Integrating ACF Groups in Elementor: How to Combine ACF Group Fields in Elementor?

Introduction

Elementor is a powerful and popular WordPress page builder plugin that allows you to create unique and attractive designs with minimal effort. One of its features is the ability to easily link and edit ACF (Advanced Custom Fields) fields. However, when it comes to ACF groups, issues arise.

In this article, we will discuss how ACF groups work within Elementor, why they do not display by default, and offer solutions for their integration.

Problem: ACF Groups in Elementor

ACF allows creating field groups that can be used to organize and structure content. For example, you can create a group of fields for product information that will be used on multiple pages of your website.

However, Elementor does not support displaying ACF groups directly. When attempting to use an ACF group in Elementor, the field simply does not appear in the Key-dropdown menu.

Solutions: Integrating ACF Group into Elementor

Manual Integration

Step 1: Creating an ACF Group

First, create an ACF group. To do this, go to the ACF settings and create a new group of fields:

// Create a field group
function create_acf_group() {
    $fields = array(
        array(
            'key' => 'field_5e8c9d0a23456',
            'label' => __('Product Information', 'acf'),
            'name' => 'product_info',
            'type' => 'group',
            'sub_fields' => array(
                array(
                    'key' => 'field_5e8c9d1b23456',
                    'label' => __('Name', 'acf'),
                    'name' => 'product_name',
                    'type' => 'text',
                ),
                array(
                    'key' => 'field_5e8c9d2c23456',
                    'label' => __('Price', 'acf'),
                    'name' => 'product_price',
                    'type' => 'number',
                ),
            ),
        ),
    );
    acf_add_local_field_group(array(
        'key' => 'group_5e8c9d0a23456',
        'title' => __('Product Details', 'acf'),
        'fields' => $fields,
        'location' => array(
            array(
                array(
                    'param' => 'post_type',
                    'operator' => '==',
                    'value' => 'product',
                ),
            ),
        ),
    ));
}
add_action('acf/init', 'create_acf_group');

Step 2: Integrating the Group into Elementor

To use an ACF group in Elementor, you need to add it to an element through code. This can be done using the acf_form_head function or via a custom filter.

// Add ACF group to Elementor
function add_acf_group_to_elementor($settings) {
    if ($settings['type'] == 'acf') {
        $acf_fields = get_fields();
        if (isset($acf_fields['product_info'])) {
            foreach ($acf_fields['product_info'] as $field) {
                // Add the field to Elementor
                $settings['fields'][] = array(
                    'type' => 'text',
                    'label' => $field['label'],
                    'name' => $field['name'],
                    'value' => $field['value'],
                );
            }
        }
    }
    return $settings;
}
add_filter('elementor/elements/categories_registered', 'add_acf_group_to_elementor');

Automatic Integration Using a Plugin

If manual integration seems too complex, you can use plugins like ACF for Elementor or WP ProFields. These plugins allow for automatic integration of ACF fields with Elementor without needing to write additional code.

Practical Tips

1. Check Versions: Ensure that you have the latest versions of Elementor and ACF installed.
2. Use Plugins: If you are unsure about your coding skills, use plugins for automatic integration.
3. Testing: Always test changes on a staging site before implementing them on production.

Conclusion

Integrating ACF groups into Elementor can be a challenging task, but with the right approach and appropriate tools, it is achievable. We hope this article helps you find a solution and improve your content management in WordPress.

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