=== Day Year Counter (FREE) ===
Contributors: wayneswebworld
Tags: counter, anniversary, business age, timer, year counter
Requires at least: 5.0
Tested up to: 6.4
Stable tag: 1.0.0
Requires PHP: 7.2
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Showcase your business longevity with a real-time, customizable day and year counter. Upgrade to PRO for the Drag-and-Drop Section Architect!

== Description ==

Day Year Counter (FREE) is a lightweight, high-performance plugin designed to display exactly how long your business, project, or website has been operating[cite: 2]. 

Unlike static text, this plugin features a **live ticker** that updates hours, minutes, and seconds in real-time, giving your site a sense of momentum and established authority[cite: 3].

**Key Free Features:**
* **Custom Start Date:** Set your specific launch or founding date[cite: 4].
* **Live Ticker:** Real-time updates for Hours, Minutes, and Seconds[cite: 5].
* **Google Font Support:** Enter any Google Font name to match your brand typography[cite: 6].
* **Total Styling Control:** Change colors and font sizes for the year and ticker via the admin dashboard[cite: 7].
* **Comma-Formatted Days:** Displays total days with professional formatting (e.g., 1,250 Days)[cite: 8].
* **Shortcode Ready:** Display your counter anywhere using simple shortcodes[cite: 13].

🚀 **Why Upgrade to PRO v1.2.2?**
The PRO version transforms your counter into a fully customizable "Section Architect," allowing you to:
* **Drag-and-Drop Layout:** Move the Custom Note, Progress Bar, and Timer into any order you wish.
* **5 Celebration Effects:** Trigger Fireworks, Balloons, Confetti, Sparkles, or Emoji Blasts on milestones.
* **Progress Rings & Bars:** Visual tracking of your current year’s progress.
* **Smart Greetings:** Dynamic AM/PM/Evening messages to engage your visitors.
* **Custom Notes:** Add unique messages with independent typography anywhere in the layout.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the `day-year-counter` folder to the `/wp-content/plugins/` directory.
2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu in WordPress[cite: 11].
3. Navigate to **Settings > PDY Counter** to configure your start date and styles[cite: 12].
4. Copy the shortcode `[day_year_counter]` directly from the settings page and add it to any page, post, or widget[cite: 13].

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= How do I display the counter? =
Simply use the shortcode `[day_year_counter]` in any Gutenberg block, classic editor page, or text widget[cite: 15].

= Does this plugin affect site speed? =
No. The counter is powered by a very small, optimized JavaScript file that runs on the client-side, meaning there is zero extra load on your server[cite: 16].

= Can I use any Google Font? =
Yes! Just type the name of the font (e.g., 'Montserrat' or 'Open Sans') in the Google Font setting field[cite: 17].

== Screenshots ==

1. The Admin Settings panel featuring the easy-access shortcode display.
2. A front-end example of the real-time ticker in action.

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release with real-time ticker functionality[cite: 20].
* Added administrative styling controls and Google Font support[cite: 21].
* Updated name to Day Year Counter (FREE) and added PRO v1.2.2 feature integration.