Virtual Files

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Frequently Asked Questions ​

Common questions about Virtual Files plugin functionality, features, and troubleshooting.

General Questions ​

What is Virtual Files? ​

Virtual Files is a WordPress plugin that allows you to create and manage files that behave as if they physically exist in your website root directory. Instead of creating actual files on your server, Virtual Files intercepts requests and serves content dynamically while maintaining proper file headers and MIME types.

What can I use Virtual Files for? ​

Virtual Files is perfect for:

  • SEO files: robots.txt, sitemaps, verification files
  • API endpoints: JSON/XML responses for applications
  • Configuration files: Dynamic config files for web applications
  • Documentation: Serve markdown files as documentation
  • Download files: Generate and serve CSV/JSON exports
  • Webhook endpoints: Clean URLs for service integrations

Do Virtual Files actually create files on my server? ​

No. Virtual Files creates "virtual" files that are stored in the WordPress database as custom post types. When someone requests a virtual file URL, the plugin intercepts the request and serves the content dynamically without creating physical files.

Is Virtual Files safe to use? ​

Yes. Virtual Files follows WordPress security best practices:

  • Multi-layer content sanitization
  • Input validation and XSS protection
  • Path traversal prevention
  • WordPress capability checks
  • Regular security updates

Installation & Setup ​

What are the system requirements? ​

  • WordPress: 5.0 or higher (6.0+ recommended)
  • PHP: 7.4 or higher (8.0+ recommended)
  • Memory: 64MB minimum (128MB+ recommended)
  • Database: MySQL 5.6+ or MariaDB 10.0+

How do I install Virtual Files? ​

  1. Download the plugin from WordPress.org or our website
  2. In WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New
  3. Click Upload Plugin and choose the downloaded file
  4. Click Install Now and then Activate Plugin
  5. Visit Virtual Files → Settings to configure

Do I need technical skills to use Virtual Files? ​

No. Virtual Files is designed for users of all skill levels:

  • Beginners: Simple interface with guided setup
  • Intermediate: Advanced features and customization

Will Virtual Files slow down my site? ​

No. Virtual Files is optimized for performance:

  • Efficient database queries
  • Built-in caching system (Pro)
  • Minimal overhead
  • Smart rewrite rules

In fact, with Pro caching enabled, Virtual Files can actually improve performance by serving cached content faster than WordPress would normally serve pages.

Features & Functionality ​

What file types are supported? ​

Free Version:

  • Text files (.txt)
  • Markdown files (.md)
  • JSON files (.json)

Pro Version (includes all free types):

  • XML files (.xml)
  • RSS feeds (.rss)
  • CSV files (.csv)
  • YAML files (.yml, .yaml)
  • Log files (.log)

How many virtual files can I create? ​

  • Free Version: Maximum 5 active virtual files
  • Pro Version: Unlimited virtual files

What's the difference between Free and Pro versions? ​

See our detailed Free vs Pro comparison for complete feature comparison.

Key differences:

  • File Limits: 5 vs unlimited
  • File Types: 3 vs 8 types
  • Caching: No vs advanced caching system
  • Analytics: No vs complete analytics
  • Editor: Basic vs CodeMirror with syntax highlighting
  • Backup & Restore: No vs full backup/restore system

Can I use Virtual Files with caching plugins? ​

Yes. Virtual Files is compatible with popular caching plugins:

  • W3 Total Cache: Exclude virtual file URLs from cache
  • WP Super Cache: Add virtual file patterns to excluded list
  • Cloudflare: Create page rules to bypass cache for virtual files
  • Built-in Caching: Pro version includes advanced caching system

Does Virtual Files work with multisite? ​

Yes. Virtual Files supports WordPress multisite:

  • Network Activation: Activate network-wide or per-site
  • Individual Control: Each site manages its own virtual files
  • Separate Settings: Configuration per site
  • Multisite Licensing: Pro licenses available for multisite

Technical Questions ​

How does URL routing work? ​

Virtual Files uses WordPress rewrite rules:

  1. Registration: Plugin registers rewrite patterns for virtual files
  2. Interception: WordPress intercepts requests matching patterns
  3. Routing: Plugin identifies the requested virtual file
  4. Serving: Plugin serves content with proper headers

Example rewrite rule:

apache
RewriteRule ^robots\.txt$ index.php?virtual_file=1&file_id=123 [L]

Can I access virtual files through FTP? ​

No. Virtual files are stored in the WordPress database, not as physical files. You can only access and edit them through the WordPress admin interface.

How are MIME types handled? ​

Virtual Files automatically sets correct MIME headers based on file extension:

  • .txt → text/plain
  • .json → application/json
  • .xml → application/xml
  • .rss → application/rss+xml
  • etc.

You can also customize MIME types through filters and hooks.

Can I use custom file types? ​

Yes, through WordPress hooks and filters:

php
add_filter('virtual_files_allowed_extensions', function($extensions) {
    $extensions['custom'] = [
        'name' => 'Custom File',
        'mime_type' => 'application/x-custom'
    ];
    return $extensions;
});

Troubleshooting ​

Virtual files return 404 errors ​

Common causes and solutions:

  1. Rewrite Rules Not Flushed

    • Go to Virtual Files → Settings
    • Click Flush Rewrite Rules
    • Or visit Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes

  2. File Status Inactive

    • Edit the virtual file
    • Set status to "Active"
    • Save changes

  3. Server Configuration Issues

    • Check .htaccess permissions
    • Verify server supports rewrite rules
    • Contact hosting provider if needed

  4. Caching Plugin Conflicts

    • Exclude virtual file URLs from caching plugins
    • Clear all caches
    • Test with caching disabled temporarily

Virtual files show wrong content ​

Solutions:

  1. Cache Issues

    • Clear Virtual Files cache (Pro version)
    • Clear server cache
    • Clear browser cache

  2. Database Sync Issues

    • Check file content in WordPress admin
    • Verify file metadata is correct
    • Re-save the file if needed

  3. Plugin Conflicts

    • Temporarily disable other plugins
    • Test with default WordPress theme
    • Check for JavaScript errors in browser console

Admin pages not loading ​

Solutions:

  1. JavaScript Errors

    • Check browser console for errors
    • Clear browser cache
    • Try different browser

  2. Plugin Conflicts

    • Disable other plugins temporarily
    • Check for PHP errors in debug log
    • Verify WordPress version compatibility

  3. Memory Issues

    • Increase WordPress memory limit
    • Check server error logs
    • Contact hosting provider

Performance issues ​

Solutions:

  1. Enable Caching (Pro version)

    • Go to Virtual Files → Settings
    • Enable performance caching
    • Set appropriate TTL

  2. Optimize Database

    • Optimize WordPress database
    • Clean up post revisions
    • Use proper indexing

  3. Server Optimization

    • Enable Gzip compression
    • Use CDN for static content
    • Optimize server configuration

Licensing & Support ​

How do I upgrade to Pro? ​

  1. Visit Virtual Files Pro Checkout
  2. Choose your license type (Single Site or Multi-Site)
  3. Select billing cycle (Monthly, Annual, or Lifetime)
  4. Complete purchase process
  5. Download Pro version from customer portal
  6. Upload and activate Pro plugin (replaces free version)
  7. Enter license key when prompted

Can I use Pro on multiple sites? ​

Pro licenses are available for different usage:

  • Single Site: One WordPress installation ($3.99/month or $149.99 lifetime)
  • Multi-Site: Up to 3 WordPress sites ($11.99/month or $349.99 lifetime)
  • Annual Plans: Save 20% with annual billing
  • Lifetime: One-time payment, unlimited updates

What kind of support is available? ​

Free Version:

  • WordPress.org support forums
  • Documentation and tutorials
  • Community knowledge base

Pro Version:

  • Priority email support
  • Advanced documentation
  • Direct developer assistance

Is there a money-back guarantee? ​

Refund policies are handled by the payment provider:

  • Check provider terms at time of purchase
  • Refund availability depends on subscription terms
  • Contact provider for refund requests

Can I cancel my subscription? ​

Yes. You can cancel anytime:

  • Cancel through Freemius: Account settings in WordPress admin
  • Keep using Pro: Until current period ends
  • No penalties: No cancellation fees
  • Renew anytime: Reactivate subscription when needed

Migration & Backup ​

Can I export my virtual files? ​

Free Version: Manual export (file by file) Pro Version: Bulk export functionality

  • Export all virtual files as JSON
  • Include metadata and settings
  • Progress tracking during export

Can I import virtual files from another site? ​

Yes. Pro version includes import functionality:

  • Import from JSON files
  • Import from ZIP archives
  • Duplicate detection
  • Validation during import
  • Progress tracking

What happens to my data if I deactivate? ​

Your virtual files remain in the WordPress database:

  • Files stay intact: No data loss
  • URLs stop working: Virtual file URLs return 404
  • Settings preserved: Configuration saved in database
  • Easy reactivation: Reactivate to restore functionality

Can I migrate from another similar plugin? ​

Yes. While there's no automatic migration tool:

  • Export from other plugin: If it has export functionality
  • Manual recreation: Create files in Virtual Files
  • Import support: If other plugin exports compatible format
  • Assistance available: Contact support for migration help

Security ​

Is Virtual Files secure? ​

Yes. Virtual Files implements multiple security layers:

  • Input validation: All user input validated and sanitized
  • XSS protection: Content escaped and filtered
  • Path traversal prevention: Secure filename handling
  • Capability checks: WordPress user permission system
  • Regular updates: Security patches and improvements

Can virtual files be exploited for attacks? ​

Virtual Files includes protections against:

  • Directory traversal: ../ and similar attacks blocked
  • File inclusion: Only serves virtual file content
  • XSS attacks: Content properly escaped
  • Injection attacks: Input validation and sanitization
  • Unauthorized access: WordPress capability checks

Should I backup before installing? ​

Always backup before installing any plugin:

  • Full site backup: Files and database
  • WordPress backup: Built-in export tool
  • Database backup: phpMyAdmin or similar
  • Test on staging: Install on test site first

Still Have Questions? ​

If you didn't find your answer here:

  1. Check Documentation: Browse our complete documentation
  2. Search Forums: Search WordPress.org forums
  3. Contact Support: Reach out through WordPress admin or Freemius
  4. Feature Requests: Suggest features through our contact form

We're here to help you get the most out of Virtual Files!

Virtual Files - Better WordPress SEO Through Smart Virtual File Management

Copyright © 2025-present Sajjad Ali