |
| TV screens | Any device with a browser: a Smart TV (older ones too, with Chromium 38 or newer), a stick or a mini PC with HDMI |
| Online payments | Any payment gateway for WooCommerce, e.g. Przelewy24, Stripe, PayU (installed separately) |
| Maps | OpenStreetMap – no API keys and no fees |
Payments at the venue, at the table and to the courier work without extra plugins.
Installation
- Install and activate WooCommerce. It is a free plugin from the WordPress directory (Plugins → Add New Plugin → “WooCommerce”). Fill in the store's basic details: country and currency.
- Upload WP InPlate. In the WordPress dashboard go to Plugins → Add New Plugin → Upload Plugin, choose the WP InPlate
.zipfile and click “Install Now”. - Activate the plugin.
- Activate your license or the free trial. After activation WordPress shows the license screen. Enter your license key or start the 30-day free trial. The trial doesn't require a payment card.
- Go through the setup wizard. It starts automatically after you activate the license or the trial. See Setup wizard.
- Optionally install an online payment gateway, if customers should pay when they order.
After installation two new items appear in the WordPress dashboard menu: InPlate and TV. The WooCommerce menu is renamed Sales panel (its first item is Overview) – in this documentation, paths to WooCommerce settings start with that name, e.g. Sales panel → Settings → Payments.
The menu in the WordPress dashboard
InPlate
| Item | What you will find there |
|---|---|
| Dishes | InPlate dishes with an active date (daily dish, lunch, specials) |
| KDS ↗ | Opens the kitchen display in a new tab |
| Courier ↗ | Opens the courier app in a new tab |
| Radio ↗ | Opens the radio in a new tab |
| Schedule | Ordering hours, fulfillment methods, preparation time, closed days |
| Dish types | Categories of dynamic dishes (with an active date), e.g. Daily dish, Soup of the day, Lunch |
| QR tables | Tables, QR codes and the look of the table page |
| Settings | Pages, orders, products, security, notifications, cross-sell, delivery zones, radio |
| Setup wizard | Running the wizard again |
TV
| Item | What you will find there |
|---|---|
| Screens | The list of TV screens and the layout editor (Gutenberg) |
| Manager ↗ | TV Manager: dishes assigned to the screens |
| Launcher ↗ | Choosing the screen to open on a TV |
Products (the WooCommerce menu) gets two items: Add-on templates and Cross-sell templates.
These screens are available to administrators and to every user who can manage WooCommerce (e.g. the Shop manager role).
A simpler WooCommerce dashboard
WP InPlate hides WooCommerce items a food business doesn't need in the dashboard: product brands, product attributes and product reviews. It doesn't delete or switch anything off – the items are only hidden in the dashboard.
WooCommerce shop pages
Customers don't end up in an “online shop”. WP InPlate redirects:
- the shop page and product categories and tags – to the menu page,
- a single product page – to the menu page with that dish highlighted.
You choose the menu page and the order form page in the wizard or in Settings.
Updates
You install updates like for any WordPress plugin: Dashboard → Updates or Plugins. Updates require an active license or a running trial. See License.
TV screens reload themselves after a plugin update – you don't have to go to every TV.
Uninstalling
Deactivating the plugin stops the menu, the order form and the team apps. WooCommerce products and orders stay in the database.