Maintaining user information across multiple forms

  • JohnReaves
    Asked on June 27, 2014 at 10:56 AM

    Hi ...

    We started a conversation about this on another thread:

    http://www.jotform.com/answers/266451-Is-it-possible-to-transfer-data-from-one-form-to-another-form?k=ce58d45aa8e762fe2c74837290bb630a

    But that thread seems to have an issue and I can't return to it.

    I'm not sure what I'm trying to do is possible. We're developing a survey for an event, consisting of several forms for different sessions of the event, and I was imagining that I could do the whole thing in Jotform. 

    It might make sense to use one multi-page form, except that I want to save data separately on each form at different times during the event.

    I realized that I need to maintain user information (name and email) across multiple forms, so the user doesn't have to sign in multiple times. You've been great in helping me understand how to pass data using the submit button and a custom URL; however, sometimes, as in a menu page with different options, it doesn't make sense to use a single submit button / process to choose between different forms/pages. 

    I tried using a link on an image to pass data, but apparently the same method that allows you to pass data in a URL doesn't work on a directly link, because it's not submitting to the database. (correct?)

    Is there any other way to keep a few pieces of data across forms?  I can do it using the Wordpress workaround, but that has other complexities; wondering if there isn't a simple PHP script or other method.

    Thanks for all you help, you guys have amazing support.

     

     

  • KadeJM
    Replied on June 27, 2014 at 11:32 AM

    Normally we ask that you please avoid opening duplicate threads about the same issue. However, your situation is understandable and I'm sorry to hear that you are having trouble returning to your original thread. Usually, if you are unable to access a thread then that is a browser issue so you would need to clear your browser cache which should resolve the issue. 

    Can you please try that to see if it then helps to allow you to return to your thread of origin and we will gladly continue helping you there?If not, then let us know here and we will gladly continue it here instead using the other thread as a reference.

    Additionally, I would like to point out that when we answer your threads you should get an email about it and there is a link at the bottom of the email which you can click on and that too should take you back to the thread you opened. You can also even search your name in our forum to find them as well.

  • JohnReaves
    Replied on June 27, 2014 at 11:53 AM

    HI ...

    I understand trying to keep control of the threads!

    However, I had the trouble on multiple browsers (chrome and IE), and first encountered it in when I clicked on the email link.  Switched browsers and found the thread on the forum, and still had the problem.

    Not having the problem on any other thread.

    Just rebooted machine and cleared cache.  Still having issue.  Here's the link from the original email response:

    http://www.jotform.com/answers/266451

  • KadeJM
    Replied on June 27, 2014 at 12:37 PM

    That's fine and I thank you for at least being willing to try to access it and also we do apologize about that. Anyhow, let's go ahead and move onto your problem...

    Within your form there is actually only two built-in ways to go about this through either Form-Linking (linking forms together) or by using the Auto-Fill Feature.

    I am thinking your best bet would be to chain a couple forms together known as what I call form-linking which is redirecting to another form immediately after the first form or so has been submitted. This would allow you to save out your user-based information into several different counter-parts individually between each section of your form like you mentioned that you want to do. You could then use a prepopulated setup using our population widget to carry over certain information to another form so that your user's don't have to keep entering in anything that needs to be repeated. Perhaps this might be something of interest to you.

    As for PHP if you are still interested or prefer doing it that way then you can find more information about different uses for this here http://www.jotform.com/help/237-PHP-Forms-Explained and here http://www.jotform.com/help/keyword_search.php?rpp=0&search=php.

     

  • JohnReaves
    Replied on June 27, 2014 at 12:52 PM

    Thanks!

    The form-linking seems to work as long as you're hitting submit between forms.  But I want people to to select which other form they will go to ... one of several forms. That means (I think) that the submit process won't work since it only sends you to one URL.

    If I understand the field prepopulator app you linked to, it generates a URL with static data, based on what you entered when the URL is generated. But I can't use a single URL for all users, since I want to pass on the individual user data. 

    Does that sound correct? 

    I'm not wild about trying to figure out the PHP root, but it seems like the only possibility is to run some PHP on the form or HTML to get the user data and configure the links to the next page/form.

  • KadeJM
    Replied on June 27, 2014 at 1:58 PM

    Actually you can shift gears on the form-linking concept based on conditional logic to create different links to different counterpart forms in those instances. Please see my example below.

    Demo: http://form.jotform.us/form/41774925921159

    Screenshots of Setup:

    Maintaining user information across multiple forms Image 1 Screenshot 20

    However, You are right as far as the submission button goes and it would still need to be clicked accordingly to move on. I suggested the form-linking as an alternative to the pre-population because of the way you wanted to do this which made me think it would work better for you.

    The pre-population method on the other hand you can actually set up to gather named data and carry it over by using the " field tags " accordingly with your field id names instead. The population will hand over the data instead of the tag itself. You can see an example use of this in a different instance for the name field here. Please note though that the more forms you have the more complex this will have to become.

    As for the PHP, I apologize but that isn't one of my strongest suits just yet though I am very willing to research that some more to see if there is a way of working with it further as a possibility.