Formidable Views is an add-on for the Formidable Forms plugin for WordPress. It enhances the functionality of Formidable Forms by allowing you to display form data on the front end of your website in a customizable and visually appealing way. Rather than just saving form submissions to the WordPress database, Formidable Views lets you display these submissions in any style or layout you choose. This tool is especially useful for creating dynamic lists, tables, directories, portfolios, and more.

Key Features of Formidable Views:

1. Display Form Data on the Front-End:
   • Formidable Views allows you to pull form data directly from the WordPress database and display it on the front-end of your website. This makes it easy to show form submissions as lists, tables, or any other custom layout.
2. Customizable Templates:
   • You can customize the layout and design of how your form submissions are displayed on your site using template tags. These tags can be inserted into your Views, allowing you to control the content, structure, and appearance of the data as you wish.
3. Dynamic Content Display:
   • The Views feature lets you display content dynamically, based on the data from submissions. For example, if you have a directory of user profiles, each submission can be displayed in a structured format like a card or table, and you can filter and sort them according to your needs.
4. Filtering and Sorting:
   • You can add filters and sorting options to allow users to find the information they need easily. For example, you might want to allow users to filter directory entries by categories, date, or other custom fields. Sorting options like ascending or descending order can also be applied to your views.
5. Conditional Logic:
   • The add-on supports conditional logic, enabling you to display different information or layouts based on specific criteria. For example, you can show certain data only if a form submission contains a particular value, or hide sections of the view based on user preferences.
6. Pagination:
   • If you have a large amount of form data to display, you can use pagination to split the content across multiple pages. This is particularly useful for displaying long lists of entries (e.g., in directories or data tables) without overwhelming users with too much information on a single page.
7. Search Capability:
   • Formidable Views allows you to add a search bar to help users find specific content within the data. Users can enter keywords to filter and find the records that match their search criteria.
8. Custom Field Integration:
   • If you are using custom fields in your forms, Formidable Views fully supports displaying those fields on the front-end. This includes fields like text, images, checkboxes, and even file uploads.
9. Advanced Design Options:
   • You can use CSS and HTML within the Views to style the output as needed. For more advanced designs, you can integrate with page builders (like Elementor or WPBakery Page Builder) to create custom, eye-catching layouts.
10. Shortcodes for Easy Integration:

• Shortcodes are available for easy integration of views into pages, posts, and widgets. This makes it simple to add dynamic data displays without needing to modify any code directly.

11. Frontend User Interface:

• Formidable Views allows for a frontend user interface. Users can submit, view, and edit their own form entries directly from the front-end, which is useful for user directories, submission forms, and membership sites.

12. Customizable Access Control:

• You can restrict access to certain views or entries based on user roles, ensuring that only authorized users can view or interact with specific data.

Benefits of Using Formidable Views:

1. Easily Display Form Data:
   • If you're collecting data through forms, Formidable Views gives you a quick and easy way to display that data without having to manually copy-paste or enter it into another system.
2. Create Dynamic, Data-Driven Websites:
   • By displaying form submissions as dynamic content (like listings, directories, or portfolios), you can create highly interactive, data-driven websites without needing to develop a custom solution.
3. Increase User Engagement:
   • Allowing users to search, filter, and sort displayed data makes it easier for visitors to engage with your content and find relevant information. Features like pagination also help keep the user interface clean and navigable.
4. Improve Flexibility:
   • The ability to customize layouts, apply conditional logic, and use shortcodes gives you full flexibility over how form data is presented. Whether you’re creating a directory of events, team members, or customer reviews, Formidable Views can adapt to a wide range of use cases.
5. Boost Frontend Functionality:
   • With the frontend user interface, you can offer your users the ability to view, edit, and even delete their submissions, making it a powerful tool for membership sites, event management, and user-generated content websites.
6. Save Time and Effort:
   • Instead of manually managing your form data and copying it to static pages or third-party plugins, Formidable Views automates this process and integrates directly with the form submission process, saving you time and effort.

Use Cases for Formidable Views:

1. Business Directories:
   • If you run a directory of businesses, Formidable Views can display business listings in a neat and organized way. You can allow businesses to filter listings by categories, regions, or types of services, and make it easy for users to find exactly what they are looking for.
2. Event Listings:
   • For event management sites, Formidable Views can display upcoming events, event details, and allow users to search by date, location, or event type. Pagination and filters help users find the right event quickly.
3. Job Listings:
   • Formidable Views can be used to display job openings in a directory format, with search and filtering options for location, job type, salary, or any other custom fields. Job seekers can then find opportunities that match their preferences.
4. Portfolios:
   • If you run a creative agency or freelance website, you can use Formidable Views to display portfolio items. Each submission could include images, descriptions, and categories for easy sorting.
5. User Profiles:
   • Formidable Views is great for creating user profile pages. Each user can fill out a form with personal information, photos, and social links, which are then displayed on a user profile page. You can set up a directory of user profiles and allow other users to filter and search for specific profiles.
6. Review or Testimonial Listings:
   • You can use Formidable Views to create a list or grid of customer testimonials or product reviews. Each review submission can be displayed on the front-end with sorting and filtering options for users to view different reviews.
7. Member Listings:
   • Membership sites can use Formidable Views to create lists of members. You can display member profiles, their membership status, and other data, allowing users to search or filter through the member directory.
8. Real Estate Listings:
   • Formidable Views can be used to display real estate listings, with custom fields for property type, price, location, and more. Filters help users narrow down their search based on their preferences.

How to Set Up Formidable Views:

1. Install Formidable Forms Plugin:
   • Ensure that Formidable Forms is installed and activated on your WordPress site.
2. Install Formidable Views Add-On:
   • Purchase and install the Formidable Views add-on from the Formidable Forms website. Once installed, activate it from the WordPress dashboard.
3. Create Your Form:
   • If you haven’t already, create a form using Formidable Forms to collect the data you want to display with Formidable Views.
4. Create a New View:
   • In the WordPress dashboard, navigate to Formidable > Views and click "Add New" to create a new view. Choose the form whose data you want to display.
5. Design Your View:
   • Use the View Editor to customize how the data from your form will appear on the front-end. You can add template tags, apply CSS styling, and insert shortcodes for additional functionality like search or pagination.
6. Configure Settings:
   • Configure settings like sorting, filtering, pagination, and user access control for each view.
7. Insert View into Pages or Posts:
   • Once your view is ready, you can insert it into any page, post, or widget area using the provided shortcode.
8. Publish:
   • After configuring the view, publish it, and your form data will be displayed according to the layout and design you’ve set up.

Conclusion:

Formidable Views is an excellent add-on for anyone using the Formidable Forms plugin and wanting to display form submissions on the front-end of their website. With its customizable templates, dynamic content features, and powerful filtering and sorting options, Formidable Views makes it easy to create interactive, data-driven websites. Whether you’re creating directories, portfolios, job listings, or event pages, Formidable Views provides all the necessary tools to present your form data in a clean and organized way.