University of Michigan - Flint

When you log into FormAssembly you will be taken to a default screen showing any forms you have previously created, tabs to navigate the system, and a short menu to get you started.  Follow these steps to create a form:

1. From the short menu on the right-side of your screen (see below) click on "Click here to start a new form".
   
   
2. Press "OK" to start your form.
3. Click on  to display the Form Properties tab.
   
   
4. In the "Properties" area complete all desired information.
• Name your form in the "Form Name" area.  This name will appear at the top of the form when viewers access it.
• Enter the text you wish to appear on the "Submit" and "Cancel" buttons.  If you do not enter text for the "Cancel" button one will not display on your form.  The Submit button is required and cannot be removed.
• Select how you would like labels to appear for each question.
• Select how you would like hints to be displayed for when users mouse over questions.
• Lastly, select the style you would like used for your form.  The style previews show the upper left corner of a form.  Your form would have whatever you entered for "Form Name" instead of "Style". 
5. Once you are finished entering the required information for your form please click  to save your changes thus far.  When you are asked whether you would like to exit Form Builder click "No, stay in the Form Builder" to continue with the next step for creating your form.

Why reinvent the wheel?  FormAssembly allows users to share forms that they have created which may be useful to other individuals/departments.  So if Department A has created a survey that Department B would also like to use they simply need to follow the steps below instead of building a whole new form:

1. From the "My Forms" screen (the screen initially displayed when you log in to FormAssembly) select the "Templates" tab.
2. The available templates will be displayed.
• The uniqname of the user that created the form will be displayed under "By".
• Templates are organized into separate categories (Applications, Feedback, etc.) which are selected by the form's creator.
• To see what the form looks like, click on the "Preview" button next to the desired form.  The "Preview" button is outlined in green in the image below.
• To read more information about the form and what information it gathers click on the "More info" button, outlined in blue in the image below, next to the desired form.
3. Once you find the form you would like to use as a template click on the "Create a new form using this template", this button is outlined in red in the image below.
4. FormBuilder will now open with the selected form loaded.  Make any necessary changes to adjust the form to your needs and then click "Save Form", and then "No, I'm finished" when prompted. 
5. When you return to the "My Forms" tab the new form should be listed.

**Please note: In order for a form to appear in the "Templates" list it must be included in the catalog by the form creator.  To include a form in the catalog please refer to the directions in the "Catalog" area of the "Form Publishing Options" section.

If you have already created a form, and wish to make changes to it follow these simple steps:

1. Log into FormAssembly.
2. All previously created forms will be listed on the welcome screen.  Click on the Edit button () next to the form name you wish to modify.  You may also click the "Modify this form" link on the right hand side of your screen.
   
3. You will be taken to the FormBuilder and can now modify the form as needed.  Make sure you press to save your changes before exiting the FormBuilder.
   
   

To delete a form follow these steps:

1. Log into FormAssembly.
2. All previously created forms will be listed on the welcome screen.  Click on the form name for the form you wish to delete.
3. On the right-hand side of your screen (near the top) you will be given three options:
   
   
4. Click Delete.  If you are certain you wish to delete the form click "OK" when the confirmation appears.  Please note:  Deleting a form will also delete ALL responses for that form.  You cannot recover this data so please be certain you no longer need the form or its data before you delete it.

To copy a form follow steps 1-3 from the instructions on deleting a form, but click "Copy this form" instead of "Delete".

1. After clicking Copy you will be taken into FormBuilder.  The questions/sections contained on the form will already be entered.
2. Make any necessary modifications to the form and click "Save Form".
3. You will now have two copies of that form listed (unless you change the form name). 

Adding sections to your form can help to organize related questions.  To add a section to your form follow the steps below:

1. Click the  button to the right of the button on the left side of your screen.
2. A panel will appear with properties for your new section.
   
   
• Enter a section title: please note, this title will appear on the form (unless you choose "Folder" for the section type)!
• Select a section type:
• Check the "Validation" box if you want to require users to answer at least one question from this section.

When you click the button it will place the new question in the section that is currently selected in the Outline area, or simply on the form (not in a section).  Therefore, it is easiest to create your sections before creating questions.

1. Click the button toward the top of your screen on the left side.
2. A properties section will appear for your new question and "no label" will appear under your Form Outline on the left (see image below).
   
   
3. Enter the required information for your question.
• In the text box below "Your Question" enter the question you would like displayed on the form.  The "label" for each question (how it is referred to under your form name in the Outline) will be based on the question that you enter.
• Under "Select the Type of Answer" select what kind of response you are expecting from users.  The second row of options will require you to fill in additional information for each multiple choice response possible.  For a detailed description of possible answers, please refer to "Questions and Answers".
• Decide whether this question is one that you want to require users to answer before they can submit their response.  Check the box "Answer Required" if you do not want to allow users to skip this question.
• Enter any hints for the question under "Contextual Help (hint)". 
4. Click  to see the question display on your form. 
5. Continue clicking the button to add all necessary questions to the form. 

If you would like to include informational text on your form, or an image, you can include these by clicking the  button to the right of the button.  When you click the "Add Image or Text" button a properties panel will display with a text box (see below).

The text area features utilities similar to Microsoft Word (the option to make text bold, italicized, underlined, change text alignments, bullet text, number text, etc.).  Enter your text in this box. 

If you do not need to enter text, but want to include an image, leave the text box blank and click the "Browse" button under "Upload an Image".  Select the image you would like to display on your form and click upload.  Click "OK" once your image appears in the text box.  Click to see the picture on the form preview.

When you click the button it will place the new question in the section that is currently selected in the Outline area, or simply on the form (not in a section).  Therefore, it is easiest to create your sections before creating questions.  However, if you have already created questions and want to sort them into sections please follow the steps below:

1. Generate your desired section(s).
2. Make sure the Outline tab is visible on your screen (see below).
   
   
3. Click and drag the questions one by one into the desired sections.
4. Click to see how the questions will be arranged on the form in their new sections.

Certain form elements that are commonly used are already created for you to include on your form.  To include one of these elements follow the steps below:

1. Click on the dropdown menu where "...or select a predefined element" is displayed (see image below).  Select the desired element. 
   
   
2. Click the  button immediately to the right of the dropdown.
   
3. The predefined element will be added to your form and should now be visible in the outline.
4. Click to see the new question on the form.

To delete a section or question please follow the steps below:

1. Follow the steps under the "Modifying a Form" section to enter FormBuilder.
2. Make sure the "Outline" tab is visible.
3. Click on the question or section you wish to delete and drag it to "Trash" at the bottom of the Outline tab.  Release the item when it is over the "Trash" link.
4. Click OK when the confirmation window appears.  Please note:  If you delete a section it will also delete all questions under that section.
   

To copy a section or question please follow these steps:

1. Follow the steps under the "Modifying a Form" section to enter FormBuilder.
2. Make sure the "Outline" tab is visible.
3. Click on the question or section you wish to delete and drag it to "Copier".  Release the item when it is over the "Copier" link.
   
4. Click OK when the confirmation window appears.  Please note:  If you copy a section it will also copy all questions under that section.