Getting Started

Get Classerna up and running on your WordPress site. This guide covers installation, WooCommerce configuration, and creating your first course.

Installation

Method 1: Upload via WordPress Admin

Download the plugin ZIP file from your purchase confirmation email or account dashboard.
Navigate to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin panel.
Click "Upload Plugin" at the top of the page.
Choose the ZIP file and click "Install Now".
Activate the plugin once installation completes.

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Plugin Upload Screen

Screenshot of WordPress Plugins > Add New page with the "Upload Plugin" button highlighted.

images/install-upload.png

Method 2: FTP Upload

Extract the ZIP file on your computer.
Upload the classerna folder to /wp-content/plugins/ via FTP.
Activate the plugin from Plugins > Installed Plugins in WordPress admin.

Important: Ensure WooCommerce is installed and activated before activating Classerna. The plugin requires WooCommerce for payment processing and will display an error if it's not found.

WooCommerce Setup

Before creating courses, WooCommerce must be properly configured. Classerna automatically creates and manages WooCommerce products for your courses, so the payment infrastructure needs to be ready first.

1. Install WooCommerce

Go to Plugins > Add New.
Search for "WooCommerce".
Click Install Now, then Activate.
Complete the WooCommerce setup wizard.

2. Configure Payment Gateway

Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments.
Enable at least one payment method (Stripe, PayPal, etc.).
Configure the payment method with your account credentials.

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Payment Gateway Setup

Screenshot of WooCommerce > Settings > Payments showing payment methods with at least one enabled.

images/woo-payment-setup.png

3. Configure Account Settings

Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Accounts & Privacy.
Enable "Allow customers to create an account during checkout".
This ensures students have accounts to access their enrolled courses.

Tip: Complete all WooCommerce configuration before creating your first course. This ensures automatic product creation works correctly.

Initial Classerna Setup

Once activated, Classerna automatically:

Creates a "My Courses" page with the [idcms_my_courses] shortcode
Adds a "My Courses" link to the WooCommerce My Account menu
Registers the "Student" and "Collaborator" user roles
Adds the Classerna menu to your WordPress admin

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Classerna Admin Menu

Screenshot of the WordPress admin sidebar showing the Classerna menu expanded with all submenu items: All Courses, Add New, Sessions, Students, Settings.

images/admin-menu.png

Configure Plugin Settings

Review the plugin settings before creating courses:

Go to Classerna > Settings in the WordPress admin.
General Tab: Configure display options like tabbed vs. list view for course content.
Email Templates Tab: Customize the enrollment confirmation email template.
Default Content Tab: Set default waivers and post-purchase messages that apply to all courses.
Save your settings on each tab before proceeding.

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Settings Page Overview

Screenshot of the Classerna Settings page showing the tabbed interface with General, Email Templates, Default Content, and Import/Export tabs.

images/settings-overview.png

Creating Your First Course

Go to Classerna > Add New to create a new course.
Enter the course title and description in the main editor.
Fill in Course Details: Set pricing, delivery type, capacity, and location.
Configure the Schedule: Choose recurring or specific dates and generate sessions.
Add Registration Options: Set cutoff dates, questions, and waivers if needed.
Publish the course when ready, or save as draft to continue editing.

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New Course Screen

Screenshot of the Add New Course page showing the title field, content editor, and the tabbed metabox with Course Details tab active.

images/new-course.png

Automatic Product Creation

When you save a course with pricing configured, Classerna automatically:

Creates a WooCommerce product linked to your course
Sets the product price based on your course pricing
Hides the product from the shop page (it's only used for checkout)
Updates the product whenever you change course pricing

Note: You don't need to manually create WooCommerce products. Everything is handled automatically through the course editor.

Tip: Use the "Coming Soon" option in Course Details if you want to display the course but aren't ready to accept registrations yet. Visitors can sign up for notifications instead.

Next Steps

Now that you have Classerna installed and your first course created, explore these guides: