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Troubleshooting Common CFDB7 Issues: Why Your Form Data Isn't Saving Correctly

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

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Why Isn't My Contact Form 7 Data Saving to the Database?

Contact Form 7 Database Addon – CFDB7 is a popular plugin for storing form submissions, but users often encounter issues where data fails to save correctly. Based on community reports and troubleshooting discussions, here are the most common problems and their solutions.

1. Forms Not Appearing in CFDB7 List

Problem: Some forms don't show up in the CFDB7 submissions list while others work fine.

Solution: First, check if you have multiple pages of submissions. The plugin paginates results, so your form might be on a different page. If that's not the case, ensure the form is properly configured and doesn't have conflicting elements.

2. Missing File Uploads

Problem: Form submissions are saved but uploaded files are missing from the server.

Solution: Verify you're using the correct CFDB7 plugin version. Some users confuse it with similarly named plugins. Ensure you have the latest version installed (1.2.6.5 or newer). Also check your server's file permissions and upload directory settings.

3. Multisite Installation Issues

Problem: Form submissions aren't stored when using WordPress Multisite.

Solution: A common fix is to deactivate and reactivate the plugin on your multisite network. This often reinitializes the database tables properly for multisite environments.

4. Data Appearing as "Unknown" Form

Problem: Submissions are saved but categorized under "Unknown" form name.

Solution: This typically occurs when using custom code or API calls that don't properly pass the form instance. Review your custom hooks and ensure you're correctly handling the form object in your cfdb_submit or wpcf7_before_send_mail actions.

5. Duplicate Submissions

Problem: Multiple identical records appear for a single form submission.

Solution: This can happen when multiple plugins interact with the form submission process. Consider using a uniqueness plugin like "cfdb7 unique" to prevent duplicate entries, or review your form configuration for multiple submission triggers.

6. Hidden Fields Not Saving

Problem: Hidden fields using [hidden text fieldname default:get] don't store their values.

Solution: First verify the hidden fields are working by checking if they appear in the email notifications. Test the field by accessing your form URL with parameters: http://example.com/contact/?fieldname=somedata

7. Update-Related Issues

Problem: Forms stop working or saving data after plugin updates.

Solution: If you experience issues after an update, check the plugin's support forum for known bugs. Sometimes rolling back to a previous version temporarily can resolve compatibility issues while waiting for a fix.

8. Database Error Messages

Problem: PHP warnings like "Invalid argument supplied for foreach()" appear.

Solution: These errors often indicate malformed form data or compatibility issues with other plugins. Enable WordPress debug logging to identify the exact cause, and check for conflicts with other Contact Form 7 extensions.

General Troubleshooting Tips

  • Always test form submissions after making changes
  • Check for plugin conflicts by temporarily disabling other extensions
  • Review your server error logs for PHP warnings or errors
  • Ensure you have the latest versions of both Contact Form 7 and CFDB7
  • Regularly backup your database before making significant changes

Remember that while CFDB7 is generally reliable, its interaction with other plugins and custom code can sometimes cause unexpected behavior. The Contact Form 7 Database Addon – CFDB7 team regularly addresses these issues in updates, so keeping your plugin current is important for stability.

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