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How to Grant and Manage User Access to CFDB7 Form Submissions

20 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Contact form 7 database addon – cfdb7

Content

One of the most common questions about the 'Contact Form 7 Database Addon – CFDB7' plugin is how to control which users can see form submissions in the WordPress dashboard. By default, the plugin only grants access to users with the Administrator role. This guide explains the standard methods for granting access to other user roles like Editors or Contributors, as well as the plugin's limitations for more advanced permission scenarios.

Why This Happens

The plugin uses a custom WordPress capability called cfdb7_access to control access to its dashboard menu. By default, this capability is only granted to Administrator-level users. This is a security measure to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive form submission data.

How to Grant Access to Other User Roles

There are two primary methods to grant the necessary capability to other user roles.

Method 1: Using a Plugin (Recommended for Most Users)

The simplest way to manage capabilities is by using a dedicated user role editor plugin.

  1. Install and activate the User Role Editor plugin.
  2. Navigate to Users → User Role Editor in your WordPress admin.
  3. Select the role you want to edit (e.g., 'Editor', 'Author') from the drop-down menu.
  4. In the list of capabilities, find and check the box for cfdb7_access.
  5. Click the 'Update' button to save your changes.

Note: Some users have reported that the menu item might not appear immediately. If this happens, try logging out and back in, or manually visiting your-site.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=cfdb7-list.php to trigger the menu to appear.

Method 2: Adding Code to functions.php

For developers comfortable with code, you can add the capability directly by placing the following code in your theme's functions.php file.

function add_cfdb7_access_to_editor() {
    $role = get_role('editor'); // Replace 'editor' with any other role slug
    if ($role && !$role->has_cap('cfdb7_access')) {
        $role->add_cap('cfdb7_access');
    }
}
add_action('init', 'add_cfdb7_access_to_editor');

Understanding the Limitations

It is important to understand what the cfdb7_access capability does and does not do.

  • What it DOES: This capability grants a user role access to view all form submissions listed in the CFDB7 admin area.
  • What it does NOT do: The native plugin does not have functionality to:
    • Restrict access to submissions from only specific forms.
    • Allow users to only see their own submissions.
    • Let users edit existing form submissions.
    • Display a notification badge for unread submissions.
    • Show submission data on the front-end of the site.

Based on the sample support threads, the 'Contact Form 7 Database Addon – CFDB7' team has consistently stated that achieving any of the above advanced functionalities requires custom development work, as they are beyond the scope of the free plugin's features.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Menu Not Appearing: If you've added the capability but the CFDB7 menu still isn't visible, try clearing your browser cache and WordPress cache plugins. Manually navigating to the page URL can sometimes force the menu to appear.
  • Can't See Submission Details: Some users report that certain admin themes or menu customization plugins can interfere with viewing the details of a single submission. Try temporarily switching to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four) and deactivating other plugins to test for a conflict.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully grant dashboard access to CFDB7 data for various user roles. For more complex permission needs, custom coding or a different solution may be necessary.

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