Using form for editing an entry

About a month ago I asked whether it was possible to terminate form processing prior to attempting to write an existing entry after editing. The problem is that if there are unique fields in the form, the write fails because GF assumes that we're always adding data. I want to be able to use a form for editing entries as well as adding them. The response I got was apparently considered the final word as the topic was closed, however, the response missed the point.

In a nutshell, the response pointed me to another thread in the forum that refers to a means of automatically removing the entry after it's created, rather than aborting the form process before the write happens. This doesn't work for editing for what should be obvious reasons.

What I need to be able to do is call up an entry, edit it, and save it back to the database using a GF form. Is this possible? If so, how would I work around the lack of editing capability in GF?

GF badly needs the ability to use the same form for adding, editing and deleting entries, IMO. Please consider adding this capability in a future version.

Thanks for the prompt response, Chris. Yes, entries can be edited in the clunky admin interface by a site admin. The need is for users to be able to edit data they entered.

I'm building an application that lets users enter data and then maintain it themselves, as opposed to a data-collection app where they enter it (and had better get it right the first time!) and I have to maintain it. The most user-friendly way to do that is by using the same form for adding, editing and deleting data. Even if I did have to maintain the data, I'd prefer that to the existing admin interface.

Ideally, I should be able to call up a form, enter a key value of some kind and have the system either create a new record if the key doesn't exist, or bring up the existing record at which point I could choose to edit or delete it.

I too would find this very useful.

Yes, i would like to see this features too.

I've just bought a developer license of GV, my little help for this feature. Another +1

huge +1 from a renewing developer subscriber

A feature i have been hoping for since 1.4, I have hacked a bit to get editing of profiles but need to get a step up on a few new projects where the users who fill in the data case edit their listings at will.

I found another plugin that seems to offer this feature, Formidable, but love gravity forms on a whole and hate the idea of going to a different form plugin.

I would just like to add my vote for this function. I had two emails this morning from users who want to update their profiles on the latest website I am developing and operating.
When it does come, I am sure it will be great, just like the other Gravity add-ons.

I have just bought a developer license of GF, +1 on this idea.

+1 From a regular joe, named Kev that just renewed his Developer's license a week or so ago. :)

I will buy the Front-end-editor Add-on the second it comes out!

And of course, another vote from me for this feature ;-)

I just wanted to put in my support for User Editing submissions as well. Thanks for your awesome work and if it is in 1.7 I definitely can't wait for it's release. It will change my whole workflow :-)

Developer +1 here

I am aware of the 3rd party plugin by p51 labs, but it does not appear that it is being actively supported (the author does not reply to emails or the forums) and a huge missing feature is support for Image / File replacement/removal for files uploaded with GF.

There is another 3rd party developer working on this, but their work is far from complete as well.

Please advise if you are still working towards this functionality.

Thanks for the update, Chris. That is disappointing news, to say the least.

As I dive into development to add/fix this much needed feature myself (and hoping I don't have to start hacking plugin code to do so), would you be willing to please satisfy my (our) curiosity as to why this is not a high priority for your development team?

To me, this is the only piece keeping your product from being the best plugin in it's class, on all counts!

I finally was able to achieve this using the GF Directory Add-On. I didn't see it mentioned in this thread. It will create a table of entries for a form that belong to the logged in user. You can then view the entry. If the useredit feature is enabled, a link is displayed at the bottom of the display to edit the entry, which then re-displays that entry populated in the form with an update button at the bottom. I did have to fix one problem (one line) that incorrectly had === instead of ==.

It isn't the prettiest system, but I finally got it to work (crossing fingers for not jinxing it now).