Welcome to the comprehensive feature directory for the Simple File Vault plugin ecosystem. This matrix outlines the architecture, technologies, and capabilities available in the Free Core Plugin (simple-file-vault) and Simple File Vault Pro (simple-file-vault-pro).
The ecosystem’s features are organized into three primary architectural pillars:
Pillar 1: Storage, Security & Access Control
This pillar focuses on securing files, mitigating vulnerabilities, and enforcing access rules.
| Feature / Capability | Description | Free Core Plugin | Simple File Vault Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Path Isolation | Stores files in an isolated /wp-content/uploads/safe-vault/ directory outside the public Media Library. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Traversal Protection | Strict path normalization and boundary checks (sfvlt_validate_safe_path()) prevent directory traversal and LFI attacks. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Direct Access Blocker | Auto-generates .htaccess rules and uses PHP middleware to prevent direct static file requests. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| RCE Vulnerability Checks | Blocks double extensions, verifies MIME types with finfo, and scans non-binary files for PHP code injection. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Temporary Signed Tokens | Downloads and previews require HMAC-SHA256 cryptographically signed tokens that expire automatically. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Hierarchical Subfolders | Create, navigate, and manage unlimited nested subdirectories inside vaults. | ❌ (Flat structure) | ✅ Included |
| Role-Based Access (Limited Mode) | Restrict vault viewing and uploading to specific WordPress user roles or capabilities. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| User Group Access (Group Mode) | Restrict vault access to a designated list of WordPress user IDs. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| Access Key Gate (Restricted Mode) | Password-protect vaults with a shared secret passphrase. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| User Isolation Mode | Automatically isolate uploads per user ID so clients only see their own private vault files. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
Pillar 2: Frontend Interface & Layout Flexibility
This pillar focuses on the frontend display, Gutenberg block integrations, live previews, and file exploration.
| Feature / Capability | Description | Free Core Plugin | Simple File Vault Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gutenberg Blocks | Native blocks for embedding the File Uploader and File Table layouts. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Shortcode Support | Embed portals anywhere via sfvlt_safe_file_vault and sfvlt_file_table. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Interactive Live Preview | Lightbox modal for instant viewing of PDFs, images, and audio/video streaming (mp4, webm, mp3, wav). | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| File Badges & Favorite Stars | Visual status badges, file extension icons, and favorite indicators. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Download Countdown Gatehouse | Configurable countdown timer before file download begins. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Pro Layout Modes | Toggle between List Table, Tiles Grid, or Flex Mobile layouts. | ❌ (Table only) | ✅ Included |
| Instant Unicode Search | Accent-insensitive search (e.g., searching “blagul” matches “Blågul”) using NFD normalization. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| Dynamic Sorting | Client and server-side dynamic sorting by file name, file size, or upload date. | ❌ (Basic) | ✅ Advanced AJAX |
| Server-Side AJAX Pagination | Paginates large document libraries on the server to keep page loads fast. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
Pillar 3: Automation, Metadata & Developer APIs
This pillar focuses on metadata collection, administrative optimization tools, notifications, and developer hooks.
| Feature / Capability | Description | Free Core Plugin | Simple File Vault Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uploader Metadata Capture | Captures uploader name, email, and notes via dashboard settings or block overrides. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Email Notifications | Automated HTML email alerts sent to administrators and clients upon successful upload. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Webhook Integrations | Real-time upload event webhooks dispatched to Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams, and Zapier. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Form Builder Integrations | Native ingestion handlers for Gravity Forms, Fluent Forms, and Uncanny Automator. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Extensible Action & Filter Hooks | Deep developer hooks (sfvlt_after_file_upload, sfvlt_query_files_list, etc.). | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Progressive Chunk Streaming | Streams downloads in 64KB chunks to bypass PHP memory limit constraints. | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Bulk ZIP Archiving | Multi-select files on the frontend or backend to download as a unified ZIP archive. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| Bulk Deletions | Multi-select files for one-click administrative bulk deletion. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| Expiring Email Share Links | Generate and email secure, time-limited download links directly to clients. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| File Expiration Dates & Limits | Set automatic expiration dates and download limits per file. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| Touch-Date Customizer | Modify file timestamps directly from the WordPress admin Housekeeping panel. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| Filename Optimizer | Scan vault for long filenames and truncate them safely to avoid OS path length limits. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| FTP / SFTP Auto-Sync | Automatically scan and sync large files uploaded directly via FTP/SFTP into the registry. | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| External Programmatic Ingestion | REST ingestion endpoint (sfvlt_pro_ingest_external_file) to route files into secure vaults. | ❌ | ✅ Included |