Ultimate Member Form Builder Documentation

Core Features Updated November 18, 2025

The form builder is one of Ultimate Member’s most powerful features. It lets you create custom registration forms, profile forms, and login forms with a simple drag-and-drop interface. No coding required – just drag, drop, and configure.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the form builder – from creating your first form to advanced customization techniques. Whether you’re building simple signup forms or complex multi-step applications, this guide has you covered.

Understanding the Form Builder

Ultimate Member’s form builder is a visual tool that lets you:

  • Create forms without writing code
  • Add fields by dragging and dropping
  • Configure field settings visually
  • Set up conditional logic
  • Customize form appearance

It’s designed to be intuitive – if you can use WordPress, you can use the form builder.

Accessing the Form Builder

To start building forms:

  1. Go to Ultimate Member → Forms
  2. Click “Add New” or edit an existing form
  3. You’ll see the form builder interface

The form builder has two main areas: the form canvas (where you build) and the field panel (where you choose fields).

Form Types

Ultimate Member supports different form types:

Registration Forms

Used for user signup. Collect information during registration and create user accounts.

Profile Forms

Used for editing user profiles. Let members update their information after registration.

Login Forms

Used for user authentication. Allow members to log into their accounts.

Each form type has specific purposes and field options. Choose the right type for what you’re building.

Adding Fields to Your Form

Adding fields is simple:

  1. Look at the right sidebar – you’ll see available field types
  2. Click and drag a field onto your form
  3. Drop it where you want it
  4. Configure the field settings

You can rearrange fields by dragging them up or down. The order matters – think about the user experience as they fill out the form.

Available Field Types

Ultimate Member offers many field types. Here are the most common:

Text Fields

For single-line text input:

  • Text – General text input
  • Number – Numeric input only
  • Email – Email address with validation
  • URL – Website URL input
  • Password – Secure password input

Multi-line Fields

For longer text input:

  • Textarea – Multi-line text
  • WYSIWYG Editor – Rich text editor

Selection Fields

For choosing options:

  • Select Dropdown – Choose one option
  • Radio Buttons – Select one option (visual)
  • Checkboxes – Select multiple options
  • Multi-Select – Choose multiple from dropdown

Date and Time Fields

For date/time input:

  • Date Picker – Select dates
  • Time Picker – Select times

File Upload Fields

For file uploads:

  • Image Upload – Upload images
  • File Upload – Upload any file type

Special Fields

For specific purposes:

  • Rating – Star ratings
  • Google Map – Location selection
  • Country – Country dropdown
  • State/Province – State selection

Each field type serves a specific purpose. Choose fields that make sense for the information you’re collecting.

Configuring Field Settings

Each field has settings you can configure:

Basic Settings

Essential field configuration:

  • Label – What users see next to the field
  • Placeholder – Hint text inside the field
  • Default Value – Pre-filled value
  • Required – Whether field must be filled
  • Visibility – Who can see this field

Advanced Settings

More detailed configuration:

  • Validation Rules – Format requirements
  • Character Limits – Min/max length
  • File Restrictions – Allowed file types and sizes
  • Options – For dropdowns and checkboxes
  • Conditional Logic – Show/hide based on other fields

Take time to configure each field properly. Good settings improve user experience and data quality.

Field Validation

Validation ensures users enter correct information:

Built-in Validation

Ultimate Member includes validation for:

  • Email format
  • Required fields
  • Password strength
  • File types and sizes
  • Character limits

Custom Validation

You can add custom validation using:

  • Regular expressions
  • Custom validation rules
  • PHP hooks and filters

Custom validation lets you enforce specific requirements for your site.

Conditional Logic

Conditional logic makes forms dynamic by showing/hiding fields based on other field values:

How Conditional Logic Works

You can set fields to:

  • Show only if another field equals a value
  • Hide if another field equals a value
  • Show based on multiple conditions

Example Use Cases

Here are practical examples:

  • Show “Company Name” only if “Account Type” is “Business”
  • Display additional fields for premium members
  • Show location fields based on country selection
  • Display relevant fields based on user selections

Setting Up Conditional Logic

To add conditional logic:

  1. Select the field you want to make conditional
  2. Open field settings
  3. Find “Conditional Logic” section
  4. Set the condition (show/hide when another field equals value)
  5. Save your changes

Conditional logic makes forms smarter and more user-friendly. Use it to create personalized form experiences.

Form Layout and Organization

How you organize fields affects user experience:

Logical Grouping

Group related fields together:

  • Personal information (name, email, phone)
  • Location information (address, city, country)
  • Professional info (job title, company)
  • Preferences (interests, newsletter signup)

Logical grouping makes forms easier to understand and complete.

Field Order

Order fields logically:

  • Start with essential information
  • Progress to optional details
  • End with preferences or agreements

Good field order improves completion rates.

Form Settings

Beyond individual fields, configure overall form settings:

General Settings

Basic form configuration:

  • Form Title – Displayed at top of form
  • Form Description – Help text for users
  • Submit Button Text – Customize button label
  • Success Message – What users see after submission

Redirect Settings

Control where users go after form submission:

  • Stay on same page
  • Redirect to specific page
  • Redirect to user profile
  • Redirect based on role

Role Assignment

For registration forms, assign roles:

  • Assign all users to same role
  • Assign based on form selection
  • Assign based on custom conditions

Role assignment helps you organize members automatically.

Form Styling

Customize how your forms look:

Default Styling

Ultimate Member forms are styled to look good out of the box. They automatically inherit some styling from your theme.

Custom CSS

For advanced styling, add custom CSS:

  1. Go to Ultimate Member → Settings → Appearance
  2. Add CSS targeting form elements
  3. Style fields, labels, buttons, etc.

Custom CSS lets you match forms exactly to your brand.

Displaying Forms

Once your form is ready, display it:

Using Shortcodes

The easiest method:

[ultimatemember_form id="123"]

Replace 123 with your form ID. Find the ID in the Forms list.

Using Widgets

Some themes support form widgets. Add forms to sidebars or widget areas.

Automatic Display

Registration and login forms can display automatically on their respective pages if configured in Ultimate Member → Settings → Pages.

Multiple Forms

You can create multiple forms for different purposes:

Use Cases

  • Simple registration for basic members
  • Detailed registration for premium members
  • Different profile forms for different roles
  • Event-specific registration forms

Best Practices

When creating multiple forms:

  • Use clear, descriptive names
  • Document what each form is for
  • Avoid unnecessary duplication
  • Test each form thoroughly

Form Testing

Always test forms before going live:

  1. Fill out the form completely
  2. Test all validation rules
  3. Check conditional logic works
  4. Verify form submission
  5. Test on mobile devices
  6. Try different browsers
  7. Check error messages

Thorough testing prevents issues after launch.

Common Form Issues

Here are common problems and solutions:

Form Not Displaying

If forms don’t appear:

  • Check shortcode is correct
  • Verify form is published
  • Check for JavaScript errors
  • Test with default theme

Fields Not Saving

If field data doesn’t save:

  • Check field permissions
  • Verify form settings
  • Check for JavaScript errors
  • Test with different browsers

Validation Not Working

If validation fails:

  • Check field settings
  • Verify validation rules
  • Check for conflicts
  • Update Ultimate Member

Advanced Form Features

Once comfortable with basics, explore advanced features:

Custom Field Types

Create custom field types using hooks and filters. This requires PHP knowledge but allows unlimited customization.

Form Hooks

Ultimate Member provides hooks for customizing form behavior programmatically. Check developer documentation for available hooks.

Multi-Step Forms

With customization, you can create multi-step forms that break long forms into manageable sections.

Best Practices

Tips for creating great forms:

  • Keep it simple – Only ask for what you need
  • Make it mobile-friendly – Test on phones
  • Use clear labels – Help users understand
  • Provide examples – Use placeholders
  • Test thoroughly – Try every scenario
  • Optimize for conversion – Remove friction

Next Steps

Now that you understand the form builder, consider:

  • Creating custom registration forms
  • Building role-specific forms
  • Adding conditional logic
  • Customizing form styling

The form builder is a powerful tool. Take time to learn its features, and you’ll be able to create forms that perfectly match your needs. Experiment, test, and don’t hesitate to customize everything to create the best experience for your members.