Registration Form (Duplicate First Name, Last Name fields)

Hi darrenchu,

Im sorry to hear you’re having an issue and I’ll be happy to help. If you’re getting duplicate fields on the registration page, it’s because you’re using multiple plugins that modify the registration page. If the other plugin is an anti-spam plugin, then you can safely turn it off and the extra fields will go away. If you dont want to turn off the other plugin, then you can turn off WP-SpamShield’s registration spam protection on the settings page and the extra fields will go away. (This option was added in version 1.7.)

– Scott

Hi Scott,
Thanks for the suggestion.

When the duplicate fields appear, I only have 1 anti-spam plugin activated – WP-Spam Shield. I have another one installed, but not activated. The moment I deactivate WP-Spam Shield and reactivate the other one, the duplicate fields disappear.

I use S2MemberPro (a membership plugin) in conjunction with the registration page…I don’t see how having S2MemberPro active though would be a problem as with the other anti-spam plugin activated (and WP-Spam Shield deactivated), there are no conflicts (while S2MemberPro is also activated).

Darren

Hi Darren,

You’re welcome. Membership plugins will also fall into that category since they commonly modify the registration page or replace it altogether.

WordPress’ default registration page has two fields:

• Username
• Email

WP-SpamShield adds three fields:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Display Name

If you have anything other than these 5 fields with WP-SpamShield installed (or 2 fields Username and Email without it installed), then another plugin is adding the extra two fields (First Name, Last Name). Based on info I’ve received from other users, I believe it is your s2Member plugin.

The First Name, Last Name, and Display Name fields are an essential part of the registration spam protection that the plugin provides.

These are fields that WordPress uses already, they just weren’t included in the registration form by default. They are found in the wp-admin/user-edit.php and wp-admin/profile.php pages of your WordPress Dashboard. If you’re really serious about having real human users register on your site, you would want them to fill these out anyway, especially because the user would need to fill these out before actually using any features of your WordPress site, such as commenting, writing posts, etc. Having new users fill these fields out when registering (as opposed to later on) is a proven method of helping to make sure only legitimate human users register on your site, and is one of several methods this plugin uses to prevent human registration spam. (Automated bot registrations are all stopped automatically by different methods.)

If you want to get rid of the duplicate fields, you’ll need to deactivate one of the plugins’ interaction with the registration page. I’m guessing it would be inconvenient to deactivate the s2Member plugin, so just deactivate WP-SpamShield’s registration spam protection, and you’ll be good to go.

– Scott

Hi Scott,
I definitely agree that requiring for first name and last name help prevent spam registration. What I thought would be good to consider is perhaps allowing the plugin user the option of not asking for these 2 fields along with Display Name where the user already has another plugin like S2Member installed and activated so to prevent the duplicate fields. I realize I could have WP-SpamShield activated but just turn off the registration spam protection functionality, but then again, thats the main functionality of WP-SpamShield that Id like to activate WP-SpamShield in the first place for.

Perhaps there`s a way to modify the code of WP-SpamShield to automatically detect for whether another plugin is providing those same user fields (of first name, last name)?

The other anti Spam registration plugin I have installed actually appears to do exactly that as it doesn’t display the first name, last name fields once activated (while S2Member is also activated).

Darren

Hi Darren,

Unfortunately due the the technical aspects of how the whole system works, what you’re suggesting isn’t really a feasible solution at this time. Trust me, it’s been thought of. Right now there aren’t a lot of standard API’s that allow plugins to interact with each other like that. Each plugin would have to enter and pass the data for the extra fields the exact same way, and that doesn’t happen. Aside from doing that, one would have to code things for a specific other plugin you’re trying to build compatibility for. You can probably imagine how that could be an infinite task with all the plugins out there.

Yes, your other plugin may not add those fields, but it also doesn’t do anti-spam the way WP-SpamShield does, and its anti-spam solution may not be as robust. (I’m obviously biased.) WP-SpamShield protects against all automated spam, and a large amount of human spam. In order to remove those extra fields, it would require weakening the anti-spam protection by removing one of the layers of protection. I may provide an option for that weaker version of registration spam protection at some point in the future.

WP-SpamShield’s primary function is stopping comment spam, and then close behind is contact form spam. Stopping registration spam is secondary to that. If you’re mainly looking for a plugin to just stop registration spam, there are quite a few out there that specialize in that.

I understand if this plugin doesn’t meet your specific needs, and if you decide to choose something else, that’s completely ok.

Let me know if I can help with anything else.

– Scott

Thanks for the very thorough and thoughtful response Scott. It’s definitely registration spam that I’m first and foremost trying to prevent, as my site has been a victim of that. The comment spammers fortunately haven’t targeted my site yet, and an alternate plugin I have activated specifically defends against such attacks.

I’m not sure how the other holistic anti spam plugin I activated interoperates with S2member to avoid the duplicate fields, but could imagine it’s a nightmare trying to code a plugin with other plugin code to accommodate.

Again, thanks for the timely responses.

Darren

Hi Darren,

You’re very welcome. I hear you…every site has a different set of challenges with spammers and a unique set of needs. Let me know if I can help with anything else.

– Scott

Scott. I am having this same issue. I checked my S2 Member and my WP-SpamShield and neither seem to be set up in a way that would cause duplicate fields. Please help…again. Any other options? I am not familiar with code enough to do what is suggested. Thanks for any help you can provide.

senebtibotanicals.com
click login/register
click on register
see at the bottom – 2 new fields for first and last name

??

Hi Seneb,

I’ve explained this issue in depth above, along with the solution. None of what I suggested requires any coding, its a setting on your WP-SpamShield settings page.

Please see my first response above:

You can turn off WP-SpamShield’s registration spam protection on the settings page and the extra fields will go away.

Thank you.

– Scott

Hi Darren and Seneb,

I just wanted to give you an update. We’ve added 100% compatibility with s2Member’s registration form in version 1.8.9.9. No duplicate fields, and smooth functionality. Just be sure to uncheck the option for “Disable Registration Spam Shield” in the settings. Have a good one!

– Scott

Thanks for the update Scott!

You’re very welcome!