Form Shortcode not saving data to WP database

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I’m developing a plugin that creates a custom table upon plugin activation. The plugin allows users to add a form shortcode to collect data for leads.

I’ve got to the point where either the data saves but I can’t create a new post (I’ll get the “headers already sent” when the publish button is cliked in the WP editor) or, I’m able to create a new post, the form does display via shortcode BUT the data does not save to the database.

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I’ve been pulling my hair out trying to figure out what I’m doing wrong.

Any help in the right direction would be much appreciated.

Here is the form process code. 

    //Process form data
function el_process_form(){

if (isset($_POST['everlead'])) {

    if( $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST' && !empty( $_POST['post_type'] ) &&  $_POST['post_type'] == "everlead"){

             $name = stripcslashes($_POST["name"]);
             $email = stripcslashes($_POST["email"]);
             $phone = stripcslashes($_POST["phone"]);
             $website = stripcslashes($_POST["website"]);

        // Do some minor form validation to make sure there is content
        if (trim($name) == "" ) {

            echo 'Please enter your name. <br />';

        }
        if (trim($email) == "" ) {

            echo 'Please enter a valid email address.<br/>';
        }
        if (trim($phone) == "" ) {

            echo 'Please enter a contact number.<br/>';
        }
        if (trim($website) == "" ) {

            echo 'Please enter your website url.<br/>';
        }

    global $wpdb;
    //Set time
    $formtime = date('m-d-Y h:i:a');
    $ipaddress = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];

    //Table data
    $data = array(
        'name'      => $name,
        'email'     => $email,
        'phone'     => $phone,
        'website'   => $website,
        'date'      => $formtime,
        'ipaddress' => $ipaddress
    );

    //set lead data
    $table = $wpdb->prefix . 'el_leads';

    $wpdb->insert( $table, $data, array('%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s') );

    }
}
}

add_action( 'init', 'el_process_form' );

One weird thing with the code above ^^^. Everything works fine if on a local server (xampp) you remove if (isset($_POST['everlead'])) { but I get the “headers already sent” error when on a live site.’

Also, If I add this if statement before the form process, I’m not able to save the data to the database. 

    function el_process_form(){
if(isset($_POST['post_type'])){
...process form data
}
}
add_action('init', 'el_process_form' );

The code above allows me to create a new post (as stated in previous paragraph) but the data does not save.

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1 comment

  1. Ok, for some reason it’s now working. Instead of hooking into ‘init’ I’ve used ‘the_post’ and the form shortcode does it’s job. I no longer have an issue with publishing a new post or the data not saving. Also, no “Cannot modify header information – headers already sent” error.

    The function

    function el_process_form(){
if( $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST' && !empty( $_POST['post_type'] ) &&  $_POST['post_type'] == "everlead"){

         $name = stripcslashes($_POST["name"]);
         $email = stripcslashes($_POST["email"]);
         $phone = stripcslashes($_POST["phone"]);
         $website = stripcslashes($_POST["website"]);

    // Do some minor form validation to make sure there is content
    if (trim($name) == "" ) {

        echo 'Please go back and enter your name. <br />';
        exit();         
    }
    if (trim($email) == "" ) {

        echo 'Please go back and enter a valid email address.<br/>';
        exit();
    }
    if (trim($phone) == "" ) {

        echo 'Please go back and enter a contact number.<br/>';
        exit();
    }
    if (trim($website) == "" ) {

        echo 'Please go back and enter your website url.<br/>';
        exit();
    }

global $wpdb;
//Set time
$formtime = date('m-d-Y h:i:a');
$ipaddress = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];

//Table data
$data = array(
    'name'      => $name,
    'email'     => $email,
    'phone'     => $phone,
    'website'   => $website,
    'date'      => $formtime,
    'ipaddress' => $ipaddress
);

//set lead data
$table = $wpdb->prefix . 'el_leads';

$wpdb->insert( $table, $data, array('%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s') );

}

    }

    I use ‘the_post’ and all is fine

    add_action( 'the_post', 'el_process_form' );

    Now my shortcode [el_form buttonsize="block"] works and displays the form on any page or post. Most importantly, it saves the data to the database.

    I’ll have to dig deeper to find out why ‘the_post’ works over ‘init’ when using a form shortcode.

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