Resolving Visibility of Deleted Form Fields in Ultimate Member

Issue Overview

When using Ultimate Member's Form Builder, a user may encounter a situation where they delete a custom field (e.g., a textbox) in the "Default Profile" form, but the field remains visible to users on their profile update page. This can be frustrating as the field is no longer listed in the form builder but still appears on the front end for profile updates.

Cause of the Issue

The issue likely arises from residual metadata or cached data that persists even after a field is deleted. This causes the deleted field to remain visible on users’ profiles, even though it is no longer part of the form in the Form Builder.

Steps to Resolve the Issue

Follow these steps to ensure the deleted field is removed from the front-end profile update page and other forms:

  1. Ensure Proper Field Deletion
    • Navigate to wp-admin>Ultimate Member > Forms and select the form you were editing (e.g., Default Profile).
    • Click to Edit the form.
    • Open the Form Builder by clicking the ‘+’ icon in the Form Builder to manage fields.
    • Confirm the deleted field is no longer listed under the custom fields section.
    • If the field still appears in the list, remove it by clicking Delete Permanently (x).
  2. Clear Caches
    • If you're using a caching plugin or server-side caching, clear all cached data to avoid any stale data being displayed.
    • Also, clear your browser cache to ensure the changes reflect on the front end. Refresh the profile page to check for updates.
    • For more info about caching problems, go to this article.
  3. Check for Residual Metadata
    • In some cases, metadata associated with the deleted field may still exist in the database. If the field continues to show up after being deleted in the Form Builder, check the database for any remaining data related to that field.
    • You can access the database using phpMyAdmin or a similar tool, then search for the field’s meta key and remove any associated metadata.  Note that UM Form and field data are stored in the wp_posts and wp_postmeta tables in the WordPress database.
    • This solution might be complicated, so you may need to consult a developer for assistance.
  4. Recreate and Re-delete the Field
    • If the field is still visible, try recreating the field in the Form Builder with the same meta key (name) as before.
    • After creating it again, delete the field by selecting Delete Permanently (x) to remove it completely.
  5. Inspect Other Forms
    • Sometimes, deleting a field in one form may not remove it from all forms. Go through all your Ultimate Member forms to ensure the field is not still being used elsewhere.
    • If the field is used in any other forms, remove it manually.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to fully remove the deleted field from the profile update page and any other forms in Ultimate Member. If the issue persists or you need additional assistance, feel free to reach out to Ultimate Member support.