Uninstallation¶

This section covers how to properly uninstall BoastPress AB Testing from your WordPress site, including data backup considerations and cleanup options.

Before Uninstalling¶

Before you uninstall BoastPress AB Testing, consider the following:

Data Preservation¶

Uninstalling the plugin will remove all plugin data from your database, including:

• All tests and their settings
• All test variations and content
• All impression and conversion data
• All bucket rules and configurations

If you want to preserve this data for future reference:

1. Export Test Data:
2. Navigate to each test's details page
3. Use the "Export Data" button to save test data as CSV or JSON

4. Store these files securely for future reference

5. Database Backup:

6. Create a full backup of your WordPress database
7. This ensures you can recover the data if needed

Content Considerations¶

If you're using test content on your live site:

1. Identify All Test Locations:
2. Make a list of all pages/posts where you've placed test shortcodes

3. Note which version is currently set as the default for each test

4. Replace Shortcodes:

5. Before uninstalling, replace all [ab_test] shortcodes with the content from your preferred variation
6. This prevents empty content areas after uninstallation

Deactivation vs. Uninstallation¶

It's important to understand the difference between deactivation and uninstallation:

Deactivation¶

Deactivating the plugin:

• Stops the plugin from running on your site
• Preserves all plugin data in your database
• Allows you to reactivate later with all settings intact

To deactivate:

1. Navigate to Plugins in your WordPress admin
2. Find "BoastPress AB Testing"
3. Click "Deactivate"

Uninstallation¶

Uninstalling the plugin:

• Removes the plugin files from your server
• Deletes all plugin data from your database
• Cannot be undone without a database backup

Uninstallation Process¶

Method 1: WordPress Admin Interface¶

1. Navigate to Plugins in your WordPress admin
2. Find "BoastPress AB Testing"
3. Click "Deactivate" (if not already deactivated)
4. Click "Delete"
5. Confirm the deletion when prompted

Method 2: FTP/File Manager¶

1. Deactivate the plugin through the WordPress admin
2. Connect to your server via FTP or file manager
3. Navigate to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory
4. Delete the simple-ab-testing folder

Method 3: WP-CLI (for advanced users)¶

If you use WP-CLI, you can uninstall the plugin with these commands:

# Deactivate the plugin
wp plugin deactivate simple-ab-testing

# Uninstall the plugin
wp plugin delete simple-ab-testing

Database Cleanup¶

Automatic Database Cleanup¶

By default, when you delete the plugin through the WordPress admin interface, it will:

1. Drop the following database tables:
2. wp_ab_tests
3. wp_ab_test_versions

4. wp_ab_test_buckets

5. Delete these WordPress options:

6. ab_testing_db_version
7. ab_testing_cookie_name
8. ab_testing_use_ajax

9. simpleabtesting_bucket_rules

10. Clear any transients:

11. ab_testing_bucket_rules_cache

Manual Database Cleanup¶

If you need to manually clean up database tables (for example, if automatic cleanup failed):

1. Access your database using phpMyAdmin or a similar tool
2. Run the following SQL commands:

DROP TABLE IF EXISTS wp_ab_tests;
DROP TABLE IF EXISTS wp_ab_test_versions;
DROP TABLE IF EXISTS wp_ab_test_buckets;

DELETE FROM wp_options WHERE option_name LIKE 'ab_testing_%';
DELETE FROM wp_options WHERE option_name = 'simpleabtesting_bucket_rules';
DELETE FROM wp_transient WHERE option_name LIKE '%ab_testing%';

Note: Replace wp_ with your actual database prefix if it's different.

Cookie Cleanup¶

The plugin sets cookies in users' browsers. These will naturally expire based on their settings, but users can manually clear them:

Instructions for Users¶

Provide these instructions to your users if needed:

1. Open browser settings
2. Navigate to privacy or cookie settings
3. Search for cookies containing "ab_"
4. Delete these cookies

Verifying Complete Removal¶

To verify that the plugin has been completely removed:

1. Check Database Tables:
2. Confirm that the plugin's tables no longer exist

3. Use phpMyAdmin or a similar tool to check

4. Check WordPress Options:

5. Verify that plugin options have been removed

6. Check the wp_options table for any entries starting with ab_testing_

7. Check for Shortcodes:

8. Search your content for any remaining [ab_test] shortcodes

9. Replace or remove them as needed

10. Check for Script/Style References:

11. View your site's source code
12. Verify no references to the plugin's scripts or styles remain

Reinstalling Later¶

If you decide to reinstall the plugin in the future:

1. Follow the standard installation process
2. The plugin will create fresh database tables
3. You'll need to recreate all your tests and settings
4. If you exported data, you can use it as a reference but cannot import it directly

Frequently Asked Questions¶

Will uninstalling affect my site's appearance?¶

If you've replaced all shortcodes with actual content before uninstalling, there should be no visible change. If you uninstall without replacing shortcodes, those areas will appear empty.

Can I keep my test data but remove the plugin?¶

No, the test data is stored in custom database tables that are removed during uninstallation. You must export any data you want to keep before uninstalling.

Will uninstalling remove the Pro license?¶

Yes, uninstalling will remove all plugin data, including license information. If you reinstall later, you'll need to reactivate your license.

Is there a way to temporarily disable testing without uninstalling?¶

Yes, you can: 1. Deactivate the plugin instead of uninstalling it 2. Or keep it active but set all tests to "Paused" status

In the next section, we'll cover frequently asked questions about BoastPress AB Testing.