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Using Merge Tag Modifiers with Lookup Fields
Dynamic Lookup fields connect form entries to WordPress content, such as users, posts, pages, or other form entries. Each field includes a Display Value setting that determines what is shown by default (for example, Display Name for users or Title for posts).
If you need to display data other than the configured Display Value, you can use merge tag modifiers. Modifiers let you access any attribute of the selected item, not just the default display value.
To use a modifier, append it to the field ID with a colon: {Field Label:field_id:modifier}. Merge tag modifiers work anywhere GravityView and Gravity Forms merge tags are supported, including notifications, confirmations, View fields.
Example
|
Merge Tag |
Output |
{Assigned User:2} |
John Doe (the configured display value) |
{Assigned User:2:user_email} |
[email protected] |
{Related Article:3:permalink} |
https://example.com/getting-started/ |
{Parent Order:4:field:5} |
Order #12345 |
Available Modifiers
The modifiers available depend on your Dynamic Lookup field's data source.
WordPress Users
|
Modifier |
Description |
Example Output |
display_name |
User's display name | John Doe |
user_login |
Username | johndoe |
user_email |
Email address | [email protected] |
first_name |
First name | John |
last_name |
Last name | Doe |
nickname |
Nickname | JD |
user_url |
Website URL | https://example.com |
user_registered |
Registration date | 2024-01-15 10:30:00 |
ID |
User ID | 42 |
meta:{key} |
Custom user meta value | (varies) |
Custom user meta example: {Assigned User:2:meta:phone_number}
Posts, Pages, and Custom Post Types
|
Modifier |
Description |
Example Output |
title |
Post title | Getting Started Guide |
permalink |
Full URL | https://example.com/getting-started/ |
slug |
URL slug | getting-started |
date |
Publish date | 2026-03-20 |
modified |
Last modified date | 2026-06-15 |
author |
Author display name | Jane Smith |
excerpt |
Post excerpt | This guide covers... |
featured_image |
Featured image URL | https://example.com/image.jpg |
ID |
Post ID | 156 |
meta:{key} |
Custom field value | (varies) |
taxonomy:{name} |
Taxonomy terms (comma-separated) | Tutorials, Beginner |
Custom field example: {Related Product:3:meta:_price}
Taxonomy example: {Related Article:3:taxonomy:category}
Gravity Forms Entries
|
Modifier |
Description |
Example Output |
id |
Entry ID | 1024 |
date_created |
Submission date | 2026-07-01 14:22:33 |
created_by |
Creator's display name | John Doe |
field:{id} |
Field value from the linked entry | (varies) |
meta:{key} |
Entry meta value | (varies) |
Linked entry field example: {Parent Order:4:field:5}. This retrieves field (ID #5) value from the linked entry.
Sub-field example (compound fields like Address or Name): {Parent Order:4:field:2.3}. This retrieves input 2.3 (City) from an Address field in the linked entry.
GravityView Integration
When Dynamic Lookup fields are displayed in GravityView, their values are automatically expanded using the field’s Display Value setting - no additional configuration is required.
For more advanced use cases, merge tag modifiers can be used in the Custom Content field to access attributes beyond the default display value.