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Build a Custom Form With Form Builder Components

Understanding how each of your different components work together in Form Builder to create a fully customized form template

Kelly Shee avatar
Written by Kelly Shee
Updated yesterday

Dashboard > Settings > Modules > Forms

Permissions

Always remember to ensure the correct people have the appropriate permissions to access your company and project data. This can be done per individual or by applying Permission Templates.
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In order to work with Form Builder, users will need Edit permissions for Settings

Form Builder Components Overview

Our Form Builder allows users to create custom form templates that suit their workflows.


Form templates are made up of components. Each component serves its own function and purpose, and when put together, create a personally customized Form template.
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Each Component has actions attached to it. By hovering your mouse over the far right area of your component, you will see the following icons:
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Copy Data ID

Copy Data ID captures the specific data ID of the component, allowing you to paste it for Field Dependencies or when working with Labels
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Edit

Edit allows you to edit the component to your specifications - Many of the edits available are shown below, but we do recommend viewing our articles on specific components in our Form Builder collection.

Duplicate

Duplicate will duplicate the component. This is helpful after you have edited the component to your specifications, and need another just like it.
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Delete

Delete will delete the component from the form template.

Now, let's get started! To create a new form template, just go to your Company Settings > Modules > Forms, and then click the "+ Create Form Builder Form" button at the top of the page.

To start, you'll want to give your new form a title. Click on the pencil icon beside the Title field and after deleting "Untitled" enter your new form name.

Tip: Be sure to click outside of the Title box after entering your form's name to save your changes.

You can also choose the color of the form's icon as well as the acronym that's used to identify it.
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SiteMax makes it easy with drag-and-drop functionalities. When you first create a form you will notice tiles on the left side of your Form Builder screen. Each of these tiles provides specific functionalities. These are called Components and are classified into three categories:

Input Components

Input Components are components that require a user action. It might be something as simple as entering a name or phone number, or more complex like uploading a PDF to the form. The following Input Components are available on SiteMax Form Builder. Each Input component allows for multiple options when editing:

  • Required - Choose to ensure the field is filled out by making it required. When a field is required, the form cannot be saved until the field is populated.

  • Readonly - Enabling this will mean that the field cannot be filled in. This woks best when enabling the Autofill function of field.

  • Show Component - Choose where/when you want to see this field

    • Always - the field will appear when you are filling the form out, as well as when viewing the completed form in PDF.

    • On Screen Only - the field will only appear when either filling it out, or opening it for editing

    • PDF Only - the field will only appear when viewing the completed form in PDF format (again, this will work best when enabling the Autofill function)

    • Never - You can choose to never show this component in either format

  • Title-based Visibility - This can be enabled when needing to restrict visibility of the field to certain titles only. Once enabled, you can select from the titles created in your instance.

  • Input Options - Choose from Text, Number, or Money for your input options. Numbers and Money are good ideas to choose when employing a Mathematical Formula into your form.

  • Autofill - Use the Autofill option when you want this field to automatically populate based on your Autofill Type.

    • Project

    • User

    • Tool

    • Text

    • Mathematic Formula

    • Label

    • Status

    Once you have chosen your Autofill Type, you can then choose how you want that type to be displayed in your field, based on the Autofill Type chosen (for example, if "User" is chosen as the Autofill Type, you can choose the field to be displayed with the User's Name, Employee #, or Email Address)

  • Field Dependency - Field Dependency works with other fields. When enabling Field Dependency your field will only appear based on the actions of another field.

Input Component

The first component in your Components list, it's a basic one, that will allow to ask for basic input such as a name or address. Simply drag the component into your form, and click on the pencil icon to edit it. Here, you can choose the label to include with your field (ie: "Name")
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Phone & Email Components

These are fields for inputting phone numbers and email addresses only. Be sure that the employee filling out the form enters a valid email address, as the system will recognize invalid email formats

Text Area Component

This component is ideal when you require clarification or detailed information on something. The field allows the user to enter as much information as necessary to complete the report. You can use the label area to provide instructions on what's required of the user filling out the form.
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Time and Date Components

These are fields designed to allow you to select specific times and dates.

Checkbox Component

The Checkbox component allows you to check items that apply to the information gathered. For example, if you are creating a safety checklist to ensure employees have the proper PPE when starting a job, the checkbox component is ideal.
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Radio Component

Use the Radio Component to create quick responses users can select from. As with Radio buttons, only one answer can be selected.
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In the edit fields of the Radio component, you can:

  • Add or remove options

  • Rename the default options

  • Adjust the direction of the options

    • Horizontal - (default) all options in the same row

    • Vertical - options sit on top of each other (this helps to save space when a large number of options are created)

    • Vertical on Mobile - this give you the default horizontal look in your web app, but will give you the space-saving convenience when viewing on the mobile app

  • Choose Inline View - this can help the flow of your form based on your set up.

Select Component

The "Select" component allows you to generate a specific list of items that your users can select from. Use this component to pull from a pre-existing list of objects, such as equipment, materials, vendors, or projects, or build a custom list.
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You can filter the default options (ie: Users, Contacts, Projects, etc) to narrow down your search even further. Learn more about what the Select component can do here!
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Signature Component

Allow users to draw or insert their signature to sign off on a form with the Signature component. Make the Signature required to ensure the appropriate user verifies their completion of a form.
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Use the Edit options to include a Date and/or Time Stamp to the Signature to ensure accurate data reporting.
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Photo Upload Component

When reporting incidents or site information, the Photo Upload component is ideal. It allows the person filling out the form the ability to add any relevant photos necessary.


You can set the limit to the number of photos allowed and choose to have the photos automatically added to your project's Photos Module in order to eliminate any extra steps.
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PDF Upload Component

If you are needing Documents attached to your form, include the PDF Upload component in your template.

With the PDF Upload Component, you can choose where you want the uploads to sit within your form with:

  • Inline - If you want your attachments in a specified chosen area (this is especially helpful if you need certain documents for different sections

  • One-per-form - If you want all your attachments in one place

You can also allow the user to select documents from SiteMax's Safety Documents.
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Submit Component

The Submit button allows you to create a button with custom actions for when users have completed a form. When used in conjunction with the Save component, this button may complement or replace the save and email functions.
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Learn about the Actions you can assign to your Submit component here!

Disable Default Save Buttons

If you wish to use the Submit component as an alternative to the original "Save" or "Save & Email" options that were found at the bottom of each form, you can then choose to disable these options. We recommend using the Submit component in conjunction with the Save component.

IMPORTANT: You will need to select "Email" as one of the Submit Actions in order to replace the Save and Email option.

  1. On the main page of your Forms tab, click on the cog icon of the form

  2. Under Form Options, check the "Disable Default Save button"

Note: Each Submit component added to the form template is designed to be used once per form. Once selected in a form, the button will be greyed out and will no longer function - this is designed to reduce edits made to forms

Save Component

Use the Save component in conjunction with the Submit component as an alternative to our Save/Save & Email option. You can incorporate the Save component throughout a form, allowing those filling the forms to save their information when work interruptions keep them from completing them.
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2. Make adjustments to your component by clicking on the pencil icon at the top right of the component.

Here, you can make any of the changes you wish to the component:

  1. Label - Instead of "Save" choose another word or message to show up on the button

  2. Button Color - You can make the Save button a different color (choose from Green, Red, or Blue).

    1. If you're incorporating multiple Save options throughout the form, you could select a different color for each area.

Tasks Component

The "Task" component allows you to create tasks directly via forms. You can create tasks to be added to a specific task list and assign them to users. All fields will be automatically created, and access to tasks created via the form will be found in the task module of the project.
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Note: Tasks can be created on project-level forms only. You won't be able to create tasks if you are using this component in a company-level form or for a company form.

Assessment Component

Use the Assessment Component to ask Yes or No questions while also allowing for additional contexts like photos and comments. For example, the question on a form such as, "Is there visible damage to the equipment?" can be followed up with a photo and the user's comments using the assessment component.
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Safety Log Component

The Safety Log component is a handy way of keeping track of any safety related event. This component works directly with the Compliance module, so when the log is filled out via the form, it will be recorded there. There are numerous editing options for the Safety Log field, so you can customize exactly how you want it to look in the form while it's being filled out, as well as how it will look in your PDF. Learn more about the Safety Log component and how you can customize it here!
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Output Components

Output Components are components that do not require a user action, they are static and cannot be changed when filling out a form. They compromise things like weather, images, and text instructions. Below are the various Output components available.

Title Component

The title component allows you to title the separate sections in your form by giving them headers. Titles will help to keep your forms clean and easy to follow.

Subtitle Component

Subtitles work as a header for your subsections. This helps to sort the information in your forms smoothly.
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Text Component

The Text component allows you to insert text into your form. This allows you to provide instructions or clarification within your form.
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The edits in your Text component allow you to add color to your text, make it bold, and adjust the alignment (left, center, right)
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Link Component

Add clickable links to websites with the Link component. When filling out the form, the user will simply click the link, and a new tab will open to the linked page.
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Weather Component

Record the weather for the project site in your forms with the Weather component. Once implemented, the weather component will display the weather for the day the form is created.
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Weather details throughout the day will include:

  • Temperature

  • Cloud Coverage

  • Precipitation

  • Humidity

  • Wind Speed & Direction

Image Component

The Image component allows you to insert a static image into your form. Upload PNG or JPG files and select the size you want displayed for your form.
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  1. Drag the Image component to where you want the image to go on your form

  2. Click the Edit icon in the toolbar

  3. Select "Choose File" under the Photo Upload section in the edit screen

  4. Choose the image you want to add from your computer

  5. Click "Upload"

  6. Click "OK" in the pop up window to confirm the image upload

Layout Components

Your Layout components are components that allow you to customize the way your form will look. Use the Layout components to move your different fields around so that they fit into the form in just the way you like.

Group Component

The Group component is used to group certain sections together. When implemented, it allows you to turn multiple components into one.
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Group components are great when working with multiple sections that are similar. You can use the Duplicate tool to copy all the fields in your Group at once.

Edits specific to Group Components include:

  • Avoid Page Break

Toggling Yes ensures that if there is a page break in your form, your information will remain intact, and will not cut your section in half.

  • Repeatable List

Toggling Yes to Repeatable List allows users filling out the form to repeat the group add more information. This is ideal when needing multiple names and/or signatures on a form and eliminates the need to re-create your fields again and again.
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Learn more about using the Group Component here!

Column Layout Component

Save room in your forms by incorporating the Column Layout. You can include up to 4 columns in one component. The column Layout keeps your forms looking neat and tidy and formatted to your specifications!

Edits to your Column Layout include:

  • Borders

Add Inner or Outer Borders to your Columns for your own unique look!
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  • Number of Columns

Add up to 4 columns to your layout, as well as customize the size of each!
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  • Break into Rows on Mobile

Avoid the risk of pushing your information out of view when creating a form on mobile. If incorporating multiple columns, check Yes and your columns will turn into rows on the mobile app.
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Learn more about working with the Column Layout component in our article here!

Spacer Component

The Spacer component allows you to add spaces between components. This can help separate sections or just customize the look of your form. With the Edit screen, you can adjust the size and colour of your space to suit your needs.
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Previews

See how your form will look when filling it out on web app or on the mobile app with either a phone or tablet, as well as how your form will look as a PDF. These previews are incredibly helpful when building your form. You can see what works and what doesn't and make the necessary adjustments without the need for full testing. Simply click on the preview option you want to see (mobile, tablet, desktop, or PDF) and click back on the edit icon to make any necessary adjustments.
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Preview for Mobile


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Preview for Tablet


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Preview for Desktop

Preview PDF

Close/Save/Duplicate your Templates

Now that you've created your ideal form template, it's time to save it! Perhaps your form layout is similar to others and you don't want to have re-create multiple templates from scratch. Use our Save Actions to make this happen!
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Close

Use this if you simply want to exit out of your template without saving. If you accidentally click the Close button, a message will appear, confirming that you want to close without saving. Click "Cancel" and the edit screen will remain open, allowing you to continue until you're ready to save. Click "OK" and the template will close and your edits will not be saved.
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Save

Click the Save button directly to save your work while remaining in the edit screen.

Tip: We recommend using the Save button throughout the building of your form template to avoid losing work.

Click on the arrow within the Save button to bring up the following options:

  • Create a duplicate

This will take your current form template and duplicate it as a copy in your Form Builder. You can then make any necessary edits to the copy to customize it to your specifications

  • Create a revision

Each time you save new edits to an existing form template, it creates a revision of that template.
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Save & Close

Clicking the Save & Close button will both save your new form template, and close the edit screen. You will need to locate the form in your list of forms and click the edit icon to bring you back to the edit screen.

Want to learn more? Check out our collection of articles!

Form Builder


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Related Articles
Form Builder Components - Submit
Form Builder Components - Column Layout
Form Builder Components - Assessment
Form Builder - Autofill
Form Builder Component - Safety Log
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