Paragraph Text fields are used to insert multiple lines of text, such as a description or request. The text box size can easily be adjusted by the user by clicking and dragging the bottom right corner of the box.
Standard field options
A Paragraph Text field has the following options:
- Field Type
- Required
- Field Key
- CSS Layout Classes
- Label position
- Field size
- Unique
- Read Only
- Visibility
- Conditional logic
- Calculations
Field-specific options
In addition to the standard field options, Paragraph Text fields have several field-specific options. Browse the sections below to learn more about the options specific to Paragraph Text fields.
Rows
Set the number of rows to be displayed by default.
Auto Grow
Select this box to automatically expand the field height when the text reaches the maximum row. The Rows value acts as a default. If you select this option and add text that exceeds that default size, it will grow to accommodate it.
Limit Length
Set the length for limiting a Paragraph field to a maximum number of words or characters.
Default values and field icons
The default value icons can be used to specify whether the text in the box on the form builder page should be a default value or a placeholder. Learn how to set a default value, and how to set a placeholder in a text field.
Field action icons allow you to duplicate, delete, and/or move a field on the form builder page. See field action icons for more information.
Display Paragraph Text fields
Display the value submitted in a Paragraph Text field in a form's confirmation message, email, or View.
Shortcode options
- Display text: Display the submitted text. Paragraph tags will be added automatically.
[x]
Replace x with the ID or key of the Paragraph Text field.
- Text without paragraph tags: Display the submitted text without automatically adding paragraph tags.
[x wpautop=0]
Replace x with the ID or key of the Paragraph Text field.
Limit Characters/Words
If you want to limit the amount of text entered in a paragraph field, you can customize the default HTML for the field and add the 'maxlength' parameter.
- Navigate to your form Settings → Customize HTML.
- Find the paragraph field section that you want to limit.
- Change [input] to [input maxlength="140"]. Replace '140' with the character limit you want to use.
Note: While this is a widely available browser feature, there are some browsers that do not support it. You can check browser support on the 'Can I Use' website.
If the user enters too many (or too few) words or characters, you could use the frm_validate_field_entry code example which will throw an error message.
Additionally, you could combine this with a word counter which will help users see when they are exceeding the limit. You could add the Add a word counter Javascript code example in the "After Fields" section of your Form Settings → Customize HTML tab.
Related developer hooks
- Require a minimum, maximum, or range of words (or characters) with the frm_validate_field_entry hook.