Ever wondered what you can do with a WordPress datepicker calendar in a form? We’ve put together a guide to show you its full potential!
A feature as simple as a datepicker can make filling out forms much easier. If you give your users this interface in the form of a calendar, they will be able to find dates and fill them more easily than if there was no such option.
Fortunately, adding an interactive calendar can be very easy. By using the right tools, you can create a perfect WordPress contact form complete with a datepicker.
In this article, we’ll cover the reasons why you might want to use a datepicker. Then we’ll show you how to add one to your forms in three steps. Let’s get started!
Why you might want to use a WordPress datepicker calendar
A datepicker is a small, interactive calendar that helps users choose dates and time slots. Since it’s a calendar and not a text box, many people find it easier to navigate. This can be very important if you’re creating forms to run your business.
For instance, if you have an appointment booking form, you'll want users to be able to easily select their preferred dates. A datepicker calendar in your WordPress forms is an effective way to help them do that.
Additionally, datepickers can also make your form more dynamic and interactive. In other words, this is a smart way to keep your audience engaged when filling out forms with boring predictable fields like birthdays or appointments.
All of these factors make datepicker calendars a flexible way to improve the user experience (UX) of your site. Making them available can be one of many ways for businesses to make their customers happy through better service!
How to create a WordPress form with a datepicker calendar (in 3 steps)
Here’s how you can create a form with a calendar in three steps. If you’re new to the concept, consider checking out our age calculator form for a datepicker demo before you start.
Step 1: Install Formidable Forms on your site
Let’s start with the basics. You’ll need our Formidable Forms plugin for this walkthrough.
First, you’ll need to select a Business or Elite pricing plan. Once you've got our WordPress forms plugin, go ahead and install and activate it.
Once you’re all set up, you can move on to step two.
Step 2: Create your form with basic datepicker calendar
We’ll start with a basic form. Go to Formidable → Forms → Add New:
You might want to start with a form template. These come pre-loaded with fields to make your job a little bit easier. For example, you might want to use a template to create an order form.
Inside the builder, locate the Date option from the left-hand menu. Then, you can just drag and drop it onto the right side of the screen:
The date field looks like a text box, but don't worry. This will show up as a calendar to users on the front end:
Now, let’s look at a few settings. Here’s what your basic datepicker options look like:
The datepicker Year Range is the time period that users will be able to choose from. You can also put a calendar icon in the Before Input box for a bit more style. If the site isn't in Enlgish, set the Calendar Localization to your language.
These are all the basic choices. If you want to take your form datepicker calendar further, move on to step three.
Step 3: Add extra datepicker settings
Finally, let’s explore some extra features. Note that you’ll need to activate the Datepicker Options plugin to do so.
With a Business or higher plan, you should see an option for More Datepicker Options towards the bottom of the sidebar. Clicking on it will bring up a popup:
Click on Install and refresh the page. You’ll now have new calendar settings to choose from:
Your options start with Set specific minimum and maximum dates. Checking this box will allow you to set more a specific date range, rather than just using the years alone. This is great for event registration forms, or other booking forms that have very narrow availability.
This gets even more powerful when combined with a second datepicker calendar in the same form. This way, they work as an input group to force the end date to be after the start date. For booking forms, this can even be used to set a minimum number of days or for multiple months.
Next, you can specify which days of the week will be available. If you only want to let people book meetings on business days, you can simply un-check the weekend options. You may also want to consider using Blackout Dates, which are days when you won't be available. This is ideal for holidays and vacations.
Finally, you can also use an inline datepicker. If you choose Display Inline Date Picker, the calendar will display automatically with selectable dates. That way, your users don’t have to click on the field to bring up the options.
These options can help you design your datepicker forms to fit your exact needs. Try getting creative by styling your WordPress forms to match your branding!
Conclusion
When it comes to setting up your datepicker forms, you probably want a tool that’s flexible and powerful enough to meet your needs. Fortunately, Formidable Forms has it all. By using our plugin, you can add a variety of datepicker options to your forms.
In this article, we covered three steps to create a WordPress form with a datepicker:
- Download and install Formidable Forms on your site.
- Create a basic form with a simple datepicker calendar.
- Add more advanced features to your forms, like blackout dates.
Adding effective datepickers is only a fraction of what Formidable Forms can help you do. Learn more about our other great online form features!
How to Use a WordPress Booking Plugin with Payment Forms
How to Easily Schedule Your Team in WordPress
How to Create WordPress Appointment Booking Forms
Leave a Reply