With the September 2024 release, ServiceM8 introduced an auto-generated template for Forms, making it easier than ever for your business to benefit from this popular Add-on. When the auto-template is used as is, there is no need to work with merge fields in Word to create a form. The auto-generated template is appropriate for basic forms, procedures, and reports. It might look simple, but don't let looks deceive you - it's an incredibly powerful tool to build great processes in the field.
Part 1 - Setting up the Form details
- From the Online Dashboard, go to Account > Settings.
- Click Forms.
- Click Add Form.
- Complete the Form Details sections as follows:
- Form Name: Enter the name of the form.
- Badge Name: Enter the name of the badge that will be used on a job whenever this form needs to be completed.
- Badge Requirement: Set the form requirement as mandatory or optional.
- Form Template: Select "Automatic - Use an auto-generated template to produce the PDF."
Part 2 - Creating the Form questions
You can now create the questions and elements that need to be completed in the Form.
- Under Form Questions, click New.
- Complete the Question Details.
- Question: Enter the name or label for the question.
- Additional Details: If you want to include any explanation or detailed instructions, add them here.
- Mandatory: Tick this box if the question must be completed.
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Question Type: Select the appropriate type from the dropdown.
- Text: use for questions that require short open text responses
- Text (Multi-Line): use for questions that require longer open text responses
- Number: use for questions that require an numeric response only
- Date: use to capture an exact date
- Multiple Choice: use for questions that can only have one true answer (such as Yes or No)
- Multiple Choice (Multi-Answer): use for questions that may have more than one true answer ("Select all that apply")
- Signature: use to capture a signature in the field
- Photo: use to include a photo requirement
- To add another question, click New.
- Continue until you have added all necessary form requirements, then click Save.
TIP: You can adjust the order of your questions by clicking a question in the Form Questions pane, then clicking Up or Down.
TIP: If you want to make a question's presence conditional upon the response to another question, you can use the Skip Question function. See Using the Skip Question IF condition in the form for more information.
Part 3 - Previewing the Form
- From the Forms page on the Online Dashboard, find your Form and click Preview.
- Complete the Form as though you were filling it out in the field (this is just a demo, don't worry about your answers) and click Finish.
- Click View Form. This will let you see how a completed form will appear when saved as a PDF.
Using an auto-generated template as a starting point for further customisation
For more advanced Form creation, you can create your basic questions with the auto-generated template and then export it as a quick starting point to customise further.
From the Forms page, find your auto-generated Form, click Open Form, then click Download Auto Template to generate your template in Word.
See How to create Form questions and add the fields into a document template for more information about working with Forms and document templates in Word.
