How do I manage custom fields with Kraft Fields (ACF-compatible)?

Kraft Fields manages the custom fields of your records and content types, ACF-compatible, without installing ACF. The booking form itself does not accept extra fields: here are the alternatives, with one principle: keep it minimal.

Kraft Fields is the GDA Kraft Booking module (WordPress plugin by Global Digital Agency) that manages the custom fields of your content: features of an accommodation, room-by-room gallery, practical information, and so on. It uses the same API and data as ACF, so there is no need to install ACF. It is included in the edition downloaded from your Kraft GDA customer area (free account, no credit card, see /en/inscription): no add-on to install. Kraft Fields does not, however, add any question to the booking form; this article also explains how to collect extra information from the guest, asking only for what you really need.

What is a custom field?

A custom field is a piece of information added to WordPress content (a page, an accommodation) on top of the title and text: size of the garden, list of spaces with their photos, access instructions, and so on. It is filled in on the edit screen and displayed on the site, for example as dynamic content in Divi.

ACF (Advanced Custom Fields) is a very widely used WordPress plugin for creating these fields. Kraft Fields uses the same format and the same storage:

ACF not installed: Kraft Fields provides the field groups (those declared by your theme or plugins, and those created in ACF in the past), the content types created in ACF, the edit screen and the usual functions (get_field(), update_field(), etc.);
ACF active: Kraft Fields steps aside and says so in a message; you can deactivate ACF, and Kraft Fields takes over the same fields and the same data, with no migration.

Where can I find the fields in Kraft Booking?

Check that the “Custom fields” module is active in Kraft Booking › Modules (it is by default).
Open an accommodation record (Kraft Booking › Accommodations › Configure): the “07 ACF fields” tab shows the field groups assigned to the “Accommodation” type.
Once the record has been saved, the “ACF organisation” tab lets you arrange these fields.
In Divi, the fields remain available as dynamic content for your accommodation page templates.

Kraft Fields has no field creation screen: the groups come from your theme, your plugins (Kraft Designer, for example, declares the “Room-by-room gallery”), or from ACF if you created them with it.

Can I add a question to the booking form?

Not to date: the booking form uses fixed fields (name, email, phone, guests, message). To collect information specific to the stay:

Need	Available solution
Expected arrival time, special request	The form's message field (the block's or widget's “Show message” option)
Acceptance of the house rules	The record's “House rules” (“05 Booking” tab); for appointments, the “Require acceptance of the terms” and “Terms URL” options
Information only useful before arrival	The “03 Messages” tab of the booking record
Renaming an existing label	Settings › “Texts and labels” (for example “Guests” → “People”)

What information should you ask for, depending on your business?

Fictional examples, to adapt:

Business	Information	How to ask for it
Holiday cottage, villa	Expected arrival time	Form message, or a message before arrival
Holiday cottage, villa	Pet	Rule written in the accommodation record, details by message
B&B	Breakfast: dietary restrictions	Message before arrival, without medical details
Rental with parking	Vehicle registration	Message before arrival
Workshop	Level	Service description (one service per level)

A dietary restriction entered as free text can reveal sensitive information (allergy, religious reason): only ask for it if it is useful to you, and without medical details.

Why keep the information requested to a minimum?

The GDPR requires data minimisation: only collect the data necessary for the purpose. It is also good commercial practice, as each extra question makes the booking longer.

Before asking for a piece of information, ask yourself three questions:

What will I actually do with it? If the answer is “nothing specific”, do not ask for it.
Can I ask for it later? Information that is only useful the day before arrival can be requested by message.
Is it sensitive data? Health, opinions, religion: do not ask for them when taking a booking. For practitioners, see How do I offer online appointment booking for a practice without collecting health data?.

Booking data is stored on your WordPress site; see GDPR and personal data.

Should I ask for documents?

Never ask, by message or in a field, for an identity document, a medical document or bank details, unless there is a specific legal obligation. A document uploaded to a piece of content (the “file” field of a field group) is stored in your media library: keep this type of field for your own content and state its purpose in your privacy policy.

Where can I find the guest's information?

The message entered in the form and the exchanges appear in the booking record (“02 Guest” and “03 Messages” tabs). For the emails sent to guests, see How do I customise booking emails?.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum number of fields I should add?

No limit is announced for the fields of your records. On the guest side, keep the booking short: only ask for what you actually use.

Can I show a field for just one accommodation?

Field groups follow their assignment rules (in ACF format), for example the “Accommodation” type. An empty field displays nothing on an accommodation page.

Do I need ACF installed?

No, Kraft Fields works on its own. If ACF is active, Kraft Fields steps aside and ACF stays in charge, with the same data.

Are labels translated automatically?

On the site's pages, the built-in multilingual support translates the final output, including the content of your fields; you can review these translations in Kraft Console › “Translations”. See Multilingual sites.