The Drawing Shape Field represents one specific map shape inside a Gravity Form. It works with a Drawing Tools Field and its linked Map Field, can preload a shape from editor settings or raw GeoJSON, lets you control whether visitors may move or edit it, and saves the final shape with the entry.

Table of Contents

Drawing Shape Field Overview

Use this field when the form needs an individually configured shape, such as a service radius, property boundary, delivery area, point of interest, planned route, or editable coverage zone. The shape appears on the map connected through the selected Drawing Tools Field. The field itself is hidden on the front end and stores the shape's structured geometry and properties.

Drawing Tools vs. Drawing Shape

The Drawing Tools Field provides the drawing interface and stores a collection of shapes. A Drawing Shape Field stores one distinct shape with its own source, type, appearance, and permissions. A form can use the Drawing Tools Field alone, or pair it with multiple Drawing Shape Fields when each predefined shape needs its own field and saved value.

Drawing Shape Field Settings

1. Drawing Tools Field

Select the Drawing Tools Field that manages this shape. That Drawing Tools Field must itself be linked to the Map Field where the shape should appear.

2. Shape Source

Choose Field Options to build the initial shape from the settings below, or Raw JSON to use a pasted GeoJSON Feature as the authoritative source.

3. Shape Type

For Field Options, select Point, Polyline, Polygon, Rectangle, or Circle. Enter the center latitude and longitude, then set the size in meters. The size acts as a radius for a circle and as a half-width for a rectangle; the selected geometry determines how the initial shape is generated.

4. Raw JSON

Paste a valid GeoJSON Feature when exact coordinates are required. Raw JSON overrides the center and size settings, so verify the geometry before publishing the form.

5. Default Label and Color

Provide the label initially shown for the shape and choose its starting color. These values may be changed by the visitor only when the related controls and permissions are enabled.

6. Shape Panel and Permissions

Show Shape Panel displays the shape controls. Allow Resizing, Allow Editing, and Allow Dragging independently control how visitors may change the predefined geometry.

Saved Shape Data and Merge Tags

The field saves the final shape as a GeoJSON-style feature with its geometry, properties, and calculated measurements. The entry detail view displays the shape on a map together with available metrics.

Available merge-tag modifiers include:

Append a modifier to the field ID, for example {Service Area:14.metrics_text}.

Basic Setup

  1. Add a Map Field and a Drawing Tools Field.
  2. Link the Drawing Tools Field to the map.
  3. Add a Drawing Shape Field and select that Drawing Tools Field.
  4. Choose Field Options or Raw JSON as the shape source.
  5. Configure the geometry, label, color, and editing permissions.
  6. Save the form and verify the initial shape, visitor controls, and submitted entry output.

Troubleshooting