How can I dynamically redirect to a CMS created after form submission in Webflow?
TL;DR
- Add a CMS item identifier (e.g., slug) to the form via a hidden or dropdown field populated by a Collection List.
- Use custom JavaScript to listen for form submission, extract the identifier, and redirect to the CMS item page dynamically.
This question addresses how to perform a dynamic redirection to a newly created CMS page after a form submission, which is not natively supported in Webflow.
1. Understanding Webflow’s Capabilities
- Webflow Forms: By default, Webflow forms only support static redirection upon submission.
- CMS Integration: There isn’t an out-of-the-box method to capture a newly created CMS item’s URL and redirect the user immediately.
2. Third-Party Integration Options
- Zapier/Integromat:
- These tools can listen for form submissions.
- They can then create a CMS item via Webflow’s API.
- Limitation: While they manage data flow, handling an immediate client-side redirect still requires extra steps.
- Webhooks:
- You might use a webhook to signal the creation of the CMS item.
- This information could be sent back to a custom script that processes the dynamic URL.
3. Custom API and JavaScript Workaround
- Custom API Integration:
- Use Webflow’s CMS API to create collection items directly from the form submission via custom code.
- Upon successful creation, the API can return details such as the new item’s slug or URL.
- JavaScript Redirection:
- Write a custom JavaScript function that makes an asynchronous call to your server or API.
- Once you retrieve the new CMS item’s URL, dynamically set window.location.href to redirect the user.
- Ensure proper error handling and loading feedback to improve user experience.
4. Implementation Considerations
- Asynchronous Handling:
- The redirect needs to occur only after the CMS item is confirmed created; this requires careful front-end script timing.
- Security and Validation:
- Validate that no sensitive data is exposed via the API.
- Refrain from exposing your API keys or endpoints in client-side code.
- Testing:
- You will need extensive testing to ensure that the asynchronous API call and redirect are working correctly without causing delays or user confusion.
Summary
Webflow does not natively support a dynamic redirect to a newly created CMS item after form submission. To achieve this, you must integrate third-party tools (like Zapier) or implement custom API calls with JavaScript that fetch the new CMS item’s URL and perform an asynchronous redirect.