For WordPress users who rely on Gravity Forms for data collection, the Gravity View plugin is an essential tool to display that collected data in a user-friendly, customizable, and professional manner. Whether you’re managing customer inquiries, handling submissions, gathering feedback, or running a directory site, Gravity View enables you to easily display your Gravity Forms data in a variety of engaging ways.
In this article, we will explore the Gravity View WordPress plugin, its key features, and how it can transform your website’s data management. With its intuitive interface and flexibility, Gravity View can help you take full advantage of the data collected through your Gravity Forms.
What is Gravity View?
Gravity View is an advanced plugin for WordPress that allows users to display Gravity Forms entries on the front-end of your website in various formats. It essentially extends the functionality of Gravity Forms, turning collected form data into dynamic content that can be displayed, filtered, searched, and even edited on your website.
Designed for users who need more than just form submissions in the backend, Gravity View is the perfect solution for displaying data like job applications, event registrations, customer testimonials, feedback forms, and more. The plugin allows you to build directories, reports, and front-end listings with ease.
Key Features of Gravity View
1. Customizable View Layouts
One of the main selling points of Gravity View is its ability to turn form data into highly customizable views. You can choose how your entries are displayed, using templates or custom layouts. The plugin comes with multiple pre-built templates for easy display, but it also allows for full customization using shortcodes, themes, or custom HTML.
Some of the display options include:
- Table view: Display form entries in a tabular format, ideal for directories, user lists, and other structured data.
- List view: Present form entries in a list format with easy-to-scan bullet points.
- Detail view: Show full form entries in a detailed view, which is perfect for applications, reports, or submissions that require in-depth information.
- Custom views: You can also create unique layouts based on your specific needs, whether it’s a gallery, card-style view, or something more complex.
2. Frontend Filtering and Searching
Gravity View comes with built-in tools for users to filter and search through the displayed form entries. This is especially valuable when dealing with large amounts of data. Users can search or filter by fields such as dates, categories, tags, or custom taxonomy terms, making it easier for them to find relevant information.
These search and filtering capabilities improve the usability of your website, especially for directories, job boards, listings, and other data-heavy sites. Users can search for specific information without needing access to the WordPress backend.
3. User Permissions and Access Control
The Gravity View plugin allows you to control user access based on roles and permissions. You can restrict access to sensitive or private data by enabling certain views only for specific user roles, such as administrators, logged-in users, or contributors.
For example, you can:
- Allow only administrators to view certain entries or perform certain actions (like editing entries).
- Let registered users view and update their own entries.
- Enable different permissions for public users and back-end users.
These permission controls are essential for maintaining the security and integrity of the data displayed on your website.
4. Editable Entries (Front-End Editing)
Gravity View offers a powerful front-end editing feature that allows users to edit their submitted form entries directly from the front end of the website. This is particularly useful for applications or forms where users may need to update or correct their submissions after they’ve been sent in.
- You can choose which fields users are allowed to edit.
- Allow users to update their profile or contact information without needing to access the admin dashboard.
- You can also enable an approval process, so any changes made via the front-end are approved by an administrator before they go live.
This feature provides flexibility and convenience for both site owners and users.
5. Multi-Field Sorting and Pagination
When dealing with large datasets, sorting and pagination are crucial features that ensure your data is easily navigable. Gravity View includes advanced sorting options, allowing you to sort entries by multiple fields, such as alphabetical order, date, or custom criteria.
Additionally, pagination ensures that your users aren’t overwhelmed by a long list of entries. You can control how many entries are shown per page, which helps keep the front-end of your site clean and user-friendly.
6. Integration with Other Plugins and Add-Ons
Gravity View integrates seamlessly with several popular WordPress plugins and add-ons, enhancing its functionality. Some notable integrations include:
- Gravity Forms: Of course, Gravity View works directly with Gravity Forms, utilizing form data collected from your existing forms. It doesn’t require any additional setup, making it an easy-to-use solution for those already using Gravity Forms.
- WooCommerce: You can create front-end product catalogs, customer directories, or order lists from WooCommerce data.
- Geolocation: You can display location-based data (such as a list of stores or events) using the Gravity Forms Geolocation Add-On.
- Zapier: Integrate with thousands of third-party apps through Zapier, enabling automated workflows and data synchronization.
- Mailchimp: Export form entries into Mailchimp for email campaigns.
These integrations expand the versatility of Gravity View, making it a highly adaptable tool for many different types of websites.
7. Conditional Logic
Gravity View comes with conditional logic, allowing you to display certain fields or data based on specific conditions. For example:
- Display specific fields based on the user’s role or location.
- Show certain entries only if they meet specific criteria (e.g., events happening in the next week).
- Highlight or prioritize certain entries to improve the visibility of important information.
This feature allows you to create highly personalized experiences for your users and ensures the data displayed is relevant.
8. Data Export and Reporting
With Gravity View, you can easily export form entries to popular formats like CSV or Excel. This is useful for generating reports, performing further analysis, or sharing the data with stakeholders.
You can filter the data before exporting, making it easy to export specific sets of entries based on user-defined parameters or criteria.
Benefits of Using Gravity View
1. Streamlined Data Display
Gravity View transforms the way you present form data, making it easier to organize, customize, and display collected information in a professional and visually appealing way. Whether you’re showcasing user profiles, event submissions, or application forms, Gravity View helps you present data clearly and efficiently.
2. Enhanced User Experience
By allowing users to search, filter, and edit entries from the front end, Gravity View offers an interactive and user-friendly experience. This reduces friction for site visitors and helps them find the information they need quickly, leading to higher engagement.
3. More Control and Flexibility
Gravity View offers significant customization options, from choosing view layouts and filtering data to controlling who can see or edit entries. This gives you full control over how data is presented and interacted with on your site.
4. Time and Cost Savings
Gravity View eliminates the need for complex custom development to display form data in unique ways. Its pre-built templates, integrations, and user-friendly interface save you both time and money. You don’t need to hire a developer to create custom solutions for displaying form data.
5. Increased Data Management Efficiency
With advanced sorting, filtering, and reporting features, Gravity View makes managing and interacting with form data easier than ever. You can filter and export data based on specific criteria, making it simpler to generate reports or analyze trends.
Conclusion: Is Gravity View Right for You?
Gravity View is a powerful and flexible plugin that can take your Gravity Forms data to the next level. Whether you’re running a directory site, gathering customer feedback, displaying job applications, or showcasing event registrations, Gravity View provides the tools needed to turn form entries into dynamic, interactive content.
With its intuitive front-end display options, powerful filtering and search capabilities, and customizable layouts, Gravity View is an invaluable tool for WordPress site owners looking to make the most out of their Gravity Forms data. If you want to improve your site’s data management, boost user engagement, and create professional-looking data displays without coding, Gravity View is the perfect plugin for your WordPress site.