Review attendee comments
When the Comments field is enabled, attendees can write a free-text note with their registration. Those notes frequently contain the information that actually affects the event.
Where comments appear
In the attendee panel — a row with a comment shows a comment icon. Selecting it opens the text in a modal. Rows without one show a dash.
In the exports — the comment is a column in both the CSV and the XLS file.
What people write
In practice, comments cluster into a few kinds:
| Kind | Example | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary | Vegetarian, no dairy | Passing to catering |
| Accessibility | I use a wheelchair | Checking the venue and replying |
| Logistics | I will arrive after 19:00 | Noting at the door |
| Group | I am coming with two colleagues | Deciding whether that is allowed |
| Questions | Is there parking? | A reply |
| Nothing useful | Thanks! | Nothing |
The first two are the reason to read them at all, and the reason to read them before the event rather than after.
A workflow that scales
For a small event, scan the panel and open each icon.
For a large one, use the export:
- Export to CSV or XLS.
- Sort or filter by the comments column so the non-empty rows group together.
- Work through them, marking what you have acted on.
- Reply where a reply is needed, using the email column.
- Pass dietary and accessibility notes to whoever handles them.
Reply to what deserves a reply
A comments box is a promise that someone reads it. Attendees who ask a question and hear nothing have had a poor experience before the event begins.
The plugin sends no messages, so replying means using the email link on the row or the address in the export. Decide who does it and when.
Set expectations on the form
The comments field has a generic placeholder. If you want specific information, ask for it in the event's introduction or in the form clause:
Use the comments box to tell us about dietary or accessibility requirements.
That both improves what you receive and reduces the volume of comments that need no action.
Comments are sensitive
This is the field most likely to contain sensitive personal information: health conditions, disabilities, dietary requirements tied to religion or belief.
Handle accordingly:
- restrict who can open the event editor and the exports;
- do not paste comments into chats, tickets or shared documents;
- do not include them in a support request;
- delete exported files when the event is over.
See Attendee data and privacy.
When comments are not the right tool
If you need structured information — a meal choice, a workshop track, a t-shirt size — a free-text box is the wrong instrument. It cannot be counted reliably.
For those cases, disable the built-in registration button and link an external form that collects structured answers, as an additional link.
Verify
- Register from a private window with a comment.
- Confirm the icon appears and the modal opens with the text.
- Confirm a registration without a comment shows a dash.
- Export and confirm the comment column is populated.
- Confirm someone is named as responsible for reading them.