¶ Form Builder
The Form Builder is where you design custom templates that drive the forms users complete inside activities. Drag and drop the fields you need, configure how each one behaves, preview the result, and publish the template for reuse across your workflow.
¶ Why Form Builder Matters
Form Builder lets you:
- Standardize data capture across every activity that uses the template.
- Tailor forms to your process — no developer needed.
- Govern with confidence — required fields, read-only fields, and structured options keep submissions consistent.
- Save time with predefined lists — drop in ready-made option sets for common fields like Country, Language, or Currency.
- Iterate quickly — preview before saving, edit anytime, and reuse one template across many activities.
¶ Where to Find It
Open the Form Builder when you create or edit a custom template:
- Open your workflow.
- Go to Configuration → Projects → Templates.
- Click Add New Template to create a new custom template, or click an existing Custom template to edit it.
The Form Builder opens in full-screen with the breadcrumb Storm → Templates → Form Builder at the top, and the template's name editable in the Form Name field.
¶ The Three Modes
Across the top of the Form Builder you'll find three modes:
- Form Builder (default) — the visual drag-and-drop editor. This is where most work happens.
- Preview — see the form exactly as users will see it when completing an activity. Use this before saving to spot layout issues.
- Code Editor — edit the underlying form schema directly. Reserved for advanced cases where the visual editor doesn't cover what you need.
Switch between modes anytime — your work is preserved as you toggle. Use Cancel to exit without saving, or Save & Close to publish.
¶ Form Elements
Drag any element from the Form Elements panel on the left into your form. Forms always start with a default Section container; add more sections to group fields under separate headings (sections appear in the left navigation when users complete the form).
| Element | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Input Field | Single-line text such as names, codes, or short references. |
| Text Area | Multi-line text such as descriptions, notes, or findings. |
| Date | A date picker with calendar selection. |
| Single Select | One choice from a short list, shown as radio buttons. Supports predefined lists. |
| Multi Select | Multiple choices from a list, shown as checkboxes. Supports predefined lists. |
| Dropdown | One choice from a longer list, shown in a compact dropdown. Supports predefined lists. |
| Content Block | Static text or instructions for the form filler — supports rich formatting via the Edit Content editor. |
| File Upload | Lets users attach files to the activity. Restrict by file type (Documents, Images, Videos). |
| Static Table | Embed a structured data table inside the form, rendered as its own section in preview. |
| Divider | A visual separator between groups of fields. |
| Rich Text | A free-form rich-text editor users complete inline (formatted notes, longer write-ups). |
| User Selector | Pick a user (or multiple users) from your project team or all users in your organization. |
Note: There is no standalone Checkbox element. For a yes/no toggle, use a Multi Select with one option, or a Single Select with two options.
¶ Configuring an Element
Click any element on the canvas to open its Properties panel on the right. Properties vary by element type, but the common toggles are:
- Label — the name users see above the field.
- Required — makes the field mandatory before the activity can be saved.
- Read-only — locks the field for viewing only.
- Hidden — hides the field from users by default.
Each element on the canvas also has quick-action icons (move up, settings, delete) that appear when the element is selected.
¶ Select-type elements (Single Select, Multi Select, Dropdown)
In addition to the common toggles, you can:
- Add Option — add choices manually. Each option has its own row with edit, delete, and a drag handle for reordering.
- Add Predefined List — drop in a ready-made option set for common attributes. Available lists:
- Gender
- Currency
- Honorific
- Marital Status
- Language
- Time Zone
- Country
- Alignment — display options vertically or horizontally (Single Select and Multi Select).
- Pre-Select Option — the option selected by default when the form first loads.
¶ Content Block
Content Block adds static instructions or context that users read but don't fill in. Click Edit Content to open a full rich-text editor where you can format text, add headings, lists, quotes, alignment, images, links, and tables.
Content Block properties include:
- Edit Content — opens the rich-text editor.
- Content Area Height — controls the visible height of the block on the form (useful for short notes vs longer guidance).
- Editable — allow form fillers to edit the content (off by default — typically you want it read-only).
- Hidden — hide the block from users.
¶ File Upload
File Upload lets users attach files directly to the activity without leaving the form. Configure:
- Label — what users see above the upload control.
- Placeholder Text — instruction text shown next to the upload button (e.g., "Please upload a file").
- Upload Button Text — the label on the button itself (default: Choose File).
- Accepted File Types — restrict uploads to Documents, Images, or Videos (any combination).
- Required / Hidden toggles.
¶ Static Table
Static Table embeds a structured data table inside the form. It renders as its own section in the form (with pagination), making it ideal for capturing line items, deliverables, or any list that needs columns.
- Table Section Title — the heading users see above the table.
- Edit Table — opens the table editor to define columns and rows.
- Hidden toggle.
¶ Rich Text
Rich Text gives form fillers a full inline rich-text editor — useful for longer narrative inputs like findings, justifications, or meeting notes.
- Label / Placeholder Text — standard labelling.
- Height — controls how tall the editor is on the form.
- Required / Read-only / Hidden toggles.
Tip: Use Content Block for static instructions you write into the template; use Rich Text when the user needs to write formatted content as part of completing the activity.
¶ User Selector
User Selector lets the form filler pick a user (or users) — useful for assigning responsibility, nominating reviewers, or capturing the contact for an activity.
- Label / Hover Text — standard labelling plus optional tooltip.
- Selection Type — Single Selection (one user) or Multiple Selection (multiple users).
- User List Source — Project Users (only people on the current project) or All Users (anyone in your organization).
- Required / Read-only / Hidden toggles.
¶ Building a Form: Step by Step
- Name your form — type a name in the Form Name field at the top.
- Add elements — drag the elements you need from the left panel into the default Section.
- Add more sections if you want grouped headings (sections appear as left-side navigation in preview).
- Reorder elements — drag any element on the canvas to move it up or down.
- Configure each element — click an element to open its Properties panel and set the label, options, and toggles.
- Use Predefined Lists for select-type fields where they apply (Country, Language, etc.) to save time and stay consistent.
- Add Content Blocks and Dividers to group related fields and add inline guidance.
- Preview — click Preview to see the form as users will see it.
- Save — click Save & Close when you're happy. The template is now available to attach to activities.
To exit without saving, click Cancel.
¶ Previewing the Form
Click Preview in the top toolbar to see exactly what the form filler will see. Sections appear in the left navigation, and Static Tables render as their own sections at the bottom of the form. Use Preview as your final check before saving — small layout issues are much easier to spot here than in the builder.
¶ Editing a Template Later
Templates can be updated at any time:
- Go to Configuration → Projects → Templates.
- Click the template you want to edit.
- Make your changes in the Form Builder and click Save & Close.
Existing activities using the template will pick up your changes the next time they're opened.
¶ Best Practices
- Keep labels short and clear. Users read them quickly — a long label is a red flag for two fields hiding inside one.
- Use Required sparingly. Mark only the fields without which the activity is incomplete. Over-requiring slows users down.
- Reach for Predefined Lists first. If a Country, Currency, or Language list will do, use it instead of building your own — your reporting will be cleaner later.
- Group related fields with a Divider and a Content Block heading rather than building one long scroll. For larger groupings, use multiple Sections.
- Use the right text element for the job. Content Block for instructions you author once; Rich Text for formatted answers users write each time.
- Restrict File Upload by type. If you only want PDFs and Word docs, tick Documents and leave Images/Videos off — it prevents accidental uploads.
- Pick the right user source. Use Project Users for assignees and reviewers; use All Users only when the role is genuinely org-wide.
- Preview before saving — section navigation, table layout, and rich-text rendering are easier to evaluate in Preview than in the builder.
- Reuse templates wherever the data captured is the same. A consistent template makes reporting easier later.
- Avoid Code Editor unless necessary. It's powerful but easy to break — most teams should stay in the visual builder.