Disciple.Tools - DT Webform

A comprehensive WordPress plugin for Disciple.Tools that enables users to create embeddable web forms that collect data and create records directly in the Disciple.Tools system. The plugin provides an intuitive admin interface for form creation and management, lightweight responsive forms for embedding, and secure API endpoints for form submission.

Purpose

The DT Webform plugin bridges the gap between external websites and Disciple.Tools by providing:

• Seamless Data Collection: Create forms that directly populate DT records (contacts, groups, etc.)
• Easy Integration: Generate embed codes for external websites or use direct links
• Field Mapping: Automatically integrate with existing DT fields or add custom fields
• Secure Submission: Built-in validation, sanitization, and CSRF protection
• Mobile-First Design: Responsive forms that work across all devices

This plugin is ideal for churches, ministries, and organizations using Disciple.Tools who want to collect information from their websites, social media, or other external sources without manual data entry.

Key Features

Form Builder

• Visual form builder with drag-and-drop interface
• Integration with all Disciple.Tools field types
• Custom field support (text, textarea, dropdown, checkbox, etc.)
• Form preview and validation
• Field ordering and configuration

Responsive Forms

• Mobile-first, responsive design
• Fast loading with minimal CSS/JS footprint
• Accessibility compliant (WCAG 2.1 AA)
• Cross-browser compatibility
• Progressive enhancement

Embedding Options

• Generate iframe embed codes
• Direct shareable links
• Standalone form pages
• WordPress shortcode support (for DT sites)

Security & Validation

• Server-side and client-side validation
• CSRF token protection
• Input sanitization and XSS prevention
• Rate limiting protection
• Secure API endpoints

Usage

Creating a Form

1. Navigate to Disciple.Tools > Webforms in your WordPress admin
2. Click "Add New Form"
3. Configure your form:
   • Set form title and description
   • Choose target DT record type (contacts, groups, etc.)
   • Select DT fields to include
   • Add custom fields as needed
   • Configure validation rules
4. Preview your form
5. Activate the form when ready

Embedding Forms

Option 1: Direct Link

• Copy the form URL: https://yoursite.com/webform/{form_id}
• Share directly or add as a link on your website

Option 2: Iframe Embed

• Copy the generated embed code from the form settings
• Paste into any website or content management system

Option 3: WordPress Shortcode (for DT sites)

[dt_webform id="123" title="true" description="true"]

Form Submission Process

1. User fills out the form on your website
2. Data is validated and sanitized
3. A new DT record is created automatically
4. Custom fields are added as comments
5. User receives confirmation message
6. DT notifications are triggered (if configured)

API Endpoints

The plugin provides secure REST API endpoints:

Public Endpoints

• POST /wp-json/dt-public/v1/webform/submit/{form_id} - Submit form data
• GET /wp-json/dt-public/v1/webform/{form_id}/config - Get form configuration

Admin Endpoints (require manage_dt capability)

• GET /wp-json/dt-webform/v1/forms - List all forms
• POST /wp-json/dt-webform/v1/forms - Create new form
• PUT /wp-json/dt-webform/v1/forms/{form_id} - Update form
• DELETE /wp-json/dt-webform/v1/forms/{form_id} - Delete form

Requirements

• WordPress 5.0+
• PHP 7.4+
• Disciple.Tools Theme installed and active
• Administrator or user with manage_dt capability

Installing

1. Download the plugin from the releases page
2. Upload and install as a standard WordPress plugin via Admin > Plugins > Add New
3. Activate the plugin
4. Navigate to Disciple.Tools > Webforms to get started

Alternatively, install directly from the Disciple.Tools Community Site.

Technical Details

Supported Field Types

DT Field Integration:

• Text fields
• Textarea fields
• Select dropdowns
• Multi-select fields
• Date fields
• Number fields
• Boolean/toggle fields
• Communication channels
• Location fields

Custom Fields:

• Text input
• Textarea
• Dropdown select
• Checkbox/toggle
• Radio buttons
• Multi-select checkboxes

Security Features

• CSRF token validation on all submissions
• Input sanitization and validation
• XSS prevention
• SQL injection prevention
• Rate limiting (configurable)
• Secure API authentication

Performance

• Lightweight assets (< 100KB combined CSS/JS)
• Efficient WordPress queries
• Caching support
• Mobile-optimized loading
• Progressive enhancement

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Forms not submitting:

• Check that the form is activated
• Verify REST API endpoints are accessible
• Ensure proper permissions are set

Styling issues:

• Check for CSS conflicts with your theme
• Verify responsive design on different devices
• Test with different browsers

Missing form data:

• Verify field mappings are correct
• Check DT record permissions
• Review form validation settings

Getting Help

• Check the documentation
• Search existing issues
• Ask questions in discussions
• Contact support through the Disciple.Tools community

Contribution

Contributions welcome! You can help by:

• Reporting issues and bugs in the Issues section
• Suggesting features in the Discussions section
• Contributing code via Pull Requests
• Improving documentation and translations

For detailed contribution guidelines, see CONTRIBUTING.md.

License

This plugin is licensed under the GPL v2 or later.

Screenshots

Intuitive form builder with drag-and-drop functionality

Mobile-first responsive form design

Comprehensive form management and analytics