Gravity Forms conference Session - How to Make your Data Processors Love You

WPCampus 2019 – How to Make your Data Processors Love You (Gravity Forms Automation)

Gravity Forms (or other forms) Automation

Do you use Gravity Forms or other web forms to gather lots of data your processing center needs? Do you still send them individual emails from each form submission?

Let’s talk about how to automate that data collection using the Gravity Forms API!

Even if you don’t use Gravity Forms, you can still gain insight on how to work with your institution to deliver better data they can use without having to reformat or manipulate it to make that data useful.

You can create data formats for uploading into your SIS, create pdfs to index in your systems, and deliver that data to the folks who need it. Scripted. Automated. Done. They will love you.

From my session at WPCampus 2019 in Portland, OR. Contact me if you have any questions!

Session Video

Slides

[slideshare id=158369646&doc=howtomakeyourdataprocessorsloveyou-190727190230]

Resources

Gravity Forms
Gravity Forms API documentation
Gravity PDF
Cron Jobs

The Words Web Dev

Web Development Resource List

Throughout my journey as a web developer, I’ve discovered an abundance of invaluable online resources that have aided me in my work. I am grateful to the many individuals who have generously shared their knowledge and experience through various platforms. I have compiled a list, which I am sharing below, for your reference. I hope that you too can benefit from these resources. If you have any queries regarding website development, reach out to me.

Accessibility

Accessibility is not only important for your website to create a space where everyone can access your products and services, it’s also a legal issue. It can be an overwhelming undertaking to understand how to make your website accessible to all, but there are many resources to help you on your way!

WebAIM’s Intro to Web Accesssibility
W3c Accessibility Quick Reference
WPCampus Accessibility Audit of WordPress
Accessibility Overlays Factsheet

CSS/Layouts

Relearn CSS Layouts

WordPress

WordPress.org
WPShout – indepth WordPress Tutorials for Developers
JavaScript for WP – tutorials to learn JavaScript for WordPress
WPCampus Library – growing collection of knowledge shared by members of the WPCampus community

I will continue adding to this list. Leave a comment with your favorite web development resources, and I’ll add them to my list! See my list of plugins, themes, and hosting recommendations, they are my affiliate links so I make a small commission if you use the links (and I appreciate it!!)

Divi Builder image

Divi section global template example

I use ACF (Advanced Custom Fields) to create the field sets for the pages they want to create/update for and then created a divi global section template that pull the fields into the page. The client then updates the fields on the post, they never have to touch the divi editor.

member template

Child Theme Screenshot from wordpress.org

Building a WordPress Child Theme

What is a WordPress Child Theme

A WordPress child theme is a WordPress theme that inherits its functionality from another WordPress theme, the parent theme. Child themes are often used when you want to customize or tweak an existing WordPress theme without losing the ability to upgrade that theme. In the past, there was no easy way of updating WordPress themes without losing all the custom styling and changes that you had made.

Why use a Child Theme?

  • If you modify a theme directly and it is updated, then your modifications may be lost. By using a child theme you will ensure that your modifications are preserved.
  • Using a child theme can speed up development time.
  • Using a child theme is a great way to learn about WordPress theme development.
  • Portability, you can transfer your child theme to any site you work on

Files You Need to Create

  1. Create a folder with the name of your theme with -child added to the end – ex: if you’re using twentyseventeen name the folder twentyseventeen-child
  2.  create 2 text files
    1. style.css
    2. functions.php

/*
* Theme Name: TwentySeventeen Child
* Theme URI: https://stopha.com
* Description: TwentySevenenteen Child Theme
* Author: Maryann Reissig 
* Author URI: http://stopha.com
* Template: TwentySeventeen
* Version: 1.0.0
* License: GNU General Public License v2 or later
* License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
* */

functions.php:

<?php

function my_theme_enqueue_styles() {
wp_enqueue_style( 'parent-style', get_template_directory_uri() . '/style.css' );
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'my_theme_enqueue_styles' );

Changing Template Files

Another powerful thing you can control with a child theme are the template files for a theme. If you want to build your own custom post type templates, archives, or any other template, you can override the parent theme with one of your own.

Copy the template file you want to use from your parent theme (or create your own!) and store them in the child theme directory, they will override any file in the parent directory to your liking.

Resources

https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-create-wordpress-child-theme

https://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes

https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/what-is-a-theme-framework/

Child Theme Configurator Plugin – Plugin to create a child theme from an already-edited parent theme. Great resource to convert work you’ve already done to a child them!

Free Custom Post Type UI creator plugin – Create CPTs (like Pods or CustomPress) – works great with Advanced Custom Fields

Ultimate CSV Importer – Shout out to this plugin – it’s worth the cost for the pro version IMO!

Contact me with any questions!