Title: Metadata not saved automatically
Last modified: September 15, 2024

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# Metadata not saved automatically

 *  [tomo55555](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tomo55555/)
 * (@tomo55555)
 * [1 year, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/loses-acf-input-data/)
 * After great support I realised my mistake not understanding the full extent of
   why the plugin settings caused me a few issues. I am now giving this plugin 5
   stars, but would like more tutorial videos for novices like me please – which
   is a bit greedy considering I am using the free version 🙂
    -  This topic was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by [tomo55555](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tomo55555/).

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Konrad Chmielewski](https://wordpress.org/support/users/hwk-fr/)
 * (@hwk-fr)
 * [1 year, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/loses-acf-input-data/#post-18015524)
 * Hello,
 * This review seems to be related to this support thread: [https://wordpress.org/support/topic/some-form-entries-do-not-get-saved/](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/some-form-entries-do-not-get-saved/)
 * The ACF Extended Form module has been designed to be compatible the most advanced
   front-end forms setup. This is why ACF Fields must be manually selected in order
   to be saved to the corresponding “Action” (Post Creation, User Creation, Term
   Creation etc…). Keep in mind there can be multiple Actions within the same Form,
   with different Fields saved in different Actions.
 * There are various scenarios where this logic is important.
 * **Example 1:**
 * You want to create a form where the visitor register a User, and create a new
   Post (post type: entreprise) on-the-fly, in the same form.
 * Your form has 2 Actions:
    - Create User
    - Create Post (Entreprise)
 * Your Field Group has the following ACF Fields:
    - Date of Birth (Date Picker)
    - Gender (Select)
    - Entreprise History (Textarea)
 * Obviously, you’ll want the “Date of Birth” and the “Gender” to be saved as metadata
   in the “User”. And the “Entreprise History” to saved in the “Post (Entreprise)”.
 * If all ACF Fields were automatically saved in all Actions, it means you would
   have the “Date of Birth” & and “Gender” saved in both the “User” and the “Post(
   Entreprise)”. Which is unecessary, as these metadata are irrelevant in the Entreprise.
   It would also bloat the database with superfluous metadata on the said post.
 * **Example 2:**
 * Your Field Group has the following ACF Fields:
    - Date Picker
    - Relationship
 * Some developpers want to use ACF Fields interaction, but not actually save them
   anywhere. For example here, the Date Picker would be simply used to filter the
   selection available in the ACF Relationship, using the ACF JS API.
 * There are other use cases like this, where developpers simply want to let the
   visitor interact with some ACF Fields, but not save their content. For example:
   Let visitors filter posts displayed on-page.
 * As a conclusion, this setting is here to give developpers full control on which,
   and how, fields values are saved in most complex use cases.
 * I hope this answers your question.
 * Regards.
 *  Thread Starter [tomo55555](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tomo55555/)
 * (@tomo55555)
 * [1 year, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/loses-acf-input-data/#post-18016091)
 * Thanks Konrad, I understand the reasons now. Review updated accordingly.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘Metadata not saved automatically’ is closed to new replies.

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 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [tomo55555](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tomo55555/)
 * Last activity: [1 year, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/loses-acf-input-data/#post-18016091)