This guide walks you through the process of adding and configuring tools in ToolPress. We’ll use Custom HTML Code as an example to demonstrate all the features and options available.
Prerequisites #
Before you begin, ensure you have:
- ToolPress Plugin Installed and Activated
- If you haven’t installed ToolPress yet, follow our Download and Install ToolPress guide
- Make sure the plugin is activated in your WordPress admin
- WordPress Admin Access
- You need administrator privileges to add and configure tools
- Basic Understanding of Your Goal
- Know what tool you want to add
- Have any necessary code or configurations ready (for Custom HTML, CSS, or JS tools)
Accessing the Tools Menu #
- Log in to WordPress Admin
- Navigate to
yoursite.com/wp-admin - Enter your credentials
- Navigate to
- Locate ToolPress Menu
- In the left sidebar, find and click on ToolPress
- This opens the main ToolPress dashboard
- Navigate to Tools Sub-menu
- Under the ToolPress menu, click on Tools
- This displays a list of all your existing tools (if any)
Adding a New Tool #
- Click the Add New Tool Button
- At the top of the Tools page, locate the Add New button
- Click it to begin creating a new tool
- Tool Selection Popup
- A popup window will appear displaying all available tool types
- You’ll see a grid or list of tools to choose from
- Available Tool Types
- The popup includes various tool options such as:
- Google Tag Manager – Analytics and tag management
- Custom HTML – Add custom HTML code
- Custom JS – Add custom JavaScript
- Custom CSS – Add custom stylesheets
- WhatsApp Chat Widget – WhatsApp integration
- HubSpot Tracking – HubSpot analytics
- Tawk.to Chat Widget – Live chat support
- And more…
- The popup includes various tool options such as:
- Select Your Tool
- For this example, click on Custom HTML
- The popup will close and you’ll be taken to the tool configuration screen
Configuring Your Tool #
Once you’ve added a tool, you’ll have access to several configuration options.
Changing the Tool Title #
The tool title helps you identify and organize your tools.
- Locate the Title Field
- At the top of the tool configuration, you’ll see a title input field
- By default, it may show “Untitled Custom HTML” or “Untitled (Tool Name)”
- Enter a Descriptive Title
- Click on the title field
- Enter a meaningful name, for example:
- “Header Analytics Code”
- “Footer Conversion Tracking”
- “Custom Banner HTML”
- A descriptive title makes it easier to manage multiple tools
- Save Your Changes
- The title updates automatically or click Save to confirm
Tip: Use clear, descriptive names that indicate the tool’s purpose, especially if you have multiple tools of the same type.
Tool Settings Area #
The settings area is where you configure the core functionality of your tool.
For Custom HTML, the settings area includes:
- HTML Code Editor
- A text area or code editor where you enter your HTML code
- Supports syntax highlighting for easier editing
- Code Placement/Location
- Choose where the HTML code should be inserted:
- Head – Inside the
<head>tag - Body Open – Right after the opening
<body>tag - Footer – Right before the closing
</body>tag
- Head – Inside the
- Choose where the HTML code should be inserted:
- Additional Options
- May include options specific to the tool type
Tool Conditions #
Tool Conditions allow you to control where and when your tool is active. This is powerful for targeting specific pages or user scenarios.
- Access Conditions Settings
- Look for the Conditions tab or section in the tool configuration
- Available Condition Types
- Page Conditions
- Specific pages (Home, About, Contact, etc.)
- Post types (Posts, Pages, Products)
- Categories or tags
- Custom post types
- User Conditions
- Logged-in vs. logged-out users
- User roles (Admin, Editor, Subscriber)
- First-time vs. returning visitors
- Device Conditions
- Desktop only
- Mobile only
- Tablet only
- URL Conditions
- Contains specific text
- Matches pattern
- Query parameters
- Page Conditions
- Combining Conditions
- Use AND/OR logic to create complex rules
- Example: Show on “Product pages” AND “Mobile devices” AND “Logged-in users”
- Example Configuration
Show this tool when:
- Page Type: Product Pages
- AND User Status: Logged In
Why Use Conditions?
- Load code only where needed (improves performance)
- Target specific user segments
- A/B testing different implementations
- Comply with regional requirements
Tool Dependencies #
Dependencies ensure that your tool only runs when certain other tools have been loaded first. This creates a dependency chain between your ToolPress tools.
- Access Dependencies Settings
- Find the Dependencies tab or section in the tool configuration
- Understanding Dependencies
- Dependencies can only be set from other ToolPress tools that you have previously saved
- This ensures proper execution order between your tools
- Your tool will wait until all dependent tools are loaded
- How Dependencies Work
- Your tool waits until all selected dependency tools are loaded
- Prevents errors from tools that rely on code from other tools
- Ensures proper execution order between tools
- Example: Custom HTML Depending on Another Tool
Dependencies:
- Custom JS (Header Scripts) - Must load first
- Custom CSS (Base Styles) - Must load first
- Setting Dependencies
- Select from the list of your previously saved tools
- The current tool will only execute after all selected tools are loaded
- Only tools that are enabled and saved will appear in the dependency list
Benefits of Using Dependencies:
- Ensures proper load order between your tools
- Prevents errors when tools rely on each other
- Better organization of related tools
- Easier to manage complex tool setups
Tool Notes #
Tool Notes provide a space to document important information about your tool.
- Access the Notes Section
- Look for a Notes field in the tool configuration
- What to Include in Notes
- Purpose of the tool
- When and why it was created
- Related tools or dependencies
- Any important warnings or considerations
- Contact information for the person responsible
- Example Note
Purpose: Displays promotional banner for Black Friday sale
Created: November 2024
Created by: Marketing Team
Important:
- Remove or disable after December 1st
- Related to Campaign ID: BF2024
- Do not modify without consulting marketing team
Updates:
- Nov 15: Initial creation
- Nov 20: Updated CTA button color
- Best Practices for Notes
- Keep notes up to date
- Document any changes
- Include context for future reference
- Note any expiration dates or time-sensitive elements
Why Use Notes?
- Team collaboration
- Future reference
- Easier maintenance
- Prevents accidental modifications
Enabling and Disabling Tools #
Understanding Tool Status #
Every tool has an enable/disable status that controls whether it’s active on your site. You can manage this status from two locations: the Tools listing page or while editing a tool.
Why Tools Are Disabled by Default #
New tools are disabled by default for several important reasons:
- Safety First
- Prevents untested code from running on your live site
- Gives you time to configure all settings properly
- Avoids accidental deployment of incomplete tools
- Testing Workflow
- Allows you to set up the tool completely before activation
- You can review all conditions and dependencies first
- Prevents errors from partially configured tools
- Staged Deployment
- Configure everything, then enable when ready
- Better control over when changes go live
- Easier to coordinate with marketing campaigns or launches
- Prevent Conflicts
- Ensures you’ve checked for conflicts with existing code
- Gives time to verify dependencies are met
- Reduces risk of breaking site functionality
Method 1: Enable/Disable from Tools Listing #
- Navigate to Tools List
- Go to ToolPress > Tools
- You’ll see a table with all your tools
- Locate the Status Column
- Find the Status column in the tools table
- Each row displays the current status (Enabled/Disabled)
- Toggle the Status
- Click the status icon on the row you want to change
- The status will toggle between Enabled and Disabled
- Confirm the Change
- A confirmation dialog may appear
- Confirm the status change
- The tool’s status will update immediately
Method 2: Enable/Disable While Editing a Tool #
- Open the Tool for Editing
- Go to ToolPress > Tools
- Click on the tool you want to modify
- Locate the Three-Dot Menu
- In the title section, next to the Save or Update button
- You’ll see a three-dot menu (⋮)
- Access Enable/Disable Option
- Click on the three-dot menu
- Find the Enable or Disable option (depending on current status)
- Change the Status
- Click on Enable or Disable
- A confirmation dialog will appear
- Confirm the Change
- Review the confirmation message
- Click to confirm the status change
- The tool’s status will be updated
Verify the Status Change #
After enabling or disabling a tool:
- Check the Tools List
- The status column will reflect the new status
- Test on Frontend
- If enabled, visit your site to confirm the tool is working
- If disabled, verify the tool’s code is no longer loading
When to Disable Instead of Delete:
- Seasonal tools (holiday promotions)
- A/B testing (quickly toggle between versions)
- Troubleshooting (isolate issues)
- Temporary maintenance
Deleting Tools #
When to Delete a Tool #
- Tool is no longer needed
- It was created by mistake
- Cleaning up old, obsolete tools
- Replacing with a completely new tool
Method 1: Delete from Tools Listing #
- Navigate to Tools List
- Go to ToolPress > Tools
- You’ll see a table with all your tools
- Find the Tool to Delete
- Locate the tool you want to remove
- You can use search or filters if available
- Access the Action Menu
- On each row, find the Action column at the end
- Click on the three-dot menu (⋮)
- Select Delete
- Inside the three-dot menu, find the Delete option
- Click on Delete
- Confirm Deletion
- A confirmation dialog will appear
- Review to ensure you’re deleting the correct tool
- Click to confirm the deletion
- Verify Deletion
- The tool will be removed from your list
- It will no longer load on your site
Method 2: Delete While Editing a Tool #
- Open the Tool for Editing
- Go to ToolPress > Tools
- Click on the tool you want to delete
- Locate the Three-Dot Menu
- In the title section, next to the Save or Update button
- You’ll see a three-dot menu (⋮)
- Access Delete Option
- Click on the three-dot menu
- Find the Delete option
- Confirm Deletion
- Click on Delete
- A confirmation dialog will appear
- Review to ensure you’re deleting the correct tool
- Click to confirm the deletion
- Verify Deletion
- You’ll be redirected to the Tools list
- The tool will no longer appear in the list
Important Warnings #
- Deletion is permanent – The tool and all its settings will be removed
- No automatic backup – Make sure you have a copy of important code before deleting
- Check dependencies – Ensure no other tools depend on this one
Before You Delete #
- Consider Disabling First
- If unsure, disable instead of delete
- You can always delete later
- Export or Copy Settings
- Copy any code or configurations you might need later
- Take screenshots of complex condition setups
- Check for Dependencies
- Make sure no other tools rely on this one
- Verify site functionality won’t be affected
Best Practices #
- Use Descriptive Names
- Name tools clearly based on their purpose
- Include dates for time-sensitive tools
- Document Everything
- Use the Notes section extensively
- Record why decisions were made
- Test Before Enabling
- Configure completely while disabled
- Test on staging environment if possible
- Enable only when confident
- Regular Maintenance
- Review tools periodically
- Remove or disable obsolete tools
- Update notes with any changes
- Organize Logically
- Group related tools
- Use consistent naming conventions
- Keep conditions simple when possible
- Monitor Performance
- Check if tools are impacting site speed
- Use conditions to load only where needed
- Review browser console for errors
Summary #
Adding tools in ToolPress follows a straightforward workflow:
- Access ToolPress > Tools menu
- Click Add New Tool
- Select the tool type (e.g., Custom HTML)
- Configure title, settings, conditions, and dependencies
- Add notes for documentation
- Enable when ready (disabled by default for safety)
- Delete when no longer needed
By following this guide, you can effectively manage your website’s tools while maintaining organization, safety, and performance.