When you fill out a Form, you may come across any of the field types below. Some you type into, some you tap to select, and others capture information automatically.
Category | Fields |
Text & numbers | Text Box, Number, Auto Number |
Choices & selections | Checkbox, Checkbox Group, Drop Down, Database |
Dates & times | Date, Time, Date Time |
Media & capture | Image, Sketch, Audio, File Attachment, Barcode, Location |
Signatures | Signature, eSign Signature, eSign Initials |
Structure | Table |
🗒️ A couple of things you'll notice while filling out Forms:
Required fields must be completed before you can mark a Form as complete.
Some fields are read-only — they are typically filled in automatically (for example, a calculation result or information pulled from a database) and aren't meant to be edited or are restricted by groups.
Text & numbers
Text Box
The most basic field — it lets you type in text. It can range from a single-line box with room for a few characters to a large multi-line area.
You'll also often see Text Boxes used as read-only fields that echo text from another field, or display a value from a database based on a key you entered in a Database field. (See the Database description for more.)
Number
A write-in field that only accepts numbers and special characters. It's sometimes used as a read-only field that displays the result of a calculation performed on the inputs of one or more other fields.
Auto Number
A read-only field that automatically generates a unique ID number when the Form is created. You don't need to do anything — it fills in on its own and is often used to track or reference your Form.
Choices & selections
Checkbox
A field you can either mark or leave blank. The mark may be a check, an X, a circle, or an oval, and the field can take the form of a box to be checked or an item to be circled. Click or tap the field to add or remove the mark.
Checkbox Group
A set of fields using the Checkbox interface described above. Checkbox Groups can be single-select (only one item can be marked) or multi-select (any number of items can be marked).
Drop Down
A way to select from a list of items — for example, a list of technicians. Some Drop Downs also allow write-in entries. Drop Downs can be single-select (only one item can be marked) or multi-select (any number of items can be marked).
Database
A way to select from a list of items stored in a database. It's similar to a Drop Down, except the items come from a database rather than an ad-hoc list.
You'll often see this field used alongside several Text Box fields. For example, you might select a customer's name from a Database field, and several Text Boxes will automatically populate with that customer's information (address, phone number, and so on), keying off the name you entered.
When nearby results are available, you'll see a Nearby tab when you select the field. This tab uses your device's current location to show the closest results first, with each result's distance displayed.
You can switch to the Alphabetical tab to browse the standard list and select a result manually.
Dates & times
Date
A way to select a calendar date using standard calendar controls. The controls show today's date by default.
Time
A way to select a clock time using standard controls. The controls show the current time by default.
Date Time
A way to select a date and time together using standard date/time controls. The controls show the current date and time by default.
Media & capture
Image
A way to upload an image into your Form — either from your device's camera or from an image already stored on your device. JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP formats are supported. Image fields can be configured for camera only entry.
For example, if you're a mechanic fixing a dent in a car, you might include "before" and "after" images of the car.
Sketch
A way to add a sketch to your Form using standard drawing tools (brush, fill, line, shapes) and controls (brush size, color, layering). You may see this field used in several ways:
Positioned on top of an existing diagram so you can draw on it (for example, mark where a dent is on a car drawing).
Set up so you upload a picture — like the Image field — and draw on top of it (for example, photograph a dent and circle it).
Left as a blank slate for you to sketch on.
On mobile, set up so you can use a map as the background and mark where work was completed.
Audio
A way to record audio directly on your Form — up to 10 minutes per field. You can record in Form or List View, on the mobile or web app.
To fill it in:
Tap or click the field to open the audio window.
Tap or click Record to start. Recording continues until you stop it or reach the maximum length.
When you're done, the field shows your recording's name and length. Tap or click Play to listen back — you can scroll forward or back in 10-second steps.
Tap or click Done to attach the recording to your Form, or Clear to record again. (You can also download the recording using the arrow next to its name.)
🗒️ Note: You'll need to allow microphone access on your device. On mobile, use app version 4.0.677 or later. Anyone with access to the Form can play back or download your recording.
File Attachment
A way to attach external files — such as photos, PDFs, or spreadsheets — to your Form submission.
To fill it in:
On mobile: tap 0 Attachments, tap Add File, then choose your file source (for example, Files or Photo Library) and select your files.
On the web: click 0 Attachments, then Browse to find files, or drag and drop them into the field. Click Done.
Once your files upload, the field shows how many are attached. Each file can be up to 10 MB, and the number of files you can add depends on your account type.
Barcode
A way to scan a barcode using your device's camera and display the resulting barcode number. If your device doesn't have a camera, you can enter the number manually.
This field is typically used alongside Text Boxes, much like a Database field — for example, several Text Boxes might automatically populate with product information (name, description, price) from a database as soon as you scan the barcode.
Location
A way to add your location to the Form, as determined by your device's GPS. The location can be shown as latitude/longitude coordinates or as a pin on a map. The map can be a street or satellite map, and you can control the zoom level.
Signatures
Signature
A way to sign the Form using a stylus, your finger, or a mouse — depending on the device you're using.
eSign Signature / eSign Initials
A legally binding, E-SIGN compliant way to sign, using either a full signature or your initials.
To fill it in:
Select the field, then draw your signature or initials (or review the ones saved to your profile).
Consent to the eSignature disclosure.
Tap or click Sign.
If the Form has more than one eSignature field, you only need to tap each additional field to apply your signature again. You can save a signature and initials to your profile so they stay consistent across all your Forms.
🗒️ Note: The eSignature field is different from the basic Signature field — the Signature field is a general-purpose signature and is not E-SIGN compliant. Your account administrator chooses which field a Form uses.
Structure
Table
A set of fields arranged into rows and columns. Each cell is a separate field of one of the other types described above.
For example, your Form may include a table listing the tasks performed on a job — who performed each task, a description, how long it took, and the hourly rate — with one row per task.
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Still have questions? Reach out to the GoFormz support team at support@goformz.com.