Use the frm_before_entry_meta_change action to run code right before Formidable adds, updates, or deletes a single field value of an entry. It runs before the database write, while the old value is still saved.

After the write, Formidable runs frm_after_entry_meta_change, or frm_entry_meta_write_failed if the write failed. Use these hooks together to keep your own data in sync with entry values.

Requirements

• Formidable Forms 7.0 or later. The hook is part of Formidable Forms Lite.

When it fires

The action runs once per field value, before each of these writes:

• Add: a field value is saved for the first time, such as when a new entry is submitted.
• Update: an existing field value is changed, such as when an entry is edited.
• Delete: a single field value is removed, including a value that was cleared when an entry was edited.

Blank values are never saved. Adding an empty value doesn't fire the hook. Formidable Forms Pro uses this hook to keep its own index of entry values in sync.

Usage

add_action( 'frm_before_entry_meta_change', 'my_function_name', 10, 2 );

Parameters

• $entry_id (int): The ID of the entry the value belongs to.
• $field_id (int): The ID of the field whose value is about to change.

Examples

function my_frm_get_saved_value( $entry_id, $field_id ) {
	global $wpdb;
	return $wpdb->get_var(
		$wpdb->prepare(
			"SELECT meta_value FROM {$wpdb->prefix}frm_item_metas WHERE item_id = %d AND field_id = %d",
			$entry_id,
			$field_id
		)
	);
}

add_action( 'frm_before_entry_meta_change', 'my_frm_remember_old_value', 10, 2 );
function my_frm_remember_old_value( $entry_id, $field_id ) {
	global $my_frm_old_values;
	if ( 25 !== (int) $field_id ) { // Change 25 to the ID of your field.
		return;
	}
	$my_frm_old_values[ $entry_id . '_' . $field_id ] = my_frm_get_saved_value( $entry_id, $field_id );
}

add_action( 'frm_after_entry_meta_change', 'my_frm_log_value_change', 10, 2 );
function my_frm_log_value_change( $entry_id, $field_id ) {
	global $my_frm_old_values;
	$key = $entry_id . '_' . $field_id;
	if ( ! is_array( $my_frm_old_values ) || ! array_key_exists( $key, $my_frm_old_values ) ) {
		return;
	}
	$old_value = $my_frm_old_values[ $key ];
	$new_value = my_frm_get_saved_value( $entry_id, $field_id );
	unset( $my_frm_old_values[ $key ] );

	if ( $old_value !== $new_value ) {
		error_log( sprintf( 'Entry %d, field %d changed from "%s" to "%s".', $entry_id, $field_id, $old_value, $new_value ) );
	}
}

Limitations

• The hook runs only for values saved through Formidable's entry value functions. Deleting a whole entry, deleting a field, or deleting all entries of a form removes the values without firing it. To run code when a whole entry is deleted, use frm_before_destroy_entry.
• To change a value before it's saved, use the frm_add_entry_meta or frm_update_entry_meta filter instead. This action runs your code but leaves the value unchanged.

Related developer hooks

• Run code after a field value is added, updated, or deleted with the frm_after_entry_meta_change hook.
• Handle a field value that couldn't be saved with the frm_entry_meta_write_failed hook.
• Run code before a whole entry is deleted with the frm_before_destroy_entry hook.

Related articles

• How to Use Formidable Hooks
• Manage Entries from the Back-End