Documentation User Guide

Field Settings

This page explains how to configure field settings in Elzo Forms.

Use it when you want to change field labels, required settings, placeholders, options, defaults, or other field behavior.

Before you begin

Create or open a form in the Elzo Forms builder.

The exact settings available for a field depend on the field type. For example, a text field and a select field do not need the same settings.

Open a field

To edit a field:

  1. Open your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Go to the Elzo Forms area.
  3. Open the form you want to edit.
  4. Select the field you want to configure.
  5. Review the settings panel for that field.

Make one change at a time when possible, then save and test the form.

Change the field label

The label tells visitors what information the field asks for.

To change a label:

  1. Open the field settings.
  2. Find the label setting.
  3. Enter a clear label.
  4. Save the form.
  5. Preview the form and confirm that the label is easy to understand.

Use labels that describe the expected value.

Good examples:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Message
  • Company name
  • Project details

Avoid labels that are too vague for the visitor to understand.

Make a field required

A required field must be completed before the visitor can submit the form.

To make a field required:

  1. Open the field settings.
  2. Enable the required setting.
  3. Save the form.
  4. Submit a test entry without filling that field.
  5. Confirm that the validation message is clear.

Only make a field required when the form cannot work without that information.

Too many required fields can make a form harder to complete.

Add placeholder text

Placeholder text appears inside a field before the visitor enters a value.

Use placeholder text to show an example value, not to replace the label.

For example:

  • Label: Email address
  • Placeholder: name@example.com

To add a placeholder:

  1. Open the field settings.
  2. Find the placeholder setting.
  3. Enter a short example or hint.
  4. Save the form.
  5. Preview the form.

Do not put essential instructions only in the placeholder. Placeholder text can disappear while the visitor is typing.

Add help text or description

Help text gives extra guidance near a field.

Use help text when a field needs more explanation.

Examples:

  • “Use the email address where we can contact you.”
  • “Upload a PDF or image file.”
  • “Tell us what you need help with.”

Keep help text short. If a field needs a long explanation, consider simplifying the field.

Configure options

Fields such as select, radio, or checkbox fields may have options.

To configure options:

  1. Open the field settings.
  2. Find the options area.
  3. Add each option the visitor can choose.
  4. Use clear labels.
  5. Remove duplicate or unclear options.
  6. Save and test the form.

Keep option labels consistent. For example, do not mix full sentences and short labels in the same option list unless there is a good reason.

Set a default value

A default value is prefilled before the visitor changes it.

Use defaults carefully.

A default can help when most visitors choose the same value, but it can also cause accidental submissions if visitors do not notice it.

To set a default:

  1. Open the field settings.
  2. Find the default value setting.
  3. Enter the default value.
  4. Save the form.
  5. Submit a test entry and confirm that the saved value is correct.

Review field order

Field order affects how easy the form is to complete.

Place fields in the order visitors naturally expect.

For example:

  1. Name
  2. Email address
  3. Request type
  4. Message
  5. Submit button

Group related fields together. For longer forms, consider using multi-step forms.

Save and test your changes

After changing field settings:

  1. Save the form.
  2. Open the form on the frontend.
  3. Submit a test entry.
  4. Confirm that validation works.
  5. Confirm that the submission stores the expected values.

Testing is important because field settings affect both the visitor experience and the saved submission.

Troubleshooting

A required field prevents submission

Check whether the field is visible and whether the required setting is necessary. If conditional logic hides a required field, visitors may not be able to submit the form.

Placeholder text is not enough

Use a visible label and help text. Do not rely on placeholder text for essential instructions.

Options are hard to understand

Use shorter and clearer option labels. Remove options that are not needed.

Saved values look wrong

Submit a new test entry and review the field settings. Check default values, options, and conditional logic.

  • Field Types Overview
  • Conditional Logic for Fields
  • Multi-Step Forms
  • Create and Publish Your First Form

Applies to

  • Elzo Forms Free
  • Elzo Forms PRO
  • WordPress admin
  • Form builder

Last reviewed

2026-07-04

 
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