Every FastField form is built from pages, sections, and fields. This article explains how these parts fit together in the Form Builder, and how field keys identify each field.
How a form is structured
A form has 3 layers.
Layer | What it is |
|---|---|
Page | A step in the form. Users move between pages with the next and previous controls |
Section | A titled group of related fields on a page. Users see the section name and description |
Field | A single question or piece of data, such as text, a photo, or a signature |
For example, a work order form can have a Work Order Details section with Title, Description, and Priority fields. A long inspection can split into one page per area of a site.
A form on the canvas with the page name, a section, and its fields highlighted
A short form can live on one page with a few sections. For a long form, group related sections onto separate pages so users can work through it step by step.
View and change the structure
The Pages & Sections tab lists every page and the sections on each page.
In the Form Builder, select Pages & Sections in the side bar.
Select a page or section to jump to it on the canvas.
he Pages & Sections tab listing the pages and sections of a form
From this tab you can:
Add a page or section: Select Page or Section
Rename a page or section: Select the edit icon next to its name
Change section settings: Select the settings icon next to a section
Reorder: Drag a page or section to a new position
Learn more about how to reorder sections and fields.
Name and describe a section
Select the more options icon in the section header, then select Section Settings.
Enter a Section Name and an optional Section Description.
Select Save Section.
Section Settings with Section Name, Section Description, and Section Key
Section Settings also has the Section Key, which identifies the section. Here you can also make the section repeatable. Learn more about repeating sections.
Field keys
Every field has a field key, a unique ID for the field in the form. FastField assigns a field key when you add a field, for example alpha_1 for a Text field. Two fields in the same form can't share a key.
Field keys connect a field to the rest of FastField. Submissions, calculations, scripts, reports, and integrations use them to find the field's value.
To view or change a field key:
Select a field on the canvas.
In Field Settings, select the General tab.
Change the value in Field Key. It can contain only letters, numbers, and underscores.
Field Settings for a Text field with the Field Key setting
Important
Set field keys before you publish. Changing a key later can break calculations, scripts, reports, and integrations that use the old key.
Tip
To see every field key on the canvas, select Settings in the bottom toolbar, then turn on Show Fieldkeys.
The canvas with Show Fieldkeys turned on, showing the field key next to each field type
Reference a field value
To use a field's value in a calculation or a script, wrap its field key in $ characters. For example, this formula multiplies a quantity by a unit price:
$quantity$ * $unit_price$
Organize the form with the Assistant
You can ask the Assistant to restructure your form. It can add, rename, move, and delete pages and sections, and group fields into new sections.
Select Assistant in the side bar.
Describe the change, for example Split this form into 3 pages or Group the contact fields into a section called Customer.
Send the message.
The Assistant can also change field keys. To work on one section, select the Assistant icon in its header.
Note
Assistant changes aren't saved until you select Save Draft.