Create form templates

Data architects create and edit form templates to add or edit data fields and to design or adjust the look of the form.

In the sandbox, select Templates.
Under Tool Templates, you can either create a new template or edit an existing one.
- To create a new form template, select New Tool Template, then choose Form.
- To edit a form template, expand Forms, then choose an existing form template.
The form template opens in the sandbox template editor, which includes only the form and all the features of design mode.
In the sandbox template editor, customize the template. For more information, go to Design a form.
To see how users will view and use the form in a project, select Preview.
Save the template to upload it to the repository.

Example of creating a new data field and adding it to a form

Create a new data field called Mobile Phone and add it to the Team Members category. Then, add the new data field to the Meeting Minutes form. Finally, to make the new data field available in all projects and dashboard reports, you must make the form a management form.

Note

To prevent this example from affecting the live site, discard any changes before you exit the sandbox.

Create a new data field.
1. In the sandbox, select Data Fields.
2. Under Data Tables, expand Team Members.
3. At the end of the list, select New Field in Team Members.
4. Under Type, select Text, then select Next: Set Options.
5. Enter the name Mobile Phone. Because you want to track this metric in the dashboard, leave the Available to dashboard reports option selected.
6. Select Add. The new field appears alphabetically in the list of data fields in the sandbox.
Add the new data field to the form.
1. In the sandbox, select Templates.
2. Under Tool Templates, expand Forms, then select Meeting Minutes.
3. In the Meeting Minutes form, right-click the Attendees table, then select Data-Entry Table Properties.
4. In the Data-Entry Table Properties dialog box, select Connect the repeating rows to a data source, then select Select Data Source.
5. In the Data Connection Setup dialog box, select Team Members, then select OK in each dialog box. Now, the data-entry table is connected to Team Members.
Connect the form control to a data field in the Team Members category.
1. Right-click the Attendees table, then choose Insert > Column to the Left.
2. In the new column, enter the name of the data field, Mobile Phone.
3. Under Mobile Phone, double-click the Text Box control.
4. Enter the control name with no spaces, MobilePhone.
5. Select Connect the form control to a data field, then select Select Data Field.
6. In the Data Connection Setup dialog box, select Mobile Phone, then select OK in each dialog box. Now, the Text Box control is connected to the new data field.
Save the Meeting Minutes form to upload it to the repository.
Add the Meeting Minutes form to the management section of a project template to make the Mobile Phone data field available to everyone. For more information, go to Update management forms.