NorthPublisher AI Connect
Support, setup, troubleshooting and customer questions.
Version 1.5.29 · Windows 10/11 64-bit
Quick links
What this page covers
- Installation and first launch.
- API key setup and provider testing.
- AI chat, local workspace and command execution.
- SSH connections and remote file work.
- WordPress and WooCommerce setup.
- Updates, trial, licensing, privacy and troubleshooting.
1. Installation
Install NorthPublisher AI Connect with the standard installer or use the portable build. User settings are kept in the Windows user-data location so updates and reinstalls do not remove your configuration.
Installer recommended
- Download and unzip the installer archive.
- Run the
...Setup...exeinside. - Follow the wizard, no admin rights required.
- Launch from the Desktop or Start Menu shortcut.
Portable
- Unzip the portable archive.
- Open the folder and run
NorthPublisher AI Connect.exe. - No installation is required.
Your settings and data are stored in APPDATA-store.json and are normally kept when you update or reinstall.
2. First launch & API keys
- Open Settings.
- Under API Keys, paste at least one provider key and click Save.
- Click Test Connection to verify a key.
- In the header, pick a Provider and a Model.
- Type a message and press Enter.
Custom providers
Settings → Custom Providers lets you add any OpenAI-compatible endpoint such as Ollama, LM Studio, Azure OpenAI-compatible gateways or private inference servers.
Provider setup notes
- OpenAI: ensure billing or available credits are configured.
- Anthropic Claude: web access does not automatically include API credit.
- Gemini: use a Google AI Studio key supported by the selected model.
- DeepSeek, Groq, Mistral, Perplexity, OpenRouter use their own API keys and available models.
If Test Connection fails
- Recopy the key without extra spaces.
- Confirm the provider matches the key.
- Confirm API access and credit.
- Try the provider's default model.
- Check firewall, VPN and proxy restrictions.
- Check the provider status page.
Never paste provider keys into chat messages or screenshots.
3. Chatting with AI
- Send: Enter · New lines: Shift + Enter
- Plan mode: the AI explores and plans, but does not change files.
- Act mode: the AI can use tools according to your tool policies.
- Responses stream in real time, and some models show a collapsible Reasoning section.
- Long chats are automatically compacted so the session can continue.
Chat + Local Workspace
Conversations plus work on local files, folders and commands inside a selected project root.
SSH
Remote terminal sessions and remote file access through saved server profiles.
WordPress
Connected websites with site-aware operations and WordPress-specific tools.
4. Working with your files / local workspace agent
- Click the folder icon and select a project folder. This becomes the workspace root.
- In Act mode, the AI can read, write, edit, delete and list files, create folders and run commands inside that folder.
- Every file write shows a diff preview so you can accept or reject the change.
Workspace boundaries
The selected folder is the workspace root. File tools should not operate outside that root, so choose the narrowest folder that contains the project you actually want the agent to manage.
Available operations
- List and explore folders.
- Search by file name or content.
- Read files.
- Create and update files.
- Perform exact search-and-replace edits.
- Run commands with arguments and timeouts.
Recommended tool policy default
- Reads, search and list: Auto.
- Write and search-replace: Confirm.
- Command execution: Confirm.
- Delete file/folder: Confirm.
- SSH commands/writes: Confirm.
- WordPress destructive operations: Confirm.
5. SSH & remote servers
- Open the SSH panel.
- Create a new connection with Host, Port, Username and Password or SSH key.
- Click Connect to open the interactive terminal.
- In Act mode, the AI can run commands and read or write remote files.
Authentication
- Password authentication is supported when the server allows it.
- Private-key authentication is recommended for stronger security.
- If the key is encrypted, provide the passphrase when required.
Security recommendations
- Prefer key authentication.
- Use a non-root account with only required privileges.
- Keep destructive SSH tools on Confirm.
- Maintain server backups and rollback procedures.
Remote paths must be absolute, for example /home/user/..., and commands run with the permissions of the connected SSH user.
6. WordPress & WooCommerce
The WordPress area lets the AI manage posts, pages, WooCommerce products and orders, plugins, themes, updates and backups using the Connector Token, Application Password or SSH WP-CLI.
Connector Token
Recommended. Full site control without requiring an Application Password when the connector proxy is enabled.
Application Password
Direct REST API and WooCommerce access using WP username and application password.
SSH / WP-CLI
Server-level control when an SSH profile and WP path are available.
Install the NP AI Connector plugin
- In WordPress, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
- Upload
NorthPublisher-AI-Connector.zipand activate it. - Open Settings → NP AI Connector and copy the API token.
Connect from the app
- Open the WordPress panel.
- Enter the Site URL and paste the Connector Token.
- Optionally add Application Password or link an SSH profile.
- Click Connect.
- Use prompts such as “List pending WooCommerce orders” or “Create a draft post titled …”.
7. Updates
- A few seconds after launch, the app can check for newer versions and show a popup with a download link.
- The app can also notify you when a connected WordPress site is using an older Connector plugin version.
- You can manually check in Settings → Updates → Check Now.
To update, download the new installer or portable archive and install over the old version. Your settings, conversations and data are normally preserved.
8. Licensing & trial
NorthPublisher AI Connect offers a FULL 10-day free trial and two paid plans.
Monthly $5.95
Yearly $39.95
The goal is to make it clear that customers test the real product workflow during the trial, not a limited demo.
9. Data, backup & privacy
- Settings, API keys and conversations are stored locally in
APPDATA-store.json. - AI requests go directly to the selected provider.
- You can export and import all data from Settings → Data Management.
What local data can include
- Provider API keys.
- Custom provider configuration.
- Conversations and tool policies.
- Saved SSH profiles and credentials.
- WordPress profiles and Connector Tokens.
- UI preferences and local state.
10. Troubleshooting
Invalid connector token
- Update the site plugin to the latest NP AI Connector version.
- Re-copy the token from WordPress settings without extra spaces.
- Confirm the Site URL is correct and reachable.
No API key for provider
Open Settings → API Keys, enter the correct key and save again.
Test Connection failed
Check the key, provider access, billing or credit, and firewall or VPN restrictions.
The AI only explains what to do
Confirm Act mode is selected, the required tools are enabled, and the relevant workspace, SSH session or WordPress site is connected.
Reached tool round limit
Continue with a smaller follow-up task or write Continue from where you stopped.
SSH connection fails
Verify host, port, username, credentials, server reachability and SSH key permissions.
App won't open past the splash screen
End any running app process in Task Manager, restart, and if necessary back up and remove APPDATA-store.json to test a clean launch.
Before deleting the local data file
Back it up first. Removing the file resets settings, keys, profiles and conversations.
11. Contact & customer questions
This section helps customers choose the right support path. Technical and product questions should come to your support channel, while billing or subscription management may go through the checkout or licensing provider channel.
Technical support
Use this route for installation help, bugs, API setup, workspace issues, SSH problems, WordPress integration and feature questions.
Billing & customer account questions
Use the billing or checkout service channel for payment failures, duplicate charges, trial conversion, plan changes, renewal and cancellation questions.
This is often best handled through the link provided in the checkout flow or purchase email, so customers reach the correct billing context immediately.
What customers should include when contacting support
- App version, for example 1.5.29.
- Windows version.
- What they tried and what happened.
- Any visible error message.
- For WordPress issues: Connector plugin version and hosting provider.
- For SSH issues: server type and authentication method.
Recommended support wording
If you want a very clear separation between support responsibilities, this wording works well:
Need help right now?
Start with the landing page and trial links, then use the support channel if you hit setup or usage issues.