Instagram generator

⚠️ Warning: Meta just deprecated its Instagram Basic Display API, which was used by our generator. Because of this, the current Smart Slider's Instagram generator does not work! We are in the process of creating a new generator, using a new API, but its development and test takes a lot of time, so we ask your patience. Once a corrected version will be released, this warning will be removed from this documentation.

⚠️ Warning: Meta (the owner of Facebook and Instagram) has a lot of limitations related to their APPs, and here is a list of them:

You need to have a HTTPS website, so an SSL certificate is required on your site.
You need to manually request a new token in every two month. At our Global settings → Generators → Instagram our system will write out when that two month ends to help you track it.
You need to have Creator or Business Instagram account. The first steps can help with this.

Video
Tutorial
Configuration
Common Error Messages

Video

(API creation process changed since the video, so for that, follow the written documentation instead)

Tutorial

To get started, you need to have a Creator or Business Instagram account. If you already have that, skip the first 5 steps.

Step 1 - Changing Personal account to Creator account

Step 2

Select to have a Creator or Business account and press Next.

Step 3

Press Next.

Step 4

Select any category and press Done.

Step 5

Press Done.

Step 6 - App creation

Step 7

Press Create app.

Step 8

Add an App name and press Next.

Step 9

Select Other and press Next.

Step 10

Select Business and press Next.

Step 11

Press Create app.

Step 12

Press Set up at Instagram.

Step 13

At 1. Generate access tokens, press Add account.

Step 14

Press Continue.

Step 15

Within the popup window, login to Instagram and press Allow.

Step 16

Go to Smart Slider's admin area → Global settings → Generators → Instagram, and copy out the Callback Url.

Step 17

Go back to your Meta application, and at 3. Set up Instagram business login, press Set up.

Step 18

Paste the url you copied at step 16. into the Redirect URL field and press Save.

Step 19

Copy out the Instagram app ID and the Instagram app secret.

Step 20

Paste them into Smart Slider's admin area, and press Request token.

Step 21

Allow the requested information in the popup window.

Step 22 - Create a dynamic slide

Go to any Slider Settings page and add a new dynamic slide. Choose Instagram .

Step 23 - Configure the generator

Set up your generator. Choose the settings you want.

You can also click on the View Records button to see the data you'll be creating your slide with.

When you're done, click on Add .

Step 24 - Edit the dynamic slide

After you saved your generator, you'll be redirected to the Slide Editor to set up the look of your slide. You can create your content by using variables.

Not sure what are the variables or how to use them? Learn how to work with variables.

Configuration

You can use these options to set what you want your generator to show.

Allow Single Images

Get posted single images.

Allow Albums

Get posted album images.

Allow Videos

Get posted videos.

Variables

These are the available variables you can use to build your dynamic slide content in the Slide Editor.

Not sure what are the variables or how to use them? Learn how to work with variables.

caption - Caption of the posted content
image - Url of the posted image
video - Url of the posted video
link - Link to the Instagram post
date - Creation date
time - Creation time
username - Your username
timestamp - Creation timestamp

Common Error Messages

Error validating access token

Error message

Oops, Something Went Wrong
Error validating access token: The user has not authorized application 4509553732495203.

Cause of the problem

This problem happens when the app permission was removed at Instagram. To solve the problem, request a new token.

Expired token

Error message

Oops, Something Went Wrong
Error validating access token: The user has not authorized application 1234567890

Cause of the problem

The tokens you requests for your Instagram app expire in 2 months. So if you see this message, you'll need to request a new token.