Description
CM AutoAltText uses the Cloudmersive Image Recognition API to generate descriptive alt text for your WordPress images—boosting accessibility and SEO with minimal effort. Perfect for bloggers, store owners, or anyone juggling lots of images.
Features
- Auto on Upload: Alt text generated when you upload images.
- Bulk Processing: Schedule updates for existing images, with a customizable limit (1-800).
- Date Filtering: Target specific months (e.g., “August 2024”) for bulk updates.
- On-Demand: Generate or regenerate alt text in the media library or post editor.
- Gutenberg Ready: Seamless integration with the block editor.
Requires a free Cloudmersive API key (800 calls/month). Processes bulk updates at 1 image/second to respect rate limits.
External Services
This plugin connects to the Cloudmersive API to generate alt text for images using AI-powered image recognition. This service is essential for the plugin’s core functionality of creating descriptive alt text.
- What it does: The Cloudmersive API analyzes image content to produce alt text descriptions.
- Data sent: The plugin sends image files from your media library to
https://api.cloudmersive.com/image/recognize/describe. This happens when:- An image is uploaded (if automatic generation is enabled).
- You run a bulk alt text generation process for existing images.
- You manually generate alt text via the media library or editor.
- Conditions: An API key from Cloudmersive is required (configurable in the plugin settings). If no API key is provided or the API fails, a fallback alt text (if set) is used instead.
- Service provider: Cloudmersive (PRT Systems LLC).
- Terms of Use: https://account.cloudmersive.com/terms-of-use
- Privacy Policy: https://account.cloudmersive.com/privacy-policy
Installation
- Upload the
wp-auto-alt-textfolder to/wp-content/plugins/. - Activate the plugin via Plugins > Installed Plugins.
- Go to Settings > CM AutoAltText:
- Enter your Cloudmersive API key (get one free at Cloudmersive).
- Set your bulk process limit and optional date filter.
- Start uploading or processing images—alt text generates automatically or on demand.
FAQ
-
Do I need an API key?
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Yes, grab a free one from Cloudmersive—800 calls/month included.
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Why does bulk processing take time?
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Cloudmersive’s free tier limits to 1 call/second. Bulk updates run in the background—e.g., 10 images = 10 seconds.
-
Can I filter which images to update?
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Yep! In Settings > CM AutoAltText, pick a month (e.g., “August 2024”) and set a limit—only those images get updated.
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What if an image already has alt text?
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Bulk skips it. Use “Regenerate” in the media library or editor to overwrite manually.
Reviews
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Contributors & Developers
“CM Auto Alt Text” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
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Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
1.3.6
- Added date filter for bulk processing (e.g., “August 2024”) in settings.
1.3.5
- Fixed bulk to find images with no alt text (empty or unset).
1.3.4
- Scheduled bulk processing at 1 image/second to respect Cloudmersive rate limits.
1.3.3
- Added user-configurable bulk process limit in settings.
1.3.2
- Fixed media modal alt text updates in Gutenberg.
1.3.1
- Improved JS to update alt fields live in media library.
1.3
- Added bulk processing and media library buttons.
1.0
- Initial release with auto-upload alt text generation.