FireForm quick-start guide

• Overview
• FireForm URLs
• Build a new form
  • Step 1: Create the form basics
  • Step 2: Add form fields
  • Step 3: Make it live
• Get help

Overview

Follow the instructions below to quickly get started building a basic form with FireForm at Indiana University.

For more comprehensive instructions on using FireForm, see the FireForm at IU help menu.

FireForm URLs

When your tenant (that is, your FireForm environment) is created, you will receive several URLs by email. Each tenant has four URLs. The URLs that include stage are intended for building draft forms or testing form functionality. The URLs that end in admin display the administrative, or back-end, view of FireForm. This is where you will build your forms and workflows. The URLs that end in online display the public view that form submitters and workflow assignees will see. The URLs are as follows, where xxxx represents the tenant code:

Build a new form

Step 1: Create the form basics

For more comprehensive information on form building options, see Build forms using FireForm.

To get started building a form:

1. Navigate to your Admin tenant in either the Stage or Production environment.
2. Log in, and navigate to Tools > Forms.
3. At the top right, select Add Form.
4. In the "Form Details" section, complete the following required fields:
   • Name: This will display at the top of your form (in the example below, "FireForm Support Request").
   • Code: The code will be part of your form's URL. It must be unique. The maximum length is 15 alphanumeric characters; special characters are not allowed. UITS recommends using lowercase letters (for example, support).
   • Page Section: Select General. This does not impact the form itself, but determines how forms are organized in your tenant's Online (public) view.
   • Sort Order (optional): Leave as 1. This also does not impact the form itself, but determines the order in which forms are listed on the home page of the Online (public) tenant view.
   • Workflow: Select Workflow Queue 1. This workflow includes a single step with no routing or assignees. To learn how to create dynamic workflows and assignments, see About FireForm workflows.
   • Status: Set the form to "active" so that you can view and submit the form while you're building it. "Inactive" means the form will not display in a browser window.
5. Select Save.

While not required, the following options in the "Form Details" page are also important. You can find them in the "Form Options" section.

• Require IU Login: Requires the submitter to authenticate with IU Login to view or submit the form. This is required for some form element functionality, for example, Save as Draft.
• Hide from Page: UITS suggests checking this box while you're developing the form. When checked, the form will not display on the home page of your tenant's Online (public) view.

Step 2: Add form fields

Create a section

A form section is a method of grouping related content on a form. You will add form elements (also called fields) within the sections you create.

To create a section:

1. Above the "Form Basics" section, select Form Content.
2. At the top right, select Add Form Section.
3. Fill out the following information:
   • Name: The label for the section that will display on the form. In the example below, "Contact Information" contains fields to collect information about the submitter.
   • Sort Order: Determines the order in which sections display on the form. UITS recommends using increments of 10 to allow more flexibility if you need to add additional sections later; therefore, the first section would have the value 10.
   • Drawer Mode: Select Fixed. This determines how the section will display on the form. Fixed means the section will be permanently displayed.
   • Status: Select Show. This will cause the section to display on the form.
4. Select Save.

Add elements (or "fields")

In FireForm, form fields are called "elements". For a full list of element options and functionality, see FireForm element data types and their functions.

To add an element:

1. Select Add Form Element.
2. Enter the element information. Note that the element parameters depend on the type of element you select. However, some basic information is required or suggested for all element types:
   • Name: The label that will appear above the field (in the example below, "Personal Information" is an element name).
   • Type: Select the type with the functionality you want for the element.
   • Required (optional): If checked, the form cannot be submitted unless the submitter enters data in this field.
   • Include in Confirmation Email Content (optional): If checked, the element name and the data entered by the submitter will be included in the confirmation message sent after submission.
   • Sort Column:
     • A: The element will display on the left half of the page.
     • B: The element will display on the right half of the page.
     • A+B: The element will span the full width of the page.
   • Sort Order: Determines the order in which elements are displayed within the form section. Like the section sort order, UITS recommends using increments of 10; therefore, the first element would have the value 10.
   • Status: Select Show. This will cause the element to display on the form.
3. Select Save.

View and complete the form

1. Return to the window where you have the Online view open, and refresh the page. You will now see the section and element you added.
2. Go back the Admin view of your form, and continue adding sections and elements until you have all the form fields you need on the form.

Step 3: Make it live

If you built the form in the Stage environment and you're ready for it to be live, you will need to move it to the Production environment. For instructions, see Export and import in FireForm.

Once your form is in the Production environment, you can start sharing the URL. If you want the live form to display on your tenant's home page, go back to the "Form Details" page, and locate and uncheck the "Hide from Page" option.

Get help