---
title: "Add a Table to a Form (Using Subforms)"
slug: "form-builder-add-a-table-to-a-form-using-subforms"
updated: 2026-10-28T14:24:16Z
published: 2026-10-28T14:24:16Z
canonical: "help.quickbase.com/form-builder-add-a-table-to-a-form-using-subforms"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.quickbase.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Add a Table to a Form (Using Subforms)

Your paper form may include a table where users fill in several cells for each row. You can recreate a table like this in FastField with a subform. This article covers how.

## How a table becomes a subform

Think of an inventory sheet. The top of the sheet is a static section, and the item table is a dynamic set of fields.

- **Header data** appears once per form, like the date, the site, and the person filling it out.
- **Table rows** repeat an unknown number of times. Each row records one item with the same set of columns.

FastField maps these to two places. Header data becomes fields on the main form. The table's columns become fields on a subform. Each row a user fills out becomes one subform entry.

For example, an inventory sheet has a date, site, and inspector at the top. Those become Date/Time, Text, or Option List fields on the main form. The table's columns become the subform: inventory number, item description, purchase price, quantity, and location.

## Build the subform from the table columns

1. In the portal, go to **Forms** > **My Forms**.
2. Select **New Form** > **Sub Form**. If you're asked which builder to use, select **Form Builder**.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/image-1792677238812.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T02%3A43%3A54Z&se=2026-10-30T03%3A43%3A54Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=c9i%2FR%2Bo0vphTlyrwXnC%2F4djMPwjkH5qJsPdi2%2BtMItw%3D)

*The New Form menu on the Forms page, with Sub Form selected*

1. Add a field for each column, and choose a type that matches the data.

| Column | Field type |
| --- | --- |
| Inventory number | Text or Numeric |
| Item description | Text or Long Text |
| Purchase price | Numeric |
| Quantity | Numeric |
| Location | Option List or Lookup List |

1. Name the subform after what one row represents, for example *Inventory Item*, not *Inventory Table*.
2. Select **Save Draft**, then **Publish**.

> [!NOTE]
> Tip
> 
> Describe the table to the Assistant instead of adding fields one at a time. For example, *Add fields for inventory number, item description, purchase price, quantity, and location*.

## Build the main form from the header data

1. Select **New Form** > **Form**, then open it in the Form Builder.
2. Add the header fields, the values captured once per submission.
3. Group them in a section with a clear name, such as *Inventory Details*.

## Add the subform to the main form

1. In the main form, select **Add Field** in the side bar, then select **Subform** under Misc.
2. In Field Settings, on the General tab, select your subform in **Select Subform**.
3. Turn on **Allow Multiple Subform Instances**.
4. Select **Save Draft**, then **Publish**.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/table-02-allow-multiple(1).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T02%3A43%3A54Z&se=2026-10-30T03%3A43%3A54Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=c9i%2FR%2Bo0vphTlyrwXnC%2F4djMPwjkH5qJsPdi2%2BtMItw%3D)

*Subform field settings with Allow Multiple Subform Instances turned on*

> [!WARNING]
> Important
> 
> **Allow Multiple Subform Instances** is what turns the subform into a table. If it's off, users can fill out only one row.

## Label each row

A list of identical rows is hard to read. Set a display mask on the Subform field so each entry shows its own values, for example the item description and quantity.

1. In the Subform field's settings, select **Configure Display Mask**.
2. Select the subform fields you want in the label.
3. Select **Back to Field**.

Learn more in [Create and use subforms](/fastfield/docs/en/form-builder-create-and-use-subforms#name-each-instance).

## What users see in the app

Users fill out the header fields, then tap the Subform field to add a row. They complete the subform once per item. Each completed entry is listed under the Subform field. When every item is recorded, they tap **Submit**.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/table-03-preview(1).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T02%3A43%3A54Z&se=2026-10-30T03%3A43%3A54Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=c9i%2FR%2Bo0vphTlyrwXnC%2F4djMPwjkH5qJsPdi2%2BtMItw%3D)

*The form preview showing the Subform field with Tap to add*

## Tables or repeating sections

A repeating section can also capture repeating rows. Choose a subform when you want to reuse the same table in several forms, or want each row as its own linked record. Learn more about [repeating sections](/fastfield/docs/en/form-builder-create-and-use-repeating-sections).

## What's next

- [Create and use subforms](/fastfield/docs/en/form-builder-create-and-use-subforms)
- [Create and use repeating sections](/fastfield/docs/en/form-builder-create-and-use-repeating-sections)
- [Subforms introduction](/fastfield/docs/en/subforms-introduction)