If you missed it, Gravity Forms just released a beta version of the upcoming 2.9 release, which includes some cool new features!
In this video, I take a look for the first time at what this new version has to offer!
New Features
Starting with the most exciting stuff! Two new field types are coming to Gravity Forms!
Multiple Choice Field
The Multiple Choice Field offers a versatile combination of features found in both checkbox and radio button fields, enhanced with better layout options, compatibility, and controls.
This new field type includes an “Enable Select All” feature, which adds a “Select All” checkbox at the top of the list. You can reorder, delete, or add new choices without impacting previous form submissions. The field also provides flexible display options, allowing you to stack choices vertically or arrange them in line for a more polished appearance.
With the “Enable Multiple Selection” option, the field can switch from single-choice to multiple-choice mode, unlocking additional settings to fine-tune how the multi-selection should function.
While the traditional Checkboxes and Radio Buttons fields are still available in the Gravity Forms editor for backward compatibility, they will not receive further updates. These legacy fields will continue to function in existing forms, but if you want to benefit from the latest features and future enhancements, it’s recommended to start using the Multiple Choice Field.
For more detailed information on the Multiple Choice Field and its settings, refer to this article.
Image Choice Field
The Image Choice Field allows you to present images as selectable options in a single or multi-select field. It includes various styles, such as a card style for the Orbital theme, and offers customization options to adjust the image shape. Similar to the Multiple Choice Field, it provides the flexibility to enable or disable multiple selections, along with various multi-choice settings.
For further details on the Image Choice Field, read more here.
Third Party Add-On Comparison
I do a simple comparison of this new field type and the Jetsloth add-on which already provides this functionality.
The big difference, the Jetsloth add-on offers way more design and style options. You can check out the Images Choices add-on here.
Editor Improvements
These are some other minor changes and improvements being made to the editor, which I briefly covered in the video.
Orbital Theme in the Form Editor
The Orbital theme, first introduced in Gravity Forms 2.5, was designed to give your forms a consistent appearance, enhancing your website’s overall user experience and visual harmony. Since its introduction, every major Gravity Forms release has brought updates and improvements to the Orbital theme and our theming and styling tools.
With the release of Gravity Forms 2.9, the Form Editor now also supports the Orbital theme, ensuring a seamless look and feel across your forms and editing experience.
Enhanced Accessibility in the Form Editor
This update has also focused on improving the accessibility of the form editor. We’ve optimized it to offer better support for keyboard navigation and screen readers, making it more accessible to all users.
Upgraded Choice Flyout in All Choice Fields
The Choice Flyout feature in all choice-based fields has been refined for greater usability. This enhancement applies to both new choice fields and the legacy Radio Button and Checkbox fields.
Option to Remove Selected Default Choice in Choice-Based Fields
Previously, once you selected a default option in a choice-based field, it couldn’t be unselected. With this update, users now can deselect the default option by clicking on it again, providing greater flexibility and control over form settings.
The Wrap Up
Gravity Forms 2.9 will bring some important updates. The new image choice field will be a huge benefit for many users.
I still think the Jetsloth add-on is a better solution at this point.
However, as the Orbital theme continues to advance and improve, I suspect we will see a lot more design capabilities being added to the core.
