Describes the preserveAPMode

mkdocs/advancedusage.md

@@ -456,6 +456,12 @@ portal.config(acConfig);
 portal.begin();
 ```
 
+### <i class="fa fa-caret-right"></i> Launch SoftAP separately with the Sketch
+
+Certain communication protocols applicable to the ESP module require that the WiFi mode is AP + STA in order to operate normally. (ie. [ESP-NOW](https://www.espressif.com/en/products/software/esp-now), [ESP-MESH](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/latest/esp32/api-guides/mesh.html)) Even Sketches using Espressif own WiFi protocol will able to open a gateway to the Internet by connecting to a WiFi router via AutoConnect. To enable applying these protocols, It needs to launch SoftAP by itself in a sketch and then call [*AutoConnect::begin*](api.md#begin), but the default behavior of [*AutoConnect::begin*](api.md#begin) will turn off SoftAP always then it unable to open a connection.
+
+[*AutoConnectConfig::preserveAPMode*](apiconfig.md#preserveAPMode) setting maintains WiFi-AP mode without disabling SoftAP inside [*AutoConnect::begin*](api.md#begin). The Sketch can utilize the WiFi connection via AutoConnect with ESP-MESH and ESP-NOW protocol by enabling this option.
+
 ### <i class="fa fa-caret-right"></i> Make SSID of SoftAP unique
 
 You can change SoftAP's SSID and password programmatically when the captive portal starts up. By using chip specific ID of esp8266/esp32 you can make SSID of SoftAP unique. SSID and password for SoftAP is [*AutoConnectConfig::apid*](apiconfig.md#apid) and [*AutoConnectConfig::psk*](apiconfig.md#psk).
@@ -656,6 +662,8 @@ You can adjust the AutoConnect behave at run-time using [AutoConnectConfig](apic
 AutoConnectConfig allows the Sketch controls the behavior of follows:
 
 - [Applying HTTP authentication](#applying-http-authentication)
+- [Applying HTTP authentication for Built-in OTA](#applying-http-authentication-for-built-in-ota)
+- [Authentication with the captive portal state](#authentication-with-the-captive-portal-state)
 - [Assign user sketch's home path](#assign-user-sketchs-home-path)
 - [Built-in OTA update](#built-in-ota-update-feature)
 - [Change menu title](#change-menu-title)

mkdocs/apiconfig.md

@@ -290,6 +290,19 @@ Specify the timeout value of the captive portal in [ms] units. It is valid when
     <dd><span class="apidef">unsigned long</span><span class="apidesc">Captive portal timeout value. The default value is 0.</span></dd>
 </dl>
 
+### <i class="fa fa-caret-right"></i> preserveAPMode
+
+Specifies starting the STA while maintaining the state of the SoftAP mode in the [**AutoConnect::begin**](api.md#begin). This setting only applies when the [**AutoConnectConfig::autoRise**](apiconfig.md#autorise) is false.
+<dl class="apidl">
+    <dt>**Type**</dt>
+    <dd>bool</dd>
+    <dt>**Value**</dt>
+    <dd><span class="apidef">true</span><span class="apidesc">AutoConnect::begin keeps AP mode.</span></dd>
+    <dd><span class="apidef">false</span>AutoConnect::begin will stop SoftAP at the beginning of the process.<span class="apidesc"></span></dd>
+</dl>
+
+Note that this option is not for starting the SoftAP forcibly in [**AutoConnect::begin**](api.md#begin) and only keeps AP mode, SoftAP initiation is left to the Sketch.
+
 ### <i class="fa fa-caret-right"></i> principle
 
 Specify the connection order will attempt to connect to one of the highest RSSI values among multiple available access points. It is given as an enumeration value of **AC_PRINCIPLE_t** indicating.