If you are a PHP developer, you can rework the profile fields (in edit.php ) to use the wp_editor() function.
You’ll also need to take a look at the filters that strip tags from profile fields and set appropriately to your needs.
The question was asked recently on this forum — so, have a Google.
Paul, anyway it’s pretty simple to use both methods. We know that default wp_users support first_name, last_name, nickname and description (bio). Maybe you could make possibile to modify each of that from buddypress (i made it in my theme) and make a base group with these fields. Then if administrators want to add more fields and groups you could populate xprofile table. In this way you could have a more deep integration into WordPress.
Mercime’s pretty much right. There might be ways to use a custom post type with user meta, but revising the structure of the profile fields database tables isn’t a current priority.
== why buddypress doesn’t use user_metadata and have a proprietary xprofile table. ==
I believe one reason would be that WP doesn’t have an API for BuddyPress’ more sophisticated profile fields/groups, or something of that nature. At least that’s what I recall a core dev answering the last time that question was asked 
can anyone actually verify this plugin boone put up works? it appears to have the option but when i tested it the policy is not enforced and even logged out users can see the private fields on our site at least.
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Short answer is yes! You can use bp-profile-search plugin to search for specific profile fields. Not certain it works with the current versions of WordPress and BuddyPress though. It works great in WP 3.2.1 and BP 1.5.1
https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/bp-profile-search/
The standard search works well too but you have to know what your searching for. BP-Profile-Search shows a visible form and a user can choose what to search for based on the criteria you set up in the plugin.
Ok appologies they need to have data in to be visible.
Yes its working as it should then!
No they’re set to a mix of Logged in Users or My Friends.
But as I mentioned when i look at My Test Friend they dont show!
On each profile field in the admin there are visibility options. Are they open for all or only user?
God I hate this forum functionality – in the head of the post I have just made it says: “Deleted User said 1 minuit ago” what is that supposed to mean?
A fast solution in profile fields for the huddle theme…
Go to wp-content/themes/huddle/functions.php and open it.
At line 45 you should see
` $new_values[] = ‘‘ . $value . ‘‘; `
change it with this
` $new_values[] = strip_tags( $value ); `
I bought this theme today, and i did not have time to beautify the code and the functions, but i will write again probably the next days.
Apologies – forgot to add that I’m using BP 1.6.1 and WP 3.4.1
Also, when I export my user data, the custom profile fields are also missing. Where is the data everyone entered in my custom fields during the login process? Thank you in advance!
While looking for a solution to the same question, I stumbled upon this: dev update. Boone B. Gorges made a “sample plugin to show how these visibility levels can be extended”: BBG’s Sample Visibility Plugin. All you have to do is create a new folder in your wp-content/plugins, and upload bbg-custom-bp-field-visibility.php & loader.php into your new folder. Then, modify bbg-custom-bp-field-visibility.php to your liking.
In addition to my first reply, you need to have the ‘Extended Profiles’ component checked in your Buddypress settings under ‘Components’.
I’m running the same version of BP & WP that you have, and I can access custom profile fields under the ‘Users’ menu –> Profile Fields.
Hope that helps.
Yes it’s xprofile fields. Check your user menu in the backend, and your BP settings.
I need to be able to show / Hide XProfile groups based on select value during the registration phase. I’m a newbie to all this so could someone please help on how accomplish this.
Is that possible with buddypress? Has this plugin been created?
so is there a plugin to add these fields – country, state, etc to the registration and profiles…
Problem with option 1: the admin will still be active roll on the site… So the new admin account would then be able to be seen. Problem with having the user have admin privileges is someone could still come in and delete any posts, etc.
When you say edit database directly, do you mean just changing the username? I thought because of the tight integration between WP and BP, the username for BP is the exact field as $user->user_login. So, unless its two different fields, this wouldn’t work.
I’m seeing that plugin, but its still the same issue I suppose… People will still see the username through hovering over or viewing the profile’s URL…. i.e. your login is modemlooper. Is it not? Mine is synergywp. Everyone knows this, so its just a matter of a malicious visitor getting a password somehow.
Thanks for the help, but maybe I didn’t properly explain… I don’t want people to be able to see the username, in any way shape or form, of an active admin, but I want the admin to be able to be active in the forums/members list, etc.
Hhhmm,
So, I don’t have access to any of the database tables, @djpaul –not allowed by my hosting provider (they rock btw!). Anyway, anyone have a suggestion as to how I could get the meta names of the XProfile fields? Thanks!
Not a single reply yet. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Here’s a little more info that further clarifies:
I’m hoping to use the S2 Member and Buddypress plugins for WordPress to manage volunteers and members at our arts cooperative and website. S2 Member seems well suited for registering both paid members and volunteers (free users) while Buddypress adds the social features needed to help our people work together.
S2 Member had me convinced of easy integration with Buddypress, but this has not exactly been the case. S2 Member Registration fields appear in the Buddypress registration form, but I’m having the following issues
1. Buddypress profile fields allow users to choose if fields should be visible in their profile, or allow admins to set a default visibility for each field. Can I implement this for fields created in S2?
2. Buddypress profile fields are linked to a search for other users that share the value of that field. I had originally thought this would be perfect for a membership directory that categorizes member and volunteer skills, but not sure how to implement a search that works with both types of fields.
3. S2 does not come with it’s own Member Directory, a feature that should be essential. It is a known issue and common complaint, for which the developers have provided some pointers in the right direction, but no comprehensive code that would integrate options into Buddypress. A membership directory is the most essential aspect to our site, but I’m confused as to how proceed, given the limitations of both plugins.
