Set a blank custom field value as default

• Geoff

• August 13, 2013 at 3:37 am

Hi,

A little background: I’m using custom fields to store software specifications in each post.

I’m trying to replace the Custom Field Template (CFT) plugin with your plugin, but I’ve run into a problem. With CFT, True/False values default to “Select” so I know which custom fields I haven’t set. But with Advanced Custom Fields, there’s only a checkbox, which leaves me with no way to tell which fields I’ve set. Another problem: if I add a custom field, it will default to “False”, since the checkbox is unchecked.

I’ve tried to use a “Select” box, but that leaves me with the same problem. The default value is “True” rather than “Select” or empty. So if I add a custom field I have no way of knowing which previous posts need their custom fields set.

Is there any way around this? Thanks very much for your time.

Regards,
Geoff

• Elliot

• August 13, 2013 at 2:09 pm

Hi @Geoff

I don’t understand what you mean by “The default value is “True” rather than “Select” or empty”

When editing, the select field will load the default value or just appear with the topmost value selected.

I’m sure there is a way you can work with this.

• Geoff

• August 13, 2013 at 3:19 pm

Elliot,

Sorry for the complicated question. It’s probably easier to explain with a screenshot 🙂

As you can see, the default value for the select box is “Select.” So if I create a new custom field, then come back to edit this post, I can tell I haven’t set that custom field before. Whereas with your plugin the default is “True” and I have no way of knowing if I set it to “True” or not. Does that make sense?

• Elliot

• August 14, 2013 at 9:29 am

Hi @Geoff

Unless there is a massive bug I am unaware of, the value should not default to ‘True’. If no value is found in the DB, it will be read as null.

Perhaps you have a custom filter which is setting this?

When using a select field, the first option will be selected if no value is saved. This is default HTML logic

• Geoff

• August 14, 2013 at 9:52 am

Yeah, I was referring to the select box only, not the value (sorry if that was unclear).

So for my situation, should I just make the first option “Select” followed by “True” and “False”? That way I could tell which custom fields are blank.

Also, is there a way to decrease the width of the select box in ACF?

• Elliot

• August 14, 2013 at 2:30 pm

Hi @Geoff

Yes, the select field contains an option to allow for a null selection.

This adds a ‘- select -‘ option which you can use to see the difference between null and true.

To decrease the width, please use CSS in the admin

Thanks
E

• Geoff

• August 14, 2013 at 3:45 pm

Great! Thanks for your help.

• James

• May 31, 2017 at 5:53 am

Hi @geoff

You are most welcome.

Feel free to reach out to me in case something else comes up 🙂