diff --git a/customfield/classes/data_controller.php b/customfield/classes/data_controller.php
index 8ec6ac639b1..bd19792bd5f 100644
--- a/customfield/classes/data_controller.php
+++ b/customfield/classes/data_controller.php
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ abstract class data_controller {
      *
      * @return string
      */
-    protected function get_form_element_name() : string {
+    public function get_form_element_name() : string {
         return 'customfield_' . $this->get_field()->get('shortname');
     }
 
diff --git a/customfield/classes/field_controller.php b/customfield/classes/field_controller.php
index 07e22b7bac5..5dea8aac877 100644
--- a/customfield/classes/field_controller.php
+++ b/customfield/classes/field_controller.php
@@ -123,6 +123,18 @@ abstract class field_controller {
         return $fieldcontroller;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Perform pre-processing of field values, for example those that originate from an external source (e.g. upload course tool)
+     *
+     * Override in plugin classes as necessary
+     *
+     * @param string $value
+     * @return mixed
+     */
+    public function parse_value(string $value) {
+        return $value;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Validate the data on the field configuration form
      *
diff --git a/customfield/field/date/classes/field_controller.php b/customfield/field/date/classes/field_controller.php
index bcdf19645b2..f8fb5adc6e0 100644
--- a/customfield/field/date/classes/field_controller.php
+++ b/customfield/field/date/classes/field_controller.php
@@ -114,4 +114,17 @@ class field_controller extends \core_customfield\field_controller {
             $this->get_formatted_name());
         return $ret;
     }
-}
+
+    /**
+     * Convert given value into appropriate timestamp
+     *
+     * @param string $value
+     * @return int
+     */
+    public function parse_value(string $value) {
+        $timestamp = strtotime($value);
+
+        // If we have a valid, positive timestamp then return it.
+        return $timestamp > 0 ? $timestamp : 0;
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/customfield/field/date/tests/plugin_test.php b/customfield/field/date/tests/plugin_test.php
index 8445c347f15..749872287e0 100644
--- a/customfield/field/date/tests/plugin_test.php
+++ b/customfield/field/date/tests/plugin_test.php
@@ -171,10 +171,39 @@ class customfield_date_plugin_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         $this->assertEquals(null, $d->export_value());
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Data provider for {@see test_parse_value}
+     *
+     * @return array
+     */
+    public function parse_value_provider() : array {
+        return [
+            // Valid times.
+            ['2019-10-01', strtotime('2019-10-01')],
+            ['2019-10-01 14:00', strtotime('2019-10-01 14:00')],
+            // Invalid times.
+            ['ZZZZZ', 0],
+            ['202-04-01', 0],
+            ['2019-15-15', 0],
+        ];
+    }
+    /**
+     * Test field parse_value method
+     *
+     * @param string $value
+     * @param int $expected
+     * @return void
+     *
+     * @dataProvider parse_value_provider
+     */
+    public function test_parse_value(string $value, int $expected) {
+        $this->assertSame($expected, $this->cfields[1]->parse_value($value));
+    }
+
     /**
      * Deleting fields and data
      */
     public function test_delete() {
         $this->cfcat->get_handler()->delete_all();
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/customfield/field/select/classes/field_controller.php b/customfield/field/select/classes/field_controller.php
index 79fa4083891..c47f05c1022 100644
--- a/customfield/field/select/classes/field_controller.php
+++ b/customfield/field/select/classes/field_controller.php
@@ -119,4 +119,14 @@ class field_controller extends \core_customfield\field_controller {
             $this->get_formatted_name());
         return $ret;
     }
-}
+
+    /**
+     * Locate the value parameter in the field options array, and return it's index
+     *
+     * @param string $value
+     * @return int
+     */
+    public function parse_value(string $value) {
+        return (int) array_search($value, self::get_options_array($this));
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/customfield/field/select/tests/plugin_test.php b/customfield/field/select/tests/plugin_test.php
index 0ada2bb4885..6def88cfa66 100644
--- a/customfield/field/select/tests/plugin_test.php
+++ b/customfield/field/select/tests/plugin_test.php
@@ -157,10 +157,46 @@ class customfield_select_plugin_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         $this->assertEquals('b', $d->export_value());
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Data provider for {@see test_parse_value}
+     *
+     * @return array
+     */
+    public function parse_value_provider() : array {
+        return [
+            ['Red', 1],
+            ['Blue', 2],
+            ['Green', 3],
+            ['Mauve', 0],
+        ];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test field parse_value method
+     *
+     * @param string $value
+     * @param int $expected
+     * @return void
+     *
+     * @dataProvider parse_value_provider
+     */
+    public function test_parse_value(string $value, int $expected) {
+        $field = $this->get_generator()->create_field([
+            'categoryid' => $this->cfcat->get('id'),
+            'type' => 'select',
+            'shortname' => 'myselect',
+            'configdata' => [
+                'options' => "Red\nBlue\nGreen",
+            ],
+        ]);
+
+        $this->assertSame($expected, $field->parse_value($value));
+    }
+
     /**
      * Deleting fields and data
      */
     public function test_delete() {
         $this->cfcat->get_handler()->delete_all();
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/customfield/field/textarea/classes/data_controller.php b/customfield/field/textarea/classes/data_controller.php
index 57b0d584f84..384918c7cec 100644
--- a/customfield/field/textarea/classes/data_controller.php
+++ b/customfield/field/textarea/classes/data_controller.php
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class data_controller extends \core_customfield\data_controller {
      *
      * @return string
      */
-    protected function get_form_element_name() : string {
+    public function get_form_element_name() : string {
         return parent::get_form_element_name() . '_editor';
     }