This is the first of many feature reveals we will be doing before the public BETA release of Simple Forms 2.0. We have added a lot of new functionality and fixed several key bugs that have plagued this addon since its first release. Of course we would like to apologize for the extremely lengthy amount of time it has taken for us to complete this, but we hope this new release will help restore some faith in our products.
Introducting Global Fields…
This is the list of all global fields available.
In our first reveal we will be showcasing the new “Global Field” feature. This feature will allow you to create fields that can be used across many forms and have a centralized data point. For example, if you have a field called “List of Products” which is always the same for multiple forms you’ve created then this will help you keep that field synchronized.
Adding a New Global Field
When adding a new field you can choose what type.
This feature has created a new process for creating fields for your forms. When you opt to add a new field you will be prompted to choose what type of field you want. As you can see in our screen shot you can choose between three different types such as a “Field”, “Global Field” and the soon to be revealed “Template Field”. Stay tuned sometime after the holidays for more on the “Template Fields”. We have tried to make this as easy as possible for you and hope you like the new setup and process.
This is where you choose the global field to add to a form.
Once you have selected the “Global Field” type you will be prompted to choose which global field to add. In the example to the right we will be choosing to add the “Product” global field which lists all of our products. Once selected it will be added to your form fields and you can begin adjusting the field as you see fit.
Editing an Existing Global Field
You can easily edit a global field.
Of course editing a global field is as easy as editing any field. The only difference is that the field options will only be available under the “Global Fields” section. When you have added a global field to your form you can then customize the requirement, visibility and field order as you see fit for that particular form. This adds a level of control so you can ensure your global field behaves according to your specifications.
Deletion Process for Global Field
Choose how you would like the deletion of global fields to be handled.
When it comes to deleting a global field your first thought may be that it will be complicated. Fortunately we have worked hard to ensure that the process is as seamless as deleting any normal field. One of the new set of options in Simple Forms 2.0 is a section dedicated to the deletion process for global fields. You can choose which process you want to follow and change your mind at any time. You have three (3) different options to choose from:
- Delete Fields and Data: This will remove the global field and all of the data you’ve collected for it.
- Convert Fields to Individual Fields and Preserve Data: This will convert the global field into a normal field so you do not lose the data you’ve collected for each form.
- Prevent In-Use Global Fields from Being Deleted: This will make it so you cannot delete a global field associated with any form.
Once you’ve picked your option you can then go about creating and deleting new global fields without care.
This concludes the first reveal for Simple Forms 2.0 and we hope you will check back after the holidays for our next reveal. While we do not have an ETA for the release of 2.0, we hope to have it ready within Q1 of 2013. Thank you again for your support and Happy Holidays!
