Using the Form Builder
Overview
After creating a form, the editor opens where you build its structure and configure its settings. The editor has two tabs: Build — where you design the form's fields and sections — and Settings — where you manage metadata and control the form's status.
This article covers how to use both tabs, what each field type does, and how to publish, save as draft, or save as a template.
For how to create a form first, see → How to Create a Form.
--[Image: Form Builder editor showing the Build tab with the field palette on the left, the canvas in the center, and the Properties panel on the right]--
The Build Tab
The Build tab is the visual editor. It has three areas:
| Area | What it does |
|---|---|
| Left panel — Fields / Properties | Switches between the field palette (all available field types) and the properties of the selected field |
| Center — Canvas | Where the form is built — sections and fields appear here |
| Top — Section tabs | Each section of the form appears as a tab — click to switch between sections |
Working with Sections
Forms are divided into sections. Each section becomes a separate page when a field worker fills out the form — they work through one section at a time.
To add a section: Click the + button next to the section tabs at the top of the canvas.
To rename a section: Click on the section tab to make it active, then click away from all fields to show the section properties in the left panel. Edit the Section Name field — it saves automatically when you click away.
To duplicate a section: With no field selected, click Duplicate Section in the left panel. A copy of the section and all its fields is created immediately.
To delete a section: With no field selected, click Delete Section in the left panel. A confirmation dialog shows how many fields will be removed. You cannot delete a section if it is the only one — a form must always have at least one section.
Plan your sections before adding fields. Each section becomes a separate screen for the field worker. Group related fields together — for example, "Site Information" in one section and "Hazard Assessment" in another.
Adding Fields
The left panel shows the Fields tab with 13 field types available. Each field is represented as a labeled block with an icon.
To add a field:
- Click a field block in the palette — it is added to the end of the current section.
- Drag a field block from the palette to a specific position in the canvas — a blue line indicates where it will be inserted.
To reorder fields: Drag any field in the canvas by its vertical grip handle to a new position. The order is saved automatically.
To delete a field: Click the trash icon on the field card. A confirmation dialog appears.
To duplicate a field: Select a field, then click Duplicate Field in the Properties panel. A copy is added immediately with the name "(Copy)".
Field Types
| Field | What it collects | Has options |
|---|---|---|
| Text | A short single-line text answer | No |
| Single Choice | One selection from a list (radio buttons) | Yes |
| Multiple Choice | One or more selections from a list (checkboxes) | Yes |
| Dropdown | One selection from a compact dropdown list | Yes |
| Date | A calendar date | No |
| Time | A time value | No |
| File Upload | One or more attached files | No |
| Camera | Photos taken directly with a device camera | No |
| Signature | A drawn digital signature | No |
| Resources | A selection of project team members (auto-populated from the project) | No |
| Heading | A visible title or section header — display only, no input | No |
| Plain Text | Static instructional text — display only, no input | No |
| Divider | A horizontal line to visually separate groups of fields | No |
Configuring a Field (Properties Panel)
Click any field in the canvas to open its properties in the left panel. The available settings depend on the field type:
| Setting | Available for | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Field Name | All input fields | The label shown above the field |
| Helper text | Most fields | A subtitle or instruction shown below the field name |
| Required | All input fields | Whether the field must be filled in before the form can advance |
| Choices | Single Choice, Multiple Choice, Dropdown | The list of selectable options — enter one option per line |
Choices are entered one per line. To edit the options for a Single Choice, Multiple Choice, or Dropdown field, click the field and edit the Choices area in the Properties panel. Each line becomes one option.
Heading and Divider fields have no Required toggle. They are display elements only — they cannot be marked as required.
--[Image: Properties panel showing a Single Choice field with Field Name, Helper Text, Required toggle, and Choices textarea]--
The Settings Tab
The Settings tab lets you update the form's metadata and control its publication status. It contains the same fields as the creation wizard — Form Name, Prefix, Form Type, Projects, and PDF Style — plus additional publishing actions.
PDF Style
Choose how the form's submissions are formatted when exported as a PDF:
| Style | Layout |
|---|---|
| Use Default | Standard layout |
| Two-Column | Fields arranged in two columns |
| Classic List | Vertical list format |
| Outlined Form | Fields with visible borders |
| Sidebar Panel | Labels in a sidebar, values to the right |
| Card Grid | Fields in cards arranged in a grid |
| Banner Header | Prominent header section |
Click Preview PDF to see how the current style looks before saving.
Publishing Actions
The buttons available depend on the form's current status:
When the form is a Draft:
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Preview PDF | Opens a PDF preview of the form in a new tab |
| Save as Draft | Saves all changes — form stays in Draft, not visible to field workers |
| Save as Template | Saves the form as a reusable template — a dialog asks for an optional description (up to 500 characters) |
| Publish | Publishes the form — field workers can start submitting immediately |
When the form is Published:
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Preview PDF | Opens a PDF preview |
| Update | Saves changes to the published form — the form stays Published |
Publishing is immediate. The moment you click Publish, the form appears in the mobile app for all assigned projects. Make sure the form is complete and reviewed before publishing.
You can edit a published form. Use the Update button to save changes to a published form without changing its status. Field workers will see the updated version on their next form load.
Previewing the Form
From either tab, click Preview (or Preview PDF from the Settings tab) to see how the form looks to field workers.
The interactive preview shows the form section by section, with a toggle to switch between web and mobile view. This is useful for checking field layout and verifying that all required fields are set correctly before publishing.
Things to Know
All field changes save automatically. You do not need to click Save after adding, editing, or reordering fields in the Build tab. Each action persists immediately.
Section names save on blur. After typing a section name, click away from the field — it saves without a button press.
Deleting a section deletes all its fields. There is no undo. If you accidentally delete a section, you will need to rebuild it.
The form type cannot be changed after creation. If you need a different type, create a new form. You can use the Clone action on a published version as a starting point. See → Forms Management: Overview.