EC-PermitEC-Permit
Docs/Project Admin/Form Types/Creating

Creating a Form Type

This guide walks you through creating a new form type from scratch. You'll define the basic info, add questions, configure the workflow, and publish.

Alternative: AI Creator

For faster setup, try the AI Form Creator which generates form types from natural language descriptions.

Step 1: Basic Information

Start by clicking "Create Form Type" on the Form Types page.

Enter the following:

  • Name (required)

    A descriptive name like "Hot Work Permit" or "Daily Safety Checklist"

  • Code (optional)

    Short identifier for form numbers, e.g., "HWP" creates forms like "HWP-001"

  • Description (optional)

    Brief explanation of when this form type should be used

Step 2: Appearance

Choose visual elements to help users identify this form type:

  • Icon

    Select from hundreds of icons to represent this form type

  • Color

    Pick a color that will appear on cards and badges

Using distinct icons and colors for each form type helps users quickly find what they need, especially in projects with many form types.

Step 3: Add Questions

Define what information the form will collect:

  1. 1
    Click "Add Question"

    Opens the question editor

  2. 2
    Choose the question type

    Text, number, date, file upload, signature, etc.

  3. 3
    Configure the question

    Set label, placeholder, required status, validation rules

  4. 4
    Set visibility/edit permissions

    Control who sees/edits this question at each status

  5. 5
    Repeat for each question

    Drag to reorder questions as needed

See Question Types for details on each type available.

Step 4: Configure Workflow

Design the approval process using the visual workflow editor:

Workflow Elements:

  • Statuses

    The states a form can be in (Draft, Pending Approval, Approved, etc.)

  • Actions

    Transitions between statuses (Submit, Approve, Reject, etc.)

  • Initial Status

    Where new forms start (usually "Draft")

  • Final Statuses

    End states with no further actions (Approved, Cancelled, etc.)

See Workflow Editor for detailed instructions on workflow design.

Step 5: Review and Publish

Before publishing, review your form type:

Checklist:

  • ✓ All essential questions are added
  • ✓ Required fields are marked correctly
  • ✓ Workflow has at least one initial status and one final status
  • ✓ Actions have appropriate permissions set
  • ✓ Question visibility is configured for each status

When ready, click "Publish". The form type becomes available immediately for creating forms.

Testing First

Consider creating a test form before announcing to your team. This lets you verify the workflow works as expected.

After Publishing

Once published, you can still:

  • Add new questions (existing forms won't have answers for them)
  • Edit question labels and descriptions
  • Add new statuses and actions
  • Modify permissions

Be careful when deleting questions or changing workflows, as this affects existing forms.

Form Type DesignerWorkflow Editor