Form builder best practice in edison365projects

Create the best project forms to engage your end users and ensure projects are of the best standard time and time again​.

• ​Use the different features in the edison365projects form builder to make your project process easy and efficient for end users​
• Flexibly create and edit forms to ensure the key data is captured as and when you need it​
• Create as many form templates as required to meet your business requirements and ensure you are using the right form at the right time

How to use the Form Builder

Know your Zones​

The form builder will present you with four options: Zones, Fields, Tables, and Buttons. Fields, Tables and Buttons are all pieces of data you should have already configured, and Zones allow you to structure this data in the best way possible:​

1. Tabbed Zones: these add a new page to your Form​
2. One Column Zone: a single space for large data entry Fields. These are perfect for Rich Text and Tables​
3. Two Column Zone: this will give you two areas side by side. I like to use these form drop-down menus or status updates… fields that require little space and will work well next to one another​
4. Two and One Third, One and Two Third Zones: this will give you two zones side by side by they won’t be an equal size. These are ideal for if you have a text box that requires a little more space next to a numeric field or drop down. ​
5. Three Column Zones: as above but you get three equal-sized zones next to each other. These are great for those Fields that require less space.​

Tabs, Tabs, Tabs​

Don’t be afraid of using a Tabbed Zone. I see some customers that view having lots of Tabs as a negative, but I disagree. Use the Tabbed Zones to create a greater structure in your form and reduce the number of Zones on each page. Users would rather click between Tabs than scroll forever to complete their form…​

Don’t Forget Types​

Your Form configuration doesn’t end in the Form Builder. Remember, once you have created the Template you then need to add it to your business case Type. From here you can manipulate the Form even more… make Fields mandatory, hide Fields, and input hints and dummy data.​

Form Builder

In the Admin Panel, the Form Builder can be found in the Forms tile. You have the ability to create a Form Template from scratch or edit an existing design from the drop-down in the top right.​

To create your Zones, simply click on the type of Zone you want to use then move with the arrows or remove using the trash can - it’s really that simple​!

Bringing in the Data Capture

Once your Zones are all set, it’s time to bring in your Fields, Tables and Buttons.​

To do this, select the Tab at the top, scroll down to the Field, Table or Button you want and then drag and drop into the required Zone​.

Don't forget the Types

The editing of the Form doesn’t end until you have edited the Type.​

Once you have loaded the Form Template into the Type, you can then manipulate the Fields within the Form to make Fields mandatory, Read Only, Hidden. You can also bring in some dummy data as you can see from this example.​

This can also be altered between each stage of the process​.

edison365 Recommends

• Use one Zone for one Field - don’t try and cram as many Fields as possible into one Zone​
• Make use of Tabbed Zones; these allow you to break up the flow of your Form and reduce the quantity of Fields on a page. It's good to reduce scrolling for your end users! ​
• The configuration of your Forms does not stop at the Form Builder. Remember that adding your Form Templates to the required Type is the last step. Here you can:​
  • Change the Form depending on the stage of your process​
  • Make Fields mandatory, read only or hidden​
  • Insert dummy data into the fields - great to reduce data input by the end user and to provide examples of the types of data expected from those completing the business case form​