--- title: "How to Use the Form Builder" slug: "form-builder-how-to-use-the-form-builder" updated: 2026-10-28T14:24:13Z published: 2026-10-28T14:24:13Z canonical: "help.quickbase.com/form-builder-how-to-use-the-form-builder" --- > ## 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. # How to Use the Form Builder The Form Builder is where you create and edit forms in the portal. This article gives you a tour of its layout, so you know where to find each tool. ## How the Form Builder is laid out The Form Builder has 5 main areas. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/tour-01-layout.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T01%3A36%3A00Z&se=2026-10-30T02%3A36%3A00Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=IffjiprVrgYFBGB7v4iP84%2FQEDjRsAYV4PujUQE0Qus%3D) *The Form Builder with the header, side bar, canvas, right side bar, and bottom toolbar highlighted* | Area | What you do there | | --- | --- | | Header | Rename the form, see its version and status, and save or publish it | | Side bar | Browse pages and sections, add fields, ask the Assistant, and check for errors | | Canvas | Build the form: arrange pages, sections, and fields | | Right side bar | Preview the form and change the settings of the selected field | | Bottom toolbar | Open form settings, workflow, reports, and form actions | To open the Form Builder, go to **Forms** > **My Forms** in the portal. Select **Actions** next to a form, select **Edit Form**, then select **Form Builder**. Learn more about how to [edit an existing form](/fastfield/docs/en/form-builder-edit-an-existing-form). ## Header The header shows the form name, the version number, and whether the form is published or a draft. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/image-1792767163392.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T01%3A36%3A00Z&se=2026-10-30T02%3A36%3A00Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=IffjiprVrgYFBGB7v4iP84%2FQEDjRsAYV4PujUQE0Qus%3D) *The Form Builder header with the form name, version, and Published status* - **Form name:** Select the edit icon next to the name to rename the form - **Submission name:** Select **Automatically name form submissions** to choose how submissions are named - **Save Draft:** Saves your changes without releasing them to users - **Publish:** Releases the form to users as the next version When you make a change, **Save Draft** and **Publish** appear in the header. To go back to the portal, select the home icon. ## Side bar The side bar has the Pages & Sections and Add Fields tabs at the top, and the Assistant and Validation icons at the bottom. Select one to open its panel, and select it again to close it. | Tab or icon | What it does | | --- | --- | | Pages & Sections | Lists every page and section. Select one to jump to it, or drag to reorder | | Add Fields | Lists every field type. Select a field type or drag it onto the canvas | | Assistant | Builds or changes the form from a description you type, speak, or upload | | Validation | Lists errors and warnings to fix before you publish. The icon shows how many errors there are | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/tour-03-add-field.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T01%3A36%3A00Z&se=2026-10-30T02%3A36%3A00Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=IffjiprVrgYFBGB7v4iP84%2FQEDjRsAYV4PujUQE0Qus%3D) *The Add Fields tab listing field types by category* > [!NOTE] > Note > > The Assistant icon is available when AI features are turned on for your account. ## Canvas The canvas shows every page, section, and field in the form. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/tour-04-canvas.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T01%3A36%3A00Z&se=2026-10-30T02%3A36%3A00Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=IffjiprVrgYFBGB7v4iP84%2FQEDjRsAYV4PujUQE0Qus%3D) *A section on the canvas with its header icons and a field row* - **Page name:** Shows the current page. Select it to go to another page, or to rename, add, or delete a page - **Section header:** Rename the section, collapse it, or select the more options icon for Section Settings, Duplicate Section, and Delete Section - **Field row:** Select a field to open its settings. Point to it to duplicate or delete it, or drag it to a new position - **Checkboxes:** Select several fields to move, delete, or edit them together To find a field in a long form, enter its name in **Search fields...**. ## Right side bar The right side bar has 2 tabs. - **Preview:** Shows the form as users see it, on a computer or a phone, and a QR code to open it in the FastField mobile app. Learn more about the [form preview](/fastfield/docs/en/form-builder-form-preview-function) - **Field Settings:** Shows the settings of the selected field, on the General, Behavior, and Appearance tabs ![](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/image-1792767339023.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T01%3A36%3A00Z&se=2026-10-30T02%3A36%3A00Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=IffjiprVrgYFBGB7v4iP84%2FQEDjRsAYV4PujUQE0Qus%3D) *Field Settings for a selected field, with the General, Behavior, and Appearance tabs* ## Bottom toolbar The bottom toolbar has the form-level tools. | Button | What it opens | | --- | --- | | Settings | Form settings, such as Show Fieldkeys, Enable Webforms, Advanced Form Rules, Enable Dark Mode and Lookup Mappings | | Workflow | Global Workflow, to send submissions where they need to go | | Reports | Custom Report Builder, Generic Report, and Legacy Word Upload | | Actions | Validate Form, Duplicate Form, Export To Excel, Delete Form, and more | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/tour-06-actions-menu.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T01%3A36%3A00Z&se=2026-10-30T02%3A36%3A00Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=IffjiprVrgYFBGB7v4iP84%2FQEDjRsAYV4PujUQE0Qus%3D) *The Actions menu in the bottom toolbar* ## Build with the Assistant The Assistant can build and change a form for you. Select **Assistant** in the side bar, describe what you want, and send the message. For example, *Add a signature field at the end* or *Make the Priority field red*. You can also attach a PDF, an image, or an Excel file, take a photo, or use voice input. To work on one field or section, select the Assistant icon on it. > [!NOTE] > Note > > Assistant changes aren't saved until you select **Save Draft**. ## What's next - [Organize your form and structure](/fastfield/docs/en/form-builder-organize-your-form-and-structure) - [Field type overview](/fastfield/docs/en/form-builder-field-type-overview) - [Form preview function](/fastfield/docs/en/form-builder-form-preview-function)