This is Why You Should Preview Contact Form 7 Entries Before They're Submitted
As a WordPress developer or website owner, having a reliable contact form is crucial for engaging with your audience and generating leads. One of the most popular contact form plugins, Contact Form 7, provides a user-friendly way to create and manage forms on your site. However, issues can arise when trying to add custom functionality to these forms.
In this article, we'll explore a common problem faced by WordPress users – the inability to preview contact form entries before they're submitted. We'll also dive into the technical details behind this issue and provide step-by-step solutions to help you fix it.
The Problem: Improper Use of the text() Method
One of the most common problems encountered when trying to preview Contact Form 7 entries is the improper use of the text()
method. This jQuery function is often used to set the text content of an HTML element, but it's important to understand how it should be properly implemented.
Let's take a look at the following code snippet:
jQuery('#companyname').on('blur', function() {
var company_name = jQuery(this).val();
jQuery('#div1').text(company_name);
});
In this example, the code is attempting to capture the value entered in the "companyname" form field and display it in the "div1" element. However, there's an issue with the way the text()
method is used.
The text()
method in jQuery takes an argument, which is the new text content you want to set for the selected element. In the code above, the assignment jQuery('#div1').text(company_name)
is incorrect, as it's trying to set the text()
method as a variable assignment rather than passing it an argument.
The correct way to use the text()
method would be:
jQuery('#companyname').on('blur', function() {
var company_name = jQuery(this).val();
jQuery('#div1').text(company_name);
});
By passing the company_name
variable as an argument to the text()
method, you're ensuring that the content of the "div1" element is properly updated with the value entered in the "companyname" field.
The Solution: Properly Referencing the Current Object
Another issue that can arise when trying to preview Contact Form 7 entries is the incorrect way of referencing the current object within the event handler function.
In the code snippet above, the line var company_name = jQuery(this).val();
is using the this
keyword to refer to the current form field. However, there's a more reliable way to achieve the same result using the jQuery(this)
syntax.
The this
keyword in JavaScript can be tricky to work with, as its value can change depending on the context in which it's used. To ensure that you're always referencing the correct object, it's recommended to use the jQuery(this)
syntax, which provides a more robust and reliable way to access the current form field.
Here's the corrected code:
jQuery('#companyname').on('blur', function() {
var company_name = jQuery(this).val();
jQuery('#div1').text(company_name);
});
By using jQuery(this)
instead of just this
, you're ensuring that the current form field is correctly referenced, regardless of the context in which the event handler function is executed.
The Typo: Capitalizing "jQuery"
Another common issue that can arise when working with WordPress and Contact Form 7 is the incorrect capitalization of the "jQuery" keyword. In the code snippet above, the line JQuery('#companyname').on('blur', function() { ... })
has a typo, as the correct capitalization is "jQuery", not "JQuery".
While this may seem like a minor issue, it's important to be precise when working with JavaScript libraries like jQuery. Capitalizing the library name correctly ensures that the code can properly reference and interact with the jQuery library, avoiding any potential conflicts or errors.
Here's the corrected code:
jQuery('#companyname').on('blur', function() {
var company_name = jQuery(this).val();
jQuery('#div1').text(company_name);
});
By fixing the capitalization of "jQuery", you're ensuring that your code is properly interacting with the jQuery library and that your Contact Form 7 entries can be previewed correctly.
Improving the User Experience with Preview Functionality
Now that we've addressed the technical issues, let's explore how you can leverage the power of preview functionality to enhance the user experience on your WordPress site.
Allowing users to preview their contact form entries before submitting them can have several benefits:
-
Reduced Errors: When users can see their submitted information before it's sent, they're more likely to catch and correct any mistakes or typos, leading to higher-quality form submissions.
-
Improved Confidence: Providing a preview feature can help users feel more in control of the form-filling process, increasing their confidence in the submission and making them more likely to complete the form.
-
Better Data Quality: Accurate and complete form submissions translate to higher-quality data for your business, which can be used to improve your products, services, and overall customer experience.
-
Enhanced Conversion Rates: By reducing the friction and uncertainty associated with form submissions, you can potentially see an increase in your website's conversion rates, as users are more likely to complete the contact form.
To implement the preview functionality, you can use a combination of JavaScript, jQuery, and PHP to capture the form data, display it in a preview area, and then submit the form when the user confirms the information is correct.
Here's an example of how you can achieve this:
jQuery('#companyname').on('blur', function() {
var company_name = jQuery(this).val();
jQuery('#preview-company-name').text(company_name);
});
jQuery('#contact-form').on('submit', function(event) {
event.preventDefault();
// Gather form data
var formData = jQuery(this).serialize();
// Display form data in preview area
jQuery('#preview-container').show();
// Allow user to confirm or cancel the submission
if (confirm('Please review the following information before submitting the form:')) {
// Submit the form
jQuery.ajax({
type: 'POST',
url: ajaxurl,
data: formData,
success: function(response) {
alert('Form submitted successfully!');
},
error: function(xhr, status, error) {
alert('Error submitting the form. Please try again later.');
}
});
}
});
In this example, the code listens for the blur
event on the "companyname" field, capturing the input value and displaying it in a preview area (#preview-company-name
). When the user submits the form, the code prevents the default form submission, shows the preview container, and allows the user to confirm or cancel the submission.
If the user confirms the preview, the form data is submitted using AJAX, and a success or error message is displayed based on the response.
By implementing this type of preview functionality, you're providing a seamless and user-friendly experience for your Contact Form 7 users, ultimately leading to higher-quality form submissions and better overall data for your business.
Conclusion
In this article, we've addressed several common issues that can arise when working with Contact Form 7 in WordPress, including the improper use of the text()
method, the correct way to reference the current object, and the importance of capitalizing the "jQuery" keyword correctly.
By understanding and resolving these technical problems, you can improve the functionality and user experience of your Contact Form 7 implementation, leading to more accurate and reliable form submissions. Additionally, by incorporating a preview feature, you can further enhance the user experience and potentially see an increase in your website's conversion rates.
Remember, attention to detail and a willingness to dive into the technical aspects of your WordPress site can go a long way in improving its overall performance and user satisfaction. If you'd like to learn more about how Flowpoint.ai can help you identify and fix technical issues that are impacting your website's conversion rates, be sure to check out our website.
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