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  4. Connecting user input elements to the CMS
    5. CMS: Adding and Setting Up a Text Input

CMS: Adding and Setting Up a Text Input

7 min read
Add a text input, text box or rich text box element to collect general data from your users such as an email or phone number. Connect the text element to your collection so that you can store and access the info you collect at any time.
Screenshot of an example of text input elements and a submit button.
Before you begin:
Make sure to add the CMS (Content Management System) to your editor if you haven't already. 

Step 1 | Add and set up a text input element

Add a text input that uses a single-line for inputs or a text box that provides a larger area to add multiple lines of text. Then customize the input's settings, layout, and design to match your site's needs. 
Wix Editor
Studio Editor
  1. Click Add Elements on the left side of the editor.
  2. Click Input.
  3. Click the type of text input you want to add: 
    • Text Input: Let visitors enter or edit text in a field with a single line.  
    • Text Box: Let visitors enter or edit text in a field that allows multiple lines of input. 
Screenshot of adding a text input element in the Wix Editor.
  1. Click and drag the text input element of your choice onto the page. 
  2. Click Settings on the input element and edit the following: 
    • Type: (Text input element only) Select the type of information that the text input allows: 
      • Text: Allow all character types in the input such as names, addresses, or any other info that does not follow a pattern.
      • Password: Conceal all characters entered in the password field. 
      • Number: Allow only digits in the input. 
      • Email: Allow email addresses only. If an invalid email address format is entered, a tooltip warns the user. 
      • URL: Allow web addresses only. If an invalid URL format is entered, a tooltip warns the user. 
      • Phone Number: Allow all character types in the input.
    • Field title: Enter a title that appears above the input element. 
    • Show initial text: Choose the initial text that displays in the field and enter the placeholder and default text, if needed. 
    • Validations: Choose from the following options: 
      • Field type: Select the relevant options:
        • Required: Make it mandatory that visitors enter a value in the field before submitting. 
        • Read only: Set the element to display content only. Visitors cannot edit the values but they can copy them.
      • Set character limit: Enable the toggle to limit visitor submissions to a set number of characters, then enter the maximum characters.
      • Add pattern validation: (Text input element only) Enable the toggle and enter regex code to add your own pattern validation to the browser's default validation.  
      • Error message format: Choose how error messages appear: Inline or Tooltip. 
Screenshot of editing the settings of a text input element.
  1. Click the Layout icon  to edit the indentation, spacing, text direction and alignment. 
  2. Click the Design icon  to choose a preset design. Then click Customize Design to adjust the design further. 

Step 2 | Connect the text input to the CMS

Connect your text input to a dataset that connects to the collection and the field in which you want to save the submissions. Set the dataset mode and collection permissions, if needed. Then add a submit button that visitors must click to send their inputs to your collection. 
Wix Editor
Studio Editor
  1. In your editor, click the relevant text input element.
  2. Click the Connect to CMS icon  .
  3. Click the Choose a dataset drop-down and select an existing dataset that connects to your collection. Alternatively, click Add a Dataset, then choose the collection you want to connect, give the dataset a name and click Create.
  4. Click the Value connects to drop-down and choose the collection field in which you want to store the text input submissions.
    Tip: Select Add new field to add a new collection field for storing the submissions.
Screenshot of a text input connected to the CMS.
  1. Set the dataset mode and collection permissions:
    1. Click Dataset Settings. 
    2. Click the Dataset mode drop-down and select Write or Read & Write. 
    3. (If necessary) Click the permissions type next to Collection Permissions and select Form submissions in the 1st drop-down. You can click the additional drop-downs to refine the permissions. Click Save once you're done setting the permissions. 
  2. Create a submit button that visitors click to submit their inputs.

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In This Article

  • Step 1 | Add and set up a text input element
  • Step 2 | Connect the text input to the CMS

Related Content

CMS: Creating a Custom Form with Input Elements that Submit to Your Collection
CMS: About User Input Elements
CMS: About Validation Settings for Input Elements

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