Pull data from multiple (linked) forms

Hi e2PDF Support,

I’m trying to include data from multiple related Formidable Forms in a single PDF, and I’m hoping you can let me know the best way to do this.

Here’s my setup:
• I have three connected forms:
1. Client form – stores details like title, first name, last name
2. Project form – has a field linking to the Client entry
3. Maintenance form – has a field linking to the Project entry

I want to generate a PDF from the Maintenance form, but include fields from the related Project and Client entries (e.g., show the client’s name on the certificate).

I’ve tried using shortcodes like this:

[107 field_id=“207” entry=”[107 field_id=‘103’]”]

Where:
• 107 is the Project Link field in the Maintenance form
• 103 is the Client Link field in the Project form
• 207 is the Title field in the Client form

But the output just shows “67” (the Client entry ID), not the actual field value like “Mr”.

All fields are simple single line text fields, not lookups or dropdowns.

My question is:
Can e2PDF pull in field values from linked forms like this? And if so, what’s the recommended or supported way to do it?

Thanks for your help — I really appreciate it.

Hello,

Could you please clarify? It has been mentioned that the fields are single-line text fields. Is it correct that 107, 103 are single-line text fields that just store the Entry ID? Or are they lookup fields or dynamic fields?

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Hi,

Thanks for your quick reply!
Yes that’s correct they are single line text fields.

To clarify:
• Field 107 (in the Maintenance form) is a plain hidden field (not a Lookup field) that stores the entry ID of a Project
• Field 103 (in the Project form) is also a plain field that stores the entry ID of a Client
• Field 207 (in the Client form) is a Single Line Text field (e.g. “Mr”) — this is the actual data I want to show in the PDF

So the setup is:
• Maintenance → stores Project ID in field 107
• Project → stores Client ID in field 103
• Client → has plain text fields for the name

I tried this nested shortcode in e2PDF:
[107 field_id="207" entry="[107 field_id='103']"]

But instead of showing the value of field 207, it returns the entry ID (e.g. “67”).

Can e2PDF retrieve values from a related form two levels deep like this?
If not, what’s your recommended method to display those values?

Thanks again — really appreciate your help!

Unfortunately, nested shortcodes are not supported in the context in which you tried to use them. To accomplish your task, you can use a custom filter added to your theme’s functions.php file or as a PHP snippet: https://codefile.io/f/X7tDabtedu

After adding the filter, it should be possible to use the shortcode like this:

[e2pdf-format-output filter="ff_nested" entry_field_id="103" field_id="207"][107][/e2pdf-format-output]

* Note: This solution is designed for use with the Formidable Forms PRO version.

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This is amazing thanks works well. However, does it work for repeater fields? For example I am trying [e2pdf-format-output filter="ff_nested" entry_field_id="107" field_id="41:1"][id][/e2pdf-format-output] for example and its returning all repeats in field id 41. Grateful for your help, Thank you.

This is amazing thanks works well. However, does it work for repeater fields? For example I am trying [e2pdf-format-output filter="ff_nested" entry_field_id="107" field_id="41:1"][id][/e2pdf-format-output] for example and its returning all repeats in field id 41. Grateful for your help, Thank you.

Hello,

Here is the updated code that supports repeater values: https://codefile.io/f/S6NkPpkcCB

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Hi E2Pdf Support,

Thanks so much for the ff_nested filter functionality — it’s working really well for pulling individual field values from related entries, including repeaters.

I’m now trying to include a Formidable View inside an E2Pdf template using the ff_nested context, but it looks like the View doesn’t receive the correct entry_id.

Here’s what I’m trying to do:

[e2pdf-format-output filter="ff_nested" entry_field_id="107"]

[display-frm-data id="110"]

[/e2pdf-format-output]

107 is a hidden field in the Form B form that stores the related Project entry ID.

View 110 is based on the Form A form and is filtered using ID is equal to [get param=entry].

I can't get the formidable view data to display in E2PDF.

Would it be possible to extend the ff_nested functionality to support passing the nested entry_id into Views, or is there another supported method I should use?

Thanks again — your support is fantastic.

Hello,

The shortcode [display-frm-data] does support nested shortcodes. You mentioned that View 110 is connected to Form A. We're a bit confused - does Form A refer to a Maintenance form or a Project form?

- If it's a Maintenance form (to which E2Pdf Template is connected), you should be able to use:

[display-frm-data id="110" entry="[id]"]

If [get param=entry] is filtering by Entry ID

or

[display-frm-data id="110" entry_id="[id]"]

- If it’s a Project form (and the value is stored in the entry form connected to the E2Pdf Template), you should be able to use:

[display-frm-data id="110" entry="[107]"]

If [get param=entry] is filtering by Entry ID

or

[display-frm-data id="110" entry_id="[107]"]

P.S. Regarding the use of the ff_nested filter to avoid confusion. The value placed inside [e2pdf-format-output] is the initial value passed to the filter - not the final output. For example: [e2pdf-format-output filter="ff_nested" entry_field_id="107" field_id="41:1"][id][/e2pdf-format-output]

In this case, [id] is rendered first, and that value is passed to the filter. The filter then processes the output based on that value. In your example, you're trying to render [display-frm-data id="110"] and pass that directly to the filter, which is not as expected.

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