WordPress User Submitted Posts - Use Case - How To Add Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Into the Submission Form


How To Add Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Into the Submission Form

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Note: This guide requires:


Introduction

WordPress User Submitted Posts is a plugin that allows logged in users submit posts, review drafts and upload images via a customizable form. Update and moderate their content and provide writing tips.

Use Case Front-End

Custom fields added into the submission form:

Custom fields in the submission form - WordPress Plugin to Allow Users to Post On Front End
Custom fields in the submission form

Adding content to the submission form and filling custom fields:

Filling the form - Frontend Publishing Plugin
Filling the form

Custom fields added into the post:

Custom fields added into the post - Front End Post Submission WordPress Plugin
Custom fields added into the post

Use Case Assumptions

In this example use case guide we will consider how to add custom fields from the plugin Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) into the submission form to let users add extra information.

We consider that you have already bought the plugin, but not installed it yet.

It follows:

Installing the Plugin

The process is the same for all CM plugins and add-ons.

CreativeMinds Customer Account Dashboard - Downloads tab
CreativeMinds Customer Account Dashboard
  • Download the plugin from your customer dashboard.
  • Log in to WordPress and navigate to the WordPress Admin → Plugins settings.
  • Click on Add New.
  • Activate it and add the license.

Learn more: Getting Started - Plugin Overview


Quick Recap

In this example use case guide we will consider only how to add custom fields from the plugin Advanced Custom Fields to the submission form. We will not consider the whole process of configuring the plugin WordPress User Submitted Posts and how to enable the submission form. You can learn more about it in this use case guide: WordPress User Submitted Posts - Use Case - How to Let Your Users Submit Posts Without Accessing the Site Backend

Creating Custom Fields

First of all, we need to create a group of custom fields that we want to add into the submission form. You can refer to the documentation of the plugin Advanced Custom Fields to learn more about how to create a group of custom fields.

We've created for our use case a few URL fields for adding links to external resources:

Creating a group of custom fields - Frontend Posting WordPress Plugin
Creating a group of custom fields

Locate the key of the created field group, as we will need it for adding into the submission form.

Locating the group key - WordPress Plugin to Allow Users to Post On Front End
Locating the group key

Important Note

Currently, only the following field types are supported by the plugin WordPress User Submitted Posts:

  • Text
  • Textarea
  • URL
  • Image
  • WYSIWYG editor

Adding Custom Fields Into the Submission Form

Adding custom fields into the submission form can be done by using the shortcode [add_post_form] with the parameter acf_field_group_key, where you should pass the key of the group of fields.

In our case the shortcode will be:

[add_post_form acf_field_group_key="group_61e411e495be9"]

Now let's put this shortcode to the post and click Publish / Edit.

Adding a field group to the submission form - Frontend Publishing Plugin
Adding a field group to the submission form

Now the submission form will have additional fields for adding external resources:

Custom fields added to the submission form - WordPress User Submitted Posts
Custom fields added to the submission form

Reminder

If you want your users to be able to edit their posts, you need the page that contains a shortcode for displaying the submission form to be set as an Editor Page. You can find this option by navigating to CM User Submitted Posts â†’ Settings â†’ General Settings tab.

General plugin settings - Front End Post Submission WordPress Plugin
General plugin settings

TIP

Learn more about how to display custom fields on the front-end in the documentation of the Advanced Custom Fields plugin: Displaying values in your theme

End Result

Following instructions found in the plugin and guides, you should be able to add custom fields from the plugin Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) into the submission form to let users add extra information.

Use Case Front-End

Custom fields added into the submission form:

Custom fields in the submission form - Frontend Posting WordPress Plugin
Custom fields in the submission form

Adding content to the submission form and filling custom fields:

Filling the form - WordPress Plugin to Allow Users to Post On Front End
Filling the form

Custom fields added into the post:

Custom fields added into the post - Frontend Publishing Plugin
Custom fields added into the post

More information about the WordPress User Submitted Posts plugin

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