If you send customers a link such as …/enquiry/?customer=123456, the form can enter the customer number itself. With Fill from the page address a field takes the value from the link; visitors can still change it. With the hidden field in the contact step a value goes into the entry without visitors seeing it, such as a partner ID or the campaign.
Requirements
- Funnelforms Free 5.0.6 or Funnelforms Pro 5.0.6 or later. Both are part of both editions.
- You have the right to edit forms.
Where to find it
- Fill from the page address: open the form in the editor, click a field and look at its properties on the right. The switch is on text, e-mail, phone, number, choice and dropdown questions and on the fields of the contact step.
- Hidden field: in the contact step as the field type Hidden field, or as the switch Hidden field on a text field.
The canvas marks such fields with "URL" and "hidden".
Features at a glance
- URL parameter: the name in the link, by default the variable name of the field.
- Example for the page with the form: a ready link with Copy example.
- Values for choices and dropdowns: the text, value or ID of an answer, several separated by commas.
- Salutation with
herr,frau,diversorfirma; checkbox with1,true,yesorja. - Hidden field with a Fixed value that applies when the link has no value.
Step by step
Fill a field from the link
- Click the field in the editor, for example the question about the customer number.
- Switch on Fill from the page address.
- Enter the name under URL parameter, such as
customer. - Click Copy example under Example for the page with the form and replace the example value with the real one.
- Publish the form and open the link. The field is filled.
Save a value invisibly
- Add the field type Hidden field to the contact step.
- Give it a label, such as "Partner". It shows only in the entry.
- Switch on Fill from the page address and enter the URL parameter, for example
partner. - Enter a Fixed value if you like, such as
website. It applies when the link has no value. - Publish the form. The value is on the entry, in the export and in mails.
How it works
When is a field filled?
The first time its step shows. A field that has a value already keeps it, for example when a visitor resumes an entry or changed an answer themselves. The server checks filled values like typed ones. Write spaces in the link as + or %20.
Which fields can be filled?
In steps short and long text, e-mail, phone, web address, number, choice and dropdown. In the contact step name, e-mail, phone, text, long text, salutation, list and checkbox. Consents and captchas are never filled. Forms from Funnelforms 3 use the old field ID as parameter, so your existing links keep working.
What does the hidden field do?
It is not shown in the form, is never required and sends the value from the link or its fixed value. The fixed value stays on the server and does not appear in the source of the page. In the entry, the lead list, exports, mails with {{field:…}}, webhooks and the CRM it is a text field like any other.
And parameters without a field?
Every parameter of the link is also available without a setting as {{url:name}} in mails and redirects, such as {{url:gclid}} for the Google Ads click ID. See Set up e-mail notifications and confirmations.
Best practices
- Pass a customer number in the link rather than a name and e-mail. Values in the address end up in server logs, analytics tools and the browser history.
- Use the hidden field for everything you want to evaluate but not show, such as partner, campaign or branch.
- Test every link once before you send it.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| The field stays empty | The name in the link does not match the URL parameter, or the switch is off. | Compare spelling and case with the example in the editor. |
| A choice is not selected | The value matches no answer. | Use the text, value or ID of the answer; separate several with commas. |
| A date or slider is not filled | These field types cannot be filled from the link. | Ask for the value or use a hidden field. |
| The form is on another website | When embedded on another website, the address of the embedding page counts. | Add the parameters to the address of the page the form is embedded on. |
Tips
- By default URL parameter takes the variable name of the field. Change it if your links already use other names.
- A hidden field with a fixed value and no parameter marks every entry of a form, for example with the location.
FAQ
Can visitors change a filled value? Yes, in visible fields. They do not see the hidden field.
Is the hidden field part of Free? Yes. Both features are in Funnelforms Free and Pro.
Do links from Funnelforms 3 keep working? Yes. Moved forms use the old field ID as parameter.