If you want to collect information from people using GoFormz, you’ll first need to build a Template. Templates are the primary data-gathering document framework created by a member of your organization.
Only users with the necessary permissions can build and edit Templates in GoFormz. When you need somebody to fill out a Form, they’ll create a Form by selecting a Template to which they have access.
You’ll navigate to the Template Editor in the GoFormz web app in the Templates tab when you click Build, or open your existing Template.
In the Template Editor you’ll navigate between three sections using the left-hand panel: the Field Editor, Page Editor, and Forms.
In the Field Editor, you'll manage your data fields.
Manage your page's background elements in the Page Editor.
Access all Forms created using your open Template in Forms.
In the Field Editor or Page Editor, you’ll also find the cog menu, and Preview, Save Draft, and Publish buttons.
The Field and Page Editors are both drag-and-drop workspaces where you’ll manage your Template details. Manage your data fields in the Field Editor. In the Page Editor you’ll manage your PDF background pages and page elements.
🗒️ Note: Below you’ll find a brief overview of each section of the Template Editor. Both the Page Editor and Field Editor have dedicated navigation pages. Please visit the respective page for additional details about each.
Map and manage data fields in the Field Editor
When you navigate to the Template Editor, you’ll land in the Field Editor tab by default. Here you’ll map Template fields onto your PDF background. Template fields and their properties determine the information you collect from your Form Users.
Switch between your New and Existing fields. New fields include all available data field types available to you in GoFormz. Drag these fields onto your Template workspace. After you map fields to your Template, you’ll find each field instance in the Existing tab.
Select your Property, Logic, and Value options to filter the fields displayed.
Property indicates which trait you want to use to filter your fields - this can be field type, requirement setting, mapped status, and default values.
Logic determines whether you want to display all existing fields that include your selected fields (Is) or display all existing fields excluding your selected fields.
Value varies based on your property. Here you’ll narrow your filtering based on a specific field type by which to filter, requirement setting, mapped status, or default value.
Apply multiple filters to further specify the Template fields you want to manage.
💡 As an example, to manage all of your Template's text fields , you’d select. . .
Field type as your Property.
Is as your Logic.
Text as your Value.
In this example, it’s like you’re requesting to display only Field types where their type (or value) is Text.
Because you can apply multiple filters, you can also narrow your search to display your Template’s required text fields. To add a filter displaying all required fields, select. . .
Required as your Property.
Is as your Logic.
True as your Value.
In this example, you’re requesting to view fields for which it is true that the field is required.
Each piece of information you collect also acts as a point of data which you’ll reference when using reports, automations, and connected apps. You can also manage the visual appearance of your PDF background using the Template Editor’s Page Editor.
Add elements to your PDF background in the Page Editor
Click the Page Editor tab to manage the pages and page elements of your PDF background. With elements mapped to your PDF background, you’ll also manage the properties of each element.
Elements are the visual parts of your PDF background. Common elements include lines, rectangles, and images. While GoFormz is not a dedicated PDF builder, you can make minor modifications and edits to your background PDF within the Page Editor.
Access the Forms created from your Template in Forms
When you open Forms, you'll find a filtered list which displays the Forms created using your open Template. Here you can view, create, transfer, and update the associated Template version of the Template's related Forms.
You'll notice similarities between the Template Editor's Forms section and the Forms tab. But, in addition to the functionality in the Forms tab, when you access Forms here, you can also view and manage Forms based on their Template version.
Name your Template
Assign a name to your Template when you click the pencil icon located at the top of the Template Editor workspace.
The name you enter here is how members of your organization will locate and identify your Template. Assign a Template name that your Form Users will recognize when you need them to create Forms using that Template.
Similar to naming fields, you should establish a naming standard for your Templates. Along with Template folders, a Template naming convention will help you provide users with access to the correct Templates, and manage your organization’s Templates.
Save and publish your Template
Because the Template Editor does not auto-save your work, you’ll click Save Draft once you’ve completed all the edits for your session. With your draft saved, you can safely exit the Template Editor and return later to pick up where you left off.
If you exit the Template Editor prior to publishing your Template, then your updates will not be available to your Form Users.
You can also save any changes, and test your Template’s functionality as a Form when you click Preview. This provides you the opportunity to verify that your Template functions as you desire, and that your Form Users will be able to provide you with good data.
Finally, click Publish to make your updated Template available to your Form Users to download.
If at any point you want to revert to a previous version of your Template, access your Template Actions and select Template History where you can access and revert to previous Template versions.
Explore your available Template actions
Available options include: PDF Export Settings, Default Form Name, Custom Actions, New Form, Template Events, Template History, Publish Forms, and Workflows.
🗒️ Note: The actions available to you here vary based on your account’s subscription tier.
Configure the print and export settings for Forms generated using your selected Template when you access PDF Export Settings.
Customize the default name assigned to Forms created using this Template when you manage the Default Form Name. Leverage Template metadata to create dynamic Form names based on the information your Form Users submit.
Embed directions, call initiation, and Form or external document access with Custom Actions.
Verify that your Form Users can fill out Forms as you intend when you select New Form to create a Form using your Template.
Set up and manage Template Events to automate the transfer, email, or tagging of all Forms created from your Template based on associated actions.
Access Template History for a record of each previously published version of your current Template. Here you can add notes to previous Template versions. If you open a previous version, you can also revert to your selected version.
Gather information from people outside of your organization when you create a Public Form from your current Template. When you click Public Forms you can also access and manage any existing Public Forms created from your current Template.
Click Workflows to access a list of Workflows currently associated with your current Template. These recipe-driven automations move data between GoFormz and your business systems in real-time.
Related topics
Keep your account organized when you leverage tagging.
Explore the power available to you using calculations.
Collect data from people outside of your GoFormz account with Public Forms.