Shortcode for default value [RESOLVED]

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1

Hi,

I have a custom shortcode that I would like to use for the default value for a field, but I just can’t get it to work.

I’ve defined the shortcode as follows:

add_shortcode('test-name', 'test_shortcode');

function test_shortcode() { 
	$message = 'hi from the short code'; 
	return $message;
}

This works when I used it in a post as [test-name], but when I use it as the default value specified as “[test-name]” (No quotes) all I see is [test-name] when I view the form, as opposed to ‘hi from the short code’.

Is there something I’m missing about using shortcodes for the default value for fields?

2

Hi Mark,

Since you want to use this to set the default value of a field, instead of creating a custom shortcode, you may want to create a custom merge tag using gform_replace_merge_tags filter hook.

You can use the snippet below as a starting point to do what you want, and you would use the {test-name} merge tag to set the default value.

    add_filter( 'gform_replace_merge_tags', 'test_merge_tag', 10, 1 );
    function test_merge_tag( $text ) {
	    $message = 'hi from the short code'; 
	    $text = str_replace( '{test-name}', $message, $text );  
	    return $text;
}

Best,

3

Hi Samuel,

Thanks! That worked perfectly, I should be able to use merge tags instead of shortcodes for this.

Do you know if shortcodes no longer work for default values? I started with short codes because it’s listed in the help text for the “Allow field to be populated dynamically” checkbox:

Check this option to enable data to be passed to the form and pre-populate this field dynamically. Data can be passed via Query Strings, **Shortcode** and/or Hooks.

Thanks

4

Hi Mark. In that text you highlighted, the Shortcode referred to there is the gravityforms shortcode, passing in a default value like this:

[gravityform id="1" field_values="parameter_name1=value1&parameter_name2=value2"]

Documented in that page:

It was never possible to use shortcodes as default values for fields in the form builder, but custom merge tags will work.

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5

Ah, I see, sorry about that I misunderstood what would work based on the help text. Thanks for the conformation.

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