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One Click Demo Import

By Syed Balkhi

Site Administration & Utilities / Site Migration & Cloning

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

One Click Demo Import Review - In-Depth Analysis

Easily import demo content, widgets, and theme settings with a single click. Ideal for theme authors to enhance user experience.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

7.48/10

User Rating

4.3/5 (based on 79+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000,000+

Update Frequency

Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

6.1 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin allows theme authors to define import files within their themes, enabling users to import demo data effortlessly by clicking the 'Import Demo Data' button.

Theme authors can set up One Click Demo Imports for their themes, ensuring a user-friendly experience for their customers.

For further assistance, users can refer to the plugin documentation, which provides detailed guidance on importing demo content.

Comparing to Alternatives

One Click Demo Import is one of the most widely used tools in its category, but the space is crowded with theme-specific and generic alternatives. Many competing plugins are built by theme shops to serve their own demo content, while this plugin remains a more general-purpose solution.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple, straightforward workflow for importing demo content, widgets, and settings
Free to use with no premium tier gating core functionality
Widely adopted, so many theme developers already build compatibility around it
Strong reputation for responsive support according to user feedback

Weaknesses

Lacks detailed progress feedback during import, which can confuse users on larger imports
Has a documented history of serious vulnerabilities, including an admin-level PHP object injection flaw
Many alternatives are tied to specific themes, so this plugin's general-purpose approach may lack the tighter integration some niche importers offer

User Sentiment Analysis

With 79 ratings, the plugin holds a strong 4.3/5 average, with 81% of reviewers giving 5 stars. However, a notable 15.2% left 1-star ratings, creating a polarized distribution rather than a smooth curve of satisfaction.

Positive highlights

"Perfect, very easy to use!" — bonnie333
"OCDI is a very helpful plugin... 100% free... best team" — Amine
"It works well" — Anil Chandra Robidas
"A must-have companion for theme authors and a lifesaver for users" — ajkastner77
"It's easy to use... perfectly worked for my website and mainly it's absolutely free" — Quotes Ninja

Common complaints

Weaknesses

No progress indication during import, leaving users uncertain if the process is working or stuck, as noted by Krishnakumar KA
Import failures tied to hosting/server restrictions can be confusing for less technical users
Past vulnerabilities, including a high-severity admin+ PHP object injection issue, indicate the plugin has required significant security patching over time

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Ideal for theme developers and website builders who need a reliable, free way to import demo content, widgets, and customizer settings quickly. Works well for users comfortable with basic WordPress admin tasks and who keep their installation updated.

Not ideal for

Not the best fit for beginners who need detailed import progress or troubleshooting guidance, since error messages can be vague. Security-conscious site owners running outdated versions should also be cautious given the plugin's history of admin-level vulnerabilities, and should ensure they are on the latest patched release.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers full core functionality: importing demo content, widget configurations, customizer settings, and theme setup in one click, at no cost.

Final Verdict

One Click Demo Import remains a dependable, free tool with strong overall satisfaction, evidenced by its 4.3/5 rating and abundance of positive feedback praising its simplicity and support. However, the notable 15% share of 1-star ratings and a documented history of two vulnerabilities, including a high-severity admin+ object injection flaw, suggest it isn't without friction or risk, particularly for users who delay updates.

Given the wide field of theme-specific alternatives, users tied to a particular theme ecosystem may find a more tailored importer suits their needs better. But for general use across varied themes, this plugin's free, no-frills approach still holds up well, provided it's kept updated and used with routine security hygiene in mind.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free One Click Demo Import plugin.

demo import

theme settings

content import

Screenshots

FAQ

You will find the import page in wp-admin -> Appearance -> Import Demo Data.

This question is for theme authors. To predefine demo imports, you just have to add the following code structure, with your own values to your theme (using the ocdi/import_files filter):

function ocdi_import_files() {     return array(         array(             'import_file_name'           => 'Demo Import 1',             'categories'                 => array( 'Category 1', 'Category 2' ),             'import_file_url'            => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/demo-content.xml',             'import_widget_file_url'     => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/widgets.json',             'import_customizer_file_url' => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/customizer.dat',             'import_redux'               => array(                 array(                     'file_url'    => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/redux.json',                     'option_name' => 'redux_option_name',                 ),             ),             'import_preview_image_url'   => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/preview_import_image1.jpg',             'import_notice'              => __( 'After you import this demo, you will have to setup the slider separately.', 'your-textdomain' ),             'preview_url'                => 'http://www.your_domain.com/my-demo-1',         ),         array(             'import_file_name'           => 'Demo Import 2',             'categories'                 => array( 'New category', 'Old category' ),             'import_file_url'            => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/demo-content2.xml',             'import_widget_file_url'     => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/widgets2.json',             'import_customizer_file_url' => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/customizer2.dat',             'import_redux'               => array(                 array(                     'file_url'    => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/redux.json',                     'option_name' => 'redux_option_name',                 ),                 array(                     'file_url'    => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/redux2.json',                     'option_name' => 'redux_option_name_2',                 ),             ),             'import_preview_image_url'   => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/preview_import_image2.jpg',             'import_notice'              => __( 'A special note for this import.', 'your-textdomain' ),             'preview_url'                => 'http://www.your_domain.com/my-demo-2',         ),     ); } add_filter( 'ocdi/import_files', 'ocdi_import_files' );

You can set content import, widgets, customizer and Redux framework import files. You can also define a preview image, which will be used only when multiple demo imports are defined, so that the user will see the difference between imports. Categories can be assigned to each demo import, so that they can be filtered easily. The preview URL will display the “Preview” button in the predefined demo item, which will open this URL in a new tab and user can view how the demo site looks like.

You can do that, with the ocdi/after_import action hook. The code would look something like this:

function ocdi_after_import_setup() {     // Assign menus to their locations.     $main_menu = get_term_by( 'name', 'Main Menu', 'nav_menu' );      set_theme_mod( 'nav_menu_locations', array(             'main-menu' => $main_menu->term_id, // replace 'main-menu' here with the menu location identifier from register_nav_menu() function         )     );      // Assign front page and posts page (blog page).     $front_page_id = get_page_by_title( 'Home' );     $blog_page_id  = get_page_by_title( 'Blog' );      update_option( 'show_on_front', 'page' );     update_option( 'page_on_front', $front_page_id->ID );     update_option( 'page_for_posts', $blog_page_id->ID );  } add_action( 'ocdi/after_import', 'ocdi_after_import_setup' );

You have to use the same filter as in above example, but with a slightly different array keys: local_*. The values have to be absolute paths (not URLs) to your import files. To use local import files, that reside in your theme folder, please use the below code. Note: make sure your import files are readable!

function ocdi_import_files() {     return array(         array(             'import_file_name'             => 'Demo Import 1',             'categories'                   => array( 'Category 1', 'Category 2' ),             'local_import_file'            => trailingslashit( get_template_directory() ) . 'ocdi/demo-content.xml',             'local_import_widget_file'     => trailingslashit( get_template_directory() ) . 'ocdi/widgets.json',             'local_import_customizer_file' => trailingslashit( get_template_directory() ) . 'ocdi/customizer.dat',             'local_import_redux'           => array(                 array(                     'file_path'   => trailingslashit( get_template_directory() ) . 'ocdi/redux.json',                     'option_name' => 'redux_option_name',                 ),             ),             'import_preview_image_url'     => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/preview_import_image1.jpg',             'import_notice'                => __( 'After you import this demo, you will have to setup the slider separately.', 'your-textdomain' ),             'preview_url'                  => 'http://www.your_domain.com/my-demo-1',         ),         array(             'import_file_name'             => 'Demo Import 2',             'categories'                   => array( 'New category', 'Old category' ),             'local_import_file'            => trailingslashit( get_template_directory() ) . 'ocdi/demo-content2.xml',             'local_import_widget_file'     => trailingslashit( get_template_directory() ) . 'ocdi/widgets2.json',             'local_import_customizer_file' => trailingslashit( get_template_directory() ) . 'ocdi/customizer2.dat',             'local_import_redux'           => array(                 array(                     'file_path'   => trailingslashit( get_template_directory() ) . 'ocdi/redux.json',                     'option_name' => 'redux_option_name',                 ),                 array(                     'file_path'   => trailingslashit( get_template_directory() ) . 'ocdi/redux2.json',                     'option_name' => 'redux_option_name_2',                 ),             ),             'import_preview_image_url'     => 'http://www.your_domain.com/ocdi/preview_import_image2.jpg',             'import_notice'                => __( 'A special note for this import.', 'your-textdomain' ),             'preview_url'                  => 'http://www.your_domain.com/my-demo-2',         ),     ); } add_filter( 'ocdi/import_files', 'ocdi_import_files' );

This question might be asked by a theme author wanting to implement different after import setups for multiple predefined demo imports. Lets say we have predefined two demo imports with the following names: ‘Demo Import 1’ and ‘Demo Import 2’, the code for after import setup would be (using the ocdi/after_import filter):

function ocdi_after_import( $selected_import ) {     echo "This will be displayed on all after imports!";      if ( 'Demo Import 1' === $selected_import['import_file_name'] ) {         echo "This will be displayed only on after import if user selects Demo Import 1";          // Set logo in customizer         set_theme_mod( 'logo_img', get_template_directory_uri() . '/assets/images/logo1.png' );     }     elseif ( 'Demo Import 2' === $selected_import['import_file_name'] ) {         echo "This will be displayed only on after import if user selects Demo Import 2";          // Set logo in customizer         set_theme_mod( 'logo_img', get_template_directory_uri() . '/assets/images/logo2.png' );     } } add_action( 'ocdi/after_import', 'ocdi_after_import' );

Of course you can, use the ocdi/before_widgets_import action. You can also target different predefined demo imports like in the example above. Here is a simple example code of the ocdi/before_widgets_import action:

function ocdi_before_widgets_import( $selected_import ) {     echo "Add your code here that will be executed before the widgets get imported!"; } add_action( 'ocdi/before_widgets_import', 'ocdi_before_widgets_import' );

You can change the plugin intro text by using the ocdi/plugin_intro_text filter:

function ocdi_plugin_intro_text( $default_text ) {     $default_text .= '<div class="ocdi__intro-text">This is a custom text added to this plugin intro text.</div>';      return $default_text; } add_filter( 'ocdi/plugin_intro_text', 'ocdi_plugin_intro_text' );

To add some text in a separate “box”, you should wrap your text in a div with a class of ‘ocdi__intro-text’, like in the code example above.

This will greatly improve the time needed to import the content (images), but only the original sized images will be imported. You can disable it with a filter, so just add this code to your theme function.php file:

add_filter( 'ocdi/regenerate_thumbnails_in_content_import', '__return_false' );

As a theme author you do not like the location of the “Import Demo Data” plugin page in Appearance -> Import Demo Data? You can change that with the filter below. Apart from the location, you can also change the title or the page/menu and some other parameters as well.

function ocdi_plugin_page_setup( $default_settings ) {     $default_settings['parent_slug'] = 'themes.php';     $default_settings['page_title']  = esc_html__( 'One Click Demo Import' , 'one-click-demo-import' );     $default_settings['menu_title']  = esc_html__( 'Import Demo Data' , 'one-click-demo-import' );     $default_settings['capability']  = 'import';     $default_settings['menu_slug']   = 'one-click-demo-import';      return $default_settings; } add_filter( 'ocdi/plugin_page_setup', 'ocdi_plugin_page_setup' );

In version 2.0.0 there is a new action hook: ocdi/before_content_import, which will let you hook before the content import starts. An example of the code would look like this:

function ocdi_before_content_import( $selected_import ) {     if ( 'Demo Import 1' === $selected_import['import_file_name'] ) {         // Here you can do stuff for the "Demo Import 1" before the content import starts.         echo "before import 1";     }     else {         // Here you can do stuff for all other imports before the content import starts.         echo "before import 2";     } } add_action( 'ocdi/before_content_import', 'ocdi_before_content_import' );

It’s easy, just add this to your theme:

add_action( 'ocdi/enable_wp_customize_save_hooks', '__return_true' );

This will enable the following WP hooks when importing the customizer data: customize_save, customize_save_*, customize_save_after.

If you want to host your import content files on Amazon S3, but you want them to be publicly available, rather through an own API as presigned URL’s (which expires) you can use the filter ocdi/pre_download_import_files in which you can pass your own URL’s, for example:

add_filter( 'ocdi/pre_download_import_files', function( $import_file_info ){      // In this example get_my_custom_urls` is supposedly making a `wp_remote_get` request, getting the urls from an API server where you're creating the presigned urls, [example here](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sdk-for-php/v3/developer-guide/s3-presigned-url.html). // This request should return an array containing all the 3 links - `import_file_url`, `import_widget_file_url`, `import_customizer_file_url` $request = get_my_custom_urls( $import_file_info );  if ( !is_wp_error( $request ) ) {     if ( isset($request['data']) && is_array($request['data']) )     {         if( isset($request['data']['import_file_url']) && $import_file_url = $request['data']['import_file_url'] ){             $import_file_info['import_file_url'] = $import_file_url;         }         if( isset($request['data']['import_widget_file_url']) && $import_widget_file_url = $request['data']['import_widget_file_url'] ){             $import_file_info['import_widget_file_url'] = $import_widget_file_url;         }         if( isset($request['data']['import_customizer_file_url']) && $import_customizer_file_url = $request['data']['import_customizer_file_url'] ){             $import_file_info['import_customizer_file_url'] = $import_customizer_file_url;         }     } }  return $import_file_info;

} );
`