This manual covers version 1.2.1. Settings and edition availability may differ in other releases.
1. Install and connect
Requirements for version 1.2.1: WordPress 6.5+, PHP 7.4+, and active WooCommerce. Obtain the appropriate plugin package for your edition.
- In WordPress, open Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, select the plugin ZIP, install, and activate. Alternatively, upload the plugin directory to
/wp-content/plugins/. - Activate WooCommerce before using AI Writer. Without it, the plugin displays a dependency notice.
- Open NextXen AI Writer → Settings. Select OpenAI or Google Gemini, enter that provider’s API key, and save.
- Use the provider’s API key setup links and expandable instructions beside the key fields. Configure your model and provider account billing, then use the connection test. Connection testing saves the entered key and model before testing.
- Set generation defaults for tone, length, and output language. Keep storefront FAQs and automation disabled until you have reviewed their behavior.
AI credits are not included. Your provider bills usage separately. Each provider has its own saved key; leaving a key field empty preserves the stored key.
2. Generate, review, and apply
- Edit a simple or variable WooCommerce product and open the NextXen AI Writer panel. You can also use the plugin’s Product Generator screen.
- Choose the content type and generation options. Ensure the product has accurate facts and useful source content.
- Generate and inspect the preview. Copy, regenerate, or manually edit the result. Structured results support validated JSON editing.
- Check dimensions, materials, compatibility, pricing claims, and any other factual statements against the real product.
- Apply each approved result individually. Applied results display an Applied state until changed or regenerated. Save the classic product editor afterward and verify your approved content remains.
Single-product generation always requires Apply. Generating a preview does not automatically overwrite product content.
3. Supported content
Product copy
Product title, long description, short description, bullet points, rewrites, and improvements.
Search metadata
SEO title and meta description, with configurable title and description length targets.
Structured product suggestions
FAQs, tags, custom attribute suggestions, and contextual image ALT text. Review suggested terms and attributes before applying them.
ALT text is generated from product context and image position. The plugin does not upload image files or claim visual inspection; verify the suggestion against the actual image.
4. SEO and storefront FAQs
Yoast SEO and Rank Math adapters operate independently. Plugin-owned generated SEO metadata is saved even when neither SEO plugin is installed. If both are active, check the resulting product metadata and storefront output in your configuration.
Generated FAQs are stored as protected product metadata. The optional FAQ product tab is disabled by default. Enable FAQ rendering in Settings only after reviewing the answers, then verify the storefront tab and check for duplicate schema from other plugins.
5. Pro tools
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Single-product generation and preview | Included | Included |
| OpenAI and Google Gemini with your own key | Included | Included |
| SEO, FAQs, tags, attributes, and contextual ALT text | Included | Included |
| Tone, length, and output language controls | Included | Included |
| Bulk generation queues | — | Included |
| Multiple brand voice profiles | — | Included |
| Local content audits and custom instructions | — | Included |
| Opt-in automation with review drafts | — | Included |
Bulk generation: filter and select products, inspect the request estimate, and start the queue. Jobs process one generation per batch, support progress after reload, and report failures. Provider billing still applies.
Brand voices: create a profile, use the onboarding example and field guidance, then select the appropriate profile for generation. Custom instructions cannot replace the system’s factual safeguards.
Content audits: evaluate existing product content using local weighted checks. Audits themselves do not make provider requests. Generating or applying suggested fixes is a separate action.
Install the Pro package and activate an eligible license to access premium features.
6. Automation controls
Pro automation is off by default. Its default mode stores generated drafts for review.
- Open the automation overview and follow its setup guidance to the Generation settings tab.
- Select the content types and brand voice, then enable automation in draft/review mode.
- Create or import a test product and review the saved automation draft before applying it.
- Choose automatic Apply only after explicit opt-in and testing against your publishing workflow.
Automation rechecks its license and enablement when it runs and ignores ordinary product updates to avoid save loops. Enabled automation can make provider requests without a separate Generate click for each product.
7. Privacy, stored data, and uninstall
Generation sends bounded product information and merchant instructions to the chosen provider. Customer and order data are excluded. Provider requests run server-side; saved API keys are not rendered back into settings HTML, JavaScript, or REST responses.
- Settings and keys: stored in the
nextxen_ai_writer_settingsWordPress option, with autoload disabled on fresh activation. - Product metadata: FAQs, bullets, generated SEO values, and automation drafts are stored as protected product metadata.
- Non-public records: brand voices and bulk jobs use non-public custom post types.
- Published content: applied descriptions, tags, and attributes become merchant product content.
- Debugging: debug logging is disabled by default and excludes credentials and full provider requests.
With uninstall deletion enabled, plugin-owned settings, jobs, brand voices, FAQs, bullets, and drafts are removed. Applied product content and WooCommerce data remain. Configured Freemius builds include licensing, updates, checkout, and their supplied disclosure and consent screens.
8. Developer hooks
| Hook | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
nextxen_ai_writer_product_context | Filter | Add bounded, non-customer product facts before prompt creation. |
nextxen_ai_writer_prompt | Filter | Adjust the separated system/user request while preserving factual safeguards. |
nextxen_ai_writer_provider | Filter | Replace or extend the provider for a provider ID. |
nextxen_ai_writer_generated_content | Filter | Inspect sanitized, schema-validated generated output. |
nextxen_ai_writer_before_apply | Action | Run before approved content is written. |
nextxen_ai_writer_after_apply | Action | Run after approved content is written. |
nextxen_ai_writer_content_score_checks | Filter · Pro | Add deterministic weighted audit checks. |
Replacement providers must implement NextXen\AIWriter\AI\Contracts\AIProviderInterface. Audit score checks use id, label, pass, and integer weight keys.
REST routes require authenticated WordPress cookies, a valid wp_rest nonce, WooCommerce capabilities for global operations, and per-product edit permission. Extensions must preserve product bounds, output validation, licensing checks, and prompt safeguards.
9. Troubleshooting
Provider connection or generation fails
Check the saved provider, key, model, account billing, and usage limits. Test for invalid keys, rate limits, timeouts, and malformed responses. Do not share API keys in support tickets.
Pro tools are unavailable
Confirm you installed the Pro package and activated an eligible license. Premium checks run when jobs are created and executed.
Applied content is missing
Apply the intended result and save the classic product editor. Check product-specific edit permissions and inspect the product again after reload.
SEO or FAQs do not appear
Confirm the target SEO plugin and relevant settings. Storefront FAQ rendering is disabled by default; enable it only after reviewing answers.
Bulk generation reports a failure
Inspect the job’s per-product failures and your provider account status. Reload to check persisted progress before starting another job.
Need more help?
Use the support form, select NextXen AI Writer, and include the plugin version, WordPress/WooCommerce versions, provider, reproduction steps, and a redacted screenshot.
10. Verification checklist
- Generate and apply content for simple and variable products; confirm product facts remain accurate.
- Use preview, edit, copy, regenerate, and Apply controls with the keyboard.
- Save the classic editor and confirm applied changes persist.
- Check Yoast and Rank Math independently, together, and absent.
- Verify FAQs stay hidden until enabled and storefront markup does not duplicate schema.
- In Pro, check brand voice selection, bulk estimates, progress after reload, reported failures, and provider-free audits.
- Test automation in review mode before opting into automatic application.
- Verify non-admin product permissions and expired REST nonces in staging.
- If using uninstall cleanup, back up and verify plugin-owned data is removed while applied content remains.
For developer release QA, run Plugin Check, WordPress Coding Standards, PHP compatibility checks, mocked integration tests, and testing the supported WordPress/WooCommerce matrix. These are plugin release checks, separate from website validation.
Frequently asked questions
Does AI Writer include AI credits?
No. Use your own OpenAI or Google Gemini account and API key. Your chosen provider bills usage separately.
Will generation overwrite my products automatically?
Single-product generation requires preview and Apply. Pro automation is disabled by default and starts in review-draft mode; automatic application requires explicit opt-in.
Does it work with Yoast SEO and Rank Math?
Yes. The plugin has independent adapters for both and stores its own generated SEO metadata even when neither SEO plugin is installed.
Does ALT text generation inspect or upload my images?
No. It uses product context and image position. It does not visually inspect images or upload image files to the provider.
What data is sent to the AI provider?
Relevant product information and generation instructions are sent when generation or a connection test is requested, or when an enabled Pro automation rule runs. Customer and order data are not sent.
What happens when I uninstall the plugin?
With uninstall deletion enabled, plugin-owned settings, jobs, brand voices, FAQs, bullets, and drafts are removed. Applied descriptions, tags, attributes, and WooCommerce data remain.