Understanding the transformation of the contact form into a post

I can get you started.

After you create the new form, when you view your list of forms you’ll see a new column. Click on the link “Create New” to map the form to a post:
screenshot – new column

this will take you to the mapping page. In the following screenshot:

1) you need to name your custom post type, and then give readable singular and plural names for the WordPress backend menu system. Here I’ve named my custom post type user-msg.

2) If you want, you can map any of your form fields to some of the default built-in post fields. This is not necessary.

3) Use this area to create new meta fields in the custom post to hold your form data. For each field you create, give it a name and select the form field you want mapped to it. For example, here I’ve mapped the custom field “user_message” to the form field “your-message”

4) After you have submitted a form, you will see a new menu item in the left sidebar. This will take you to your new custom post type, and list all the forms submitted — one for each post.

screenshot – mapping fields to a post

Hope that gets you started.

thank you @macnmotion2

@bature419 please do read each screenshot carefully as there is a lot of added information there.

I am planning on a making a tutorial video in the next few weeks that I will post on this plugin page.

It’s a very powerful piece of software – I’m sure a tutorial will open my eyes to possibilities as well. Looking forward to it.

Hi again,
Thanks for your detailed answer.

I tried to follow your instructions step by step, although I bump into 2 prior difficulties: English is not my mother tongue and I’m not a web developer either, just a WordPress user. What is a hook ? a filter ? a taxonomy ? What do you mean by mapping a field?

I managed to create a form, then a map which I filled copying your example. But I did not create any custom field as I did not know what it meant and what it was useful for. Can you tell me more… in plain, not too technical English?

I filled in the form myself as if I was a visitor. It was registered as a user message (see this screen) which looks like an article… without being one though. I thought your plugin would turn the message into a proper post with features like a category, tags, an excerpt, a featured image).

Can you help me to get that result?

Thanks in advance for your answer

I’m not a web developer either, just a WordPress user.

its going to be difficult to use this plugin. Mapping (saving) a form to a post does require some knowledge of how posts are stored in the WordPress framework.

What is a hook ? a filter ? a taxonomy ?

You will need to look these up, there are some excellent online video tutorials you can look up.
These introduction videos to WordPress are a good start. (you need to sign up, buts its free).

Video on actions & filters (2 type of hooks).
Taxonomies are used to classify your posts such as categories and tags.

What do you mean by mapping a field?

when your form is submitted, the values of the fields can be saved into a post if the form is mapped. For example the name field in your form could be mapped to the title of your post, so each time your form is submitted the value of the name field is saved as the title of your post.

If you need to save (map) your form to your posts you will need to learn the basic of development and post creation in the WordPress framework, else you will struggle and likely make mistakes that will be difficult to debug.

The alternative is to hire a developer to solve your requirements.

Hi, Aurovrata

Thanks for taking the time to answer me.

I’ll have a look at the videos but I must admit I am disappointed by your insistance on development. The whole idea about WordPress – and its main asset for the general public – is that the development has already been done by skilled people so that the web environment is more widely opened to people who have other crafts or professions. The vast majority of the plugins are ready-to-use and the amount of extra development required by your plugin gives me the impression that only half the work has been done – sorry to be so direct.

All the best

The vast majority of the plugins are ready-to-use

you’re right, however the majority of plugins is about doing much simpler functionality extensions that require intuitive interactions/inputs from users.

your plugin gives me the impression that only half the work has been done – sorry to be so direct.

you are right, this plugin was primarily designed for developers, because the creation of post and the associated meta values and taxonomies requires intermediate to advance understanding of the framework.

Making a plugin that shields basic users from all the complexity would require a lot more effort in development and maintenance and I don’t have the time nor the resources to do so.

kind regards