How to Create and Edit a Form

Forms are an essential tool in Elvanto for gathering information, registering attendees for events, and updating the database. Understanding how to effectively use forms can greatly enhance your ability to communicate and interact with your audience. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of creating and customizing forms, including essential details on updating the database.

Create a New Form

Note: Registration forms also permit event sign-ups.

  1. Navigate to 'Forms' on the left sidebar of your Elvanto dashboard.
  2. Click 'Create Form'.

Customizing Your Form

Elvanto forms come loaded with customization options:

  1. Layout: Add questions and fields and rearrange them using the intuitive drag-and-drop feature. Adjust colors to align with your brand's identity.
  2. Field Choices:
    • Use default profile fields (People Fields).
    • Tailor fields based on People Categories (People Custom Fields).
    • Design form-specific custom fields (Form Custom Fields).
  3. Introducing a Form Custom Field:
    • Click the plus icon.
    • Select "Add Custom Field", tailor your field, and save.
  4. Make Dynamic Forms with Conditional Fields: Create fields that appear based on prior responses. For instance, an "allergy" field can appear when the answer to "Do you have a food allergy?" is affirmative.

How to Add a Form Custom Field

Custom fields are essential for capturing specific information in your forms. These function similarly to custom fields in a People Category but are unique to the form.

To add a Form Custom Field:

  1. Click the plus sign to expand your options.
  2. Select "Add Custom Field."
  3. Customize the type of field or question.
  4. Click the 'Save' button.

Conditional Form Fields and Headings

For more dynamic forms, you can create conditional fields and headings that only appear based on specific responses.

Example: You can add an "allergy" field that only appears if the answer to the food allergy question is "yes," keeping your forms relevant and uncluttered.

Design Recommendations

Ensure your form looks appealing and professional. For form headers, use banner-styled JPGs. Aim for an image size of 200KB or less for optimal loading speed.

Submission Limits

Managing submission limits in Elvanto forms is essential for controlling the number of entries. Depending on your form type, you can set different submission limits:

  1. Registration Forms: Limit by ticket numbers.
  2. Standard Forms: Find the limit setting option beneath the layout on the edit tab. Adjust as per your needs.

Elvanto Tip: For forms that are unpublished, archived, or have reached their submission limit, a pop-up will appear showing: "Form Closed - This form is not currently accepting submissions."

Once a Form Has Been Submitted

Managing form submissions includes choosing how to update profiles, selecting administrators, approving submissions, and setting automated actions.

  1. Do not update or add: Information submitted through forms and event registration will not be used to update or create profiles. Note: This will prevent the user from contacting this particular set of contacts via Elvanto, as their information is not added to the database.
  2. Automatically: Existing profiles will be automatically updated (matched based on First and Last name), and new profiles will be added to your default People Category (unless otherwise specified through your Form Actions). Note: The system only matches form submissions with existing profiles based on first and last name entries unless the existing user has an active Elvanto user account, requiring manual acceptance by an admin.
  3. Form submissions: Will only update or add new profiles after admin review and approval.

Admins can also choose multiple automated actions by clicking the green plus button next to the item, check that the database has correctly linked the submission, and more. Autoresponder is available on standard forms, but will not be enabled for multiple submission.

 

Once satisfied with the layout and options, click on the 'Save' button to use your form.

Organize Forms with Categories

Organizing your forms into categories simplifies management. Adding forms to categories can be done by clicking on the form's three dots menu and selecting "Add to Category" or by editing the form directly.

  1. Log in as an Admin.
  2. Hover over 'Forms', select 'All Forms'.
  3. For an existing form, click 'Edit'. For a new form, choose 'Create Form'.
  4. Use the 'Category' dropdown to assign or change the form's category.
  5. Save your changes.

Elvanto's robust form-building capabilities provide you with the tools necessary to gather essential information, register attendees for events, and seamlessly update the database. Experiment with these features and tailor them to fit your needs. Happy form building!