### [How to Enable Prefill By URL Setting in WPForms](https://wpforms.com/developers/how-to-enable-dynamic-field-population/)

**Published:** October 9, 2019
**Author:** Umair Majeed

**Excerpt:** This tutorial will help teach you how to use the Enable Prefill By URL setting with WPForms. 

**Content:**

Are you looking to streamline the user experience on your website with the WPForms **Enable Prefill By URL** setting? Pre-filling form fields based on previous interactions? Harnessing the power of query strings to auto-populate form fields from one form to another can significantly enhance user convenience and efficiency.

Imagine a scenario where a user has already provided certain information on one form, and you want to carry over that data seamlessly to another form without requiring them to re-enter it. By utilizing query strings, you can achieve precisely that, creating a smoother and more personalized journey for your visitors.

For a step-by-step tutorial of this functionality in action which includes creating the 2 forms and passing information from one form to another, [take a look at this article](https://wpforms.com/developers/how-to-use-query-strings-to-pre-populate-form-fields-from-another-form/ "How to Use Query Strings to Pre-Populate Form Fields From Another Form").

In this tutorial, we’re going to focus more on explaining the field types and how these look in query strings to empower you to make your prefilled forms

## Enabling the Prefill By URL

Before we can start prefilling our form fields, we must first enable this option within our form to accept these prefilled parameters from another form.

To achieve this you’ll need to first create a new form or edit one of your forms. Next, navigate to **Settings » General** from within the form builder and inside the **Advanced** options, toggle the option labeled **Enable Prefill By URL** to enable this.

![Enable Prefill By URL setting on the General tab of the settings of the form inside the Advanced options](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/wpforms-enable-prefill-option.jpg)## Assembling the URL

Next, you’ll need to construct a URL with a query string, utilizing GET parameters to pinpoint a specific field and include the corresponding value. Interestingly, the field type becomes irrelevant in this process. Regardless of the field type, all query strings for enabling prefill by URL in WPForms adhere to a consistent structure. For instance, consider the following URL with the fundamental query string format:

`http://test.com?wpf20_1_subfield=value`

- **`?wpf`:** Marks the beginning of a query string for WPForms’ prefill by URL setting.
- **Form ID:** Identifies the targeted form (in the provided URL, the Form ID is **20**).
- **Field ID:** Specifies the intended field within the form (in the given URL, the Field ID is **1**).
- **Subfield Identifier (Optional):** Utilized solely when targeting a subfield, like the City subfield within an Address field (in the example URL, it’s simply labeled as “subfield”).
- **`=` (Equals Sign):** Signals the commencement of the value.
- **Value:** Represents the desired value to be added or selected for a field. Any spaces should be substituted with %20.

## Using the prefill setting

In the [tutorial link](https://wpforms.com/developers/how-to-use-query-strings-to-pre-populate-form-fields-from-another-form/ "How to Use Query Strings to Pre-Populate Form Fields From Another Form") above, the idea is to have your visitor see the first form and complete some basic information. Then pass that information on to another form with the **Submit** button.

In order to achieve that, go to **Settings » Confirmations** in the form builder. Next, select **Go to URL (Redirect)** from the **Confirmation Type** dropdown. Then, add the appropriate `wpf{formID}_{fieldID}` query string to the Redirect URL (see the examples below).

![Using the Enable Prefill By URL setting to populate a query string](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/confirmation-redirect-url-1024x481.png)An example is adding this URL to the **Confirmation Redirect URL**. `http://mydomain.com/contact?wpf20_1=Events%20and%20Parties`

In this example, `20` is the Form ID and `1` is the Field ID. The query string must reference the form and field ID in the `wpf{formID}_{fieldID}` format for the field to prefill (custom query keys like `contact-reason` won’t populate WPForms fields).

#### Using Conditional Logic with this setting

When utilizing conditional logic alongside the prefill setting, the functionality will operate seamlessly. Conditional fields will still hide or display based on the values populated via prefilling. It’s important to note that conditional logic is applied after fields have been dynamically filled, ensuring that your forms continue to function as expected.

#### Query String Examples for Specific Fields

For more advanced users, this table below offers examples illustrating how to configure GET parameters for each field type. Additionally, if a field offers various formatting options, specific examples for those alternatives are also included.

###### Single Line Text

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_1=text%20of%20any%20length`

###### Paragraph

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_2=text%20of%20any%20length`

###### Dropdown

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_3=Second%20Choice`[Show Values](https://wpforms.com/developers/add-field-values-for-dropdown-checkboxes-and-multiple-choice-fields/) enabled`?wpf771_4=dropdown1`Dynamic Choices: Post Type`?wpf771_5=123`
(`123` is the Post Type ID)Dynamic Choices: Taxonomy`?wpf771_6=12`
(`12` is the Taxonomy ID)Pipe-Separated Value (PSV)`?wpf135_3={field_id="9|value_choice"}`

###### Multiple Choice

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_7=Second%20Choice`[Show Values](https://wpforms.com/developers/add-field-values-for-dropdown-checkboxes-and-multiple-choice-fields/) enabled`?wpf771_8=choice2`Image choice`?wpf771_9=Second%20Choice`
`?wpf771_9=choice2`
(Depends on [Show Values](https://wpforms.com/developers/add-field-values-for-dropdown-checkboxes-and-multiple-choice-fields/) option)Dynamic Choices: Post Type`?wpf771_10=123`
(`123` is the Post Type ID)Dynamic Choices: Taxonomy`?wpf771_11=12`
(`12` is the Taxonomy ID)Pipe-Separated Value (PSV)`?wpf135_3={field_id="9|value_choice"}`

###### Checkboxes

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_12=Second%20Choice`
`?wpf771_12[]=Second%20Choice`
`?wpf771_12[]=Second%20Choice&wpf771_12[]=Third%20Choice`[Show Values](https://wpforms.com/developers/add-field-values-for-dropdown-checkboxes-and-multiple-choice-fields/) enabled`?wpf771_13=checkbox2`Image choice`?wpf771_14=Second%20Choice`
`?wpf771_14=checkbox2`
`?wpf771_14[]=Second%20Choice&wpf771_14[]=Third%20Choice`
(Depends on [Show Values](https://wpforms.com/developers/add-field-values-for-dropdown-checkboxes-and-multiple-choice-fields/) option)Dynamic Choices: Post Type`?wpf771_15=123`
`?wpf771_15[]=124`
(`123` is the Post Type ID)Dynamic Choices: Taxonomy`?wpf771_16=12`
`?wpf771_16[]=13`
(`12` is the Taxonomy ID)Pipe-Separated Value (PSV)`?wpf135_3={field_id="9|value_choice"}`

###### Numbers

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_17=2018`

###### Name

Field Format / Variations`GET` parametersSimple`?wpf771_18=name`First Last`?wpf771_18_first=first%20name&wpf771_18_last=last%20name`First Middle Last`?wpf771_19_first=first%20name&wpf771_19_last=last%20name&wpf771_19_middle=middle%20name`

###### Email

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_20=dude@example.com`Confirmation enabled`?wpf777_21_secondary=notdude@example.com`

###### GDPR Agreement

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–Not supported.
User should manually click the checkbox to agree.

###### Website / URL

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_23=https://google.com`
Some servers may block requests that include a URL as a parameter. Be sure to test!

###### Address

Field Format / Variations`GET` parametersUS`?wpf771_24_address1=Address%20Line%201&wpf771_24_address2=Address%20Line%202&wpf771_24_city=Del%20Mar&wpf771_24_state=CA&wpf771_24_postal=12345`International`?wpf771_25_address1=Address%20Line%201&wpf771_25_address2=Address%20Line%202&wpf771_25_city=Kharkiv&wpf771_25_state=Kharkiv Oblast&wpf771_25_postal=61000&wpf771_25_country=Ukraine`

###### Password

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–Not supported.
User should enter value(s) manually.

###### Phone

Field Format / Variations`GET` parametersUS/International`?wpf771_27=5555551234`

###### Date / Time

Field Format / Variations`GET` parametersFormat: Date, Type: Date Picker`?wpf771_28_date=11/22/2018`Date, Type: Date Dropdown (subfield)`?wpf771_29_date_m=11&wpf771_29_date_d=22&wpf771_29_date_y=2018`Time, Format: 12 H (subfield)`?wpf771_30_time=6:00am`Time, Format: 12 H (subfield)`?wpf771_31_time=13:00`Format: `date-time``?wpf771_32_date=11/22/2018&wpf771_32_time=13:15`
`?wpf771_32_date_m=11&wpf771_32_date_d=22&wpf771_32_date_y=2018&wpf771_32_time=6:30am`

###### Hidden

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_33=hidden%20value`

###### HTML

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–Not supported.
This field is not user-editable.

###### File Upload

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–Not supported.
Security measures.

###### Page Break

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–Not supported.
This field is not user-editable.

###### Section Divider

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–Not supported.
This field is not user-editable.

###### Rating

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_38=4`
Will highlight 4/5 or 4/10, depending on the rating scale is. An example being 4/3.

###### Captcha

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–Not supported.
User should manually complete the captcha (Math or Question and Answer).

###### Signature

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–Not supported.
User should manually sign.

###### Likert Scale

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_41_r2_c1=1`
`?wpf771_41r1_c2[]=1&wpf771_41_r3_c1[]=1`
`r1` indicates first row, `c2` indicates second column, etc.
Supports single/multi rows rating scale & multiple responses.

###### Net Promoter Score

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_42=4`
Will select value `4` from `0` to `10`.

###### Payment Coupon

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_1=coupon%20code`

###### Single Item

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_43=10`
Supports only “User Defined” Item Type.

###### Multiple Items

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_44=Second%20Item`
(text and image choices)

###### Dropdown Items

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–`?wpf771_45=Second%20Item`

###### Credit Card

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–Not supported.
User should manually enter credit card data.

###### Total

Field Format / Variations`GET` parameters–Not supported.
Value is calculated using JavaScript on page load.

###### Payment Fields (Checkbox Items, Multiple Items, Dropdown Items) with Quantities

Field Format / Variations`GET` parametersStandard`?wpf938_7={field_id="8|value_choice"}`With Quantities`?wpf938_7={field_id="8|value_choice"}&wpq938_7={field_id="8|quantity"}`

## Reference Articles

- For details on how to locate a Form ID or Field ID, please see [our tutorial](https://wpforms.com/developers/how-to-locate-form-id-and-field-id/).
- As a general rule, the maximum length for a URL is [2,000 characters](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/417142/what-is-the-maximum-length-of-a-url-in-different-browsers).

## FAQ

#### Q: How do I use this for sublabels?

**A:** When using this to pre-populate a **Name** or **Address** field that could have several subfields, we’d like to share an example with you.

`?wpf1036_1|first={field_id="1|first"}&wpf1036_1|last={field_id="1|last"}&wpf1036_3|address1={field_id="3|address1"}&wpf1036_3|address2={field_id="3|address2"}&wpf1036_3|city={field_id="3|city"}&wpf1036_3|state={field_id="3|state"}&wpf1036_3|postal={field_id="3|postal"}`

And that’s it! For another specific example of this in action, check out this tutorial on [How to Use Query Strings to Pre-Populate Form Fields From Another Form](https://wpforms.com/developers/how-to-use-query-strings-to-pre-populate-form-fields-from-another-form/ "How to Use Query Strings to Pre-Populate Form Fields From Another Form"). For other examples, please check out our article on [How to Use Query Strings to Auto-Fill a Text Field](https://wpforms.com/docs/how-to-use-query-strings-to-auto-fill-a-text-field/ "How to Use Query Strings to Auto-Fill a Text Field").

**Categories:** Fields

**Tags:** Prefill URL

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