Wix Studio: Dynamically Updating Contact Fields from CMS Form Submissions

Understanding the Challenge: Updating Contact Fields from CMS Forms in Wix Studio

A common requirement for Wix Studio site owners is to automatically update contact information based on data submitted through forms linked to a Content Management System (CMS). This allows for dynamic personalization and efficient data management. The original forum post on Wix Studio (Update custom contact field from cms form) highlights this challenge, specifically focusing on populating a custom contact field (“Assessment Score”) with a calculated value (“Score”) from a CMS form submission.

Analyzing the Problem and Solutions

The core issue revolves around connecting the CMS form submission data to the corresponding contact profile. While the form submission correctly creates or identifies the contact, automatically updating a custom field requires a specific workflow. Let's explore potential solutions using Wix Studio's built-in features and Wix Automations. This analysis assumes that the "Score" field is correctly populated in the CMS collection after the form submission. The goal is to transfer this value to the "Assessment Score" custom field in the contact profile.

Solution 1: Utilizing Wix Automations

Wix Automations provides a powerful way to trigger actions based on specific events. In this case, we can trigger an automation when a new item is added to the CMS collection (i.e., when the form is submitted). Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Access Wix Automations: In your Wix Studio editor, go to Marketing & SEO > Automations.
2. Create a New Automation: Click on "+ New Automation."
3. Choose the Trigger: Select "Wix CMS" as the app, and then choose the trigger "When a collection item is created."
4. Specify the Collection: Select the CMS collection that your form is connected to (e.g., the collection containing the “Score” field).
5. Add the Action: Click on "+ Add Action" and select "Update Contact."
6. Configure the Action:
   • Contact to Update: Use the dynamic value option (usually indicated by a “{ }” symbol) to link the automation to the contact associated with the CMS item. You'll likely need to use the email address from the form submission to identify the contact.
   • Fields to Update: Select the “Assessment Score” custom field. Then, use the dynamic value option again to link the “Score” field from the CMS collection to the “Assessment Score” contact field.
7. Activate the Automation: Once configured, activate the automation to start updating contact fields automatically.

Solution 2: Custom Code with Wix Data Hooks (Advanced)

For more complex scenarios or finer control, you can use Wix Data Hooks to trigger custom code when a CMS item is created or updated. This requires familiarity with Wix Velo.

1. Enable Velo: In your Wix Studio editor, turn on Dev Mode.
2. Access Data Hooks: Go to the CMS collection settings and find the Data Hooks section.
3. Create a `beforeInsert` Hook: This hook will run before a new item is added to the collection.
4. Write the Code: Use the following code structure (adjust collection ID and field keys accordingly):

   
    import wixData from 'wix-data';
    import wixCRM from 'wix-crm';
   
    export function myCollection_beforeInsert(item, context) {
     // Get the score from the CMS item
     const score = item.score;
     const email = item.email;
   
     // Find the contact by email
     return wixCRM.contacts.find({
      emails: [email]
     })
     .then((results) => {
      if (results.items.length > 0) {
       const c
   
       // Update the contact with the assessment score
       const toUpdate = {
        "_id": contactId,
        "assessmentScore": score // Replace "assessmentScore" with your custom field key
       };
   
       return wixCRM.contacts.update(toUpdate)
        .then( (results) => {
         console.log("Contact updated successfully:", results);
         return item; // Return the original item to continue the insert operation
        } );
      } else {
       console.log("Contact not found for email:", email);
       return item; // Return the original item to continue the insert operation
      }
     });
    }
    

Important Considerations for the Code:

• Replace `myCollection` with the actual ID of your CMS collection.
• Replace `score` and `email` with the correct field keys in your CMS collection.
• Replace `assessmentScore` with the correct field key for your custom contact field. You can find the field key in the Contact list settings.
• Ensure that the email field is correctly populated in your CMS collection from the form submission.
• Error handling and logging should be implemented for production environments.

Key Takeaways for Wix Studio Store Owners and Developers

• Wix Automations offer a no-code/low-code solution for simple contact field updates based on CMS form submissions.
• Wix Data Hooks provide more flexibility and control but require Velo coding skills.
• Always test your automations and code thoroughly before deploying them to a live site.
• Ensure that your CMS collection and contact fields are correctly configured for seamless data transfer.

By understanding these solutions, Wix Studio store owners and developers can effectively automate the process of updating contact information based on CMS form submissions, leading to improved data management and personalized user experiences.