Forms are the primary way users interact with your Tadabase applications. They're how users enter data, update records, and submit information. While basic forms are simple to create, mastering advanced form techniques transforms your applications from functional to exceptional.

In this section, you'll learn advanced form techniques that create better user experiences, reduce errors, and make data entry efficient and intuitive. These skills are essential for building professional, production-ready applications.

Advanced form techniques provide significant benefits:

Better User Experience

• Multi-page forms prevent overwhelming users with long forms
• Conditional fields show only relevant inputs
• Smart defaults reduce data entry time
• Clear validation prevents errors before submission

Improved Data Quality

• Validation ensures correct data formats
• Field dependencies maintain data integrity
• Prefilling prevents duplicate entry
• Required fields ensure complete information

Increased Efficiency

• Users complete forms faster
• Fewer errors mean less correction time
• Automated population reduces manual entry
• Logical flow improves completion rates

Before diving into advanced techniques, let's review basic form concepts:

Creating a Form

To add a form to a page:

1. Open the Page Builder
2. Click "Add Component"
3. Select "Form"
4. Choose the table the form will create/edit records in
5. Select which fields to include
6. Configure form settings

Form Types

Tadabase offers several form types:

• Add Form - Creates new records
• Edit Form - Updates existing records
• Add/Edit Form - Can create or update based on context

Basic Settings

Essential form settings include:

• Field visibility and order
• Field labels and help text
• Required fields
• Submit button text
• Redirect after submission

Multi-page forms break long forms into logical sections across multiple pages. This improves user experience by:

• Preventing information overload
• Creating a guided process
• Showing progress through the form
• Reducing form abandonment
• Organizing related fields together

When to Use Multi-Page Forms

Multi-page forms are ideal for:

• Forms with 15+ fields
• Complex data collection processes
• Onboarding workflows
• Application or registration processes
• Step-by-step wizards
• Forms with logical sections

Creating Multi-Page Forms

To create a multi-page form:

1. Enable Multi-Page Mode
   • Open your form component settings
   • Navigate to "Form Layout" section
   • Enable "Multi-Page Form"
2. Define Pages
   • Click "Add Page" to create form sections
   • Name each page descriptively (e.g., "Personal Information", "Contact Details", "Preferences")
   • Organize pages in logical order
3. Assign Fields to Pages
   • Drag fields to appropriate pages
   • Group related fields together
   • Balance field count across pages
4. Configure Navigation
   • Set "Next" and "Previous" button text
   • Configure final page "Submit" button
   • Enable/disable page navigation
5. Add Progress Indicator
   • Enable progress bar or step indicator
   • Customize appearance
   • Show page numbers or names

Multi-Page Form Best Practices

Multi-Page Form Example

Conditional fields show or hide based on values entered in other fields. This creates dynamic, intelligent forms that adapt to user input.

Benefits of Conditional Fields

• Simplified Interface - Show only relevant fields
• Reduced Confusion - Eliminate unnecessary questions
• Better Data Quality - Collect appropriate information based on context
• Faster Completion - Users see fewer irrelevant fields
• Guided Experience - Lead users through appropriate paths

How Conditional Fields Work

Conditional fields use rules to control visibility:

• Trigger Field - The field that controls visibility
• Condition - The rule that must be met (equals, contains, greater than, etc.)
• Target Field(s) - The field(s) that show/hide
• Action - Show or hide the target field(s)

Setting Up Conditional Fields

1. Identify the Logic
   • Determine which field controls visibility
   • Define what values trigger the condition
   • Identify which fields should show/hide
2. Configure the Condition
   • Open form component settings
   • Navigate to field you want to show/hide
   • Click "Add Display Rule"
   • Select the trigger field
   • Choose the operator (equals, contains, etc.)
   • Enter the trigger value
   • Set action (show or hide)
3. Test the Behavior
   • Preview the form
   • Change trigger field values
   • Verify target fields appear/disappear correctly
   • Test all possible scenarios

Conditional Field Examples

Multiple Conditions

You can combine multiple conditions for complex logic:

• AND Logic - All conditions must be met (field shows only if Condition A AND Condition B are true)
• OR Logic - Any condition can be met (field shows if Condition A OR Condition B is true)
• Complex Logic - Combine AND/OR for sophisticated rules

Conditional Field Best Practices

• Keep Logic Simple - Overly complex conditions confuse users
• Test Thoroughly - Verify all scenarios work correctly
• Provide Context - Use help text to explain why fields appear
• Default States - Decide if fields start hidden or visible
• Validation - Ensure conditional fields validate correctly
• Mobile Consideration - Test conditional behavior on mobile devices

Field dependencies automatically populate or update fields based on values in other fields. This is different from conditional visibility - fields are always shown, but their values change based on other selections.

Types of Field Dependencies

1. Connection-Based Dependencies

When a user selects a connected record, related fields automatically populate:

• Select a customer → Address fields auto-populate
• Select a product → Price and description auto-fill
• Select an employee → Department and manager auto-populate

2. Calculated Dependencies

Fields calculate based on other field values:

• Quantity × Price = Total
• Start Date + Duration = End Date
• First Name + Last Name = Full Name

3. Cascading Dropdowns

Dropdown options change based on previous selections:

• Select Country → State dropdown filters to that country
• Select Category → Subcategory dropdown shows relevant options
• Select Department → Employee dropdown shows only that department

Implementing Field Dependencies

Connection-Based Population

1. Create a connection field to related table
2. In form settings, enable "Auto-populate from connection"
3. Map which fields should populate from connected record
4. Test the auto-population behavior

Calculated Fields

1. Create an equation field in your table
2. Write formula referencing other fields
3. Include calculated field in form
4. Field updates automatically as user enters data

Cascading Dropdowns

1. Create related tables (e.g., Countries, States)
2. Link tables with connection fields
3. In form, configure second dropdown to filter by first
4. Set up the parent-child relationship

Field Dependency Examples

Form prefilling automatically populates form fields with existing data, defaults, or contextual information. This saves users time and improves data consistency.

Types of Prefilling

1. Default Values

Set standard default values for fields:

• Current date in date fields
• Current user in user fields
• Common selections in dropdowns
• Standard status values

2. Contextual Prefilling

Populate fields based on context:

• User creating record (logged-in user info)
• Parent record data (when creating related records)
• URL parameters passed to form
• Session or filter data

3. Edit Form Prepopulation

When editing records, forms automatically load existing values

4. Duplicate Record Prefilling

Copy data from existing records to create similar new records

Configuring Prefilling

Default Values Setup

1. Open form component settings
2. Select the field to prefill
3. Set "Default Value" option
4. Choose from:
   • Static value (text, number, etc.)
   • Current date/time
   • Current user
   • Formula/calculation

Contextual Prefill Setup

1. Identify the source of prefill data
2. Use URL parameters to pass data to form
3. Configure form to read URL parameters
4. Map parameters to form fields

Connected Record Prefill

1. When form opens from related record
2. Connection field auto-sets to parent
3. Related fields can pull from parent record

Prefilling Examples

Prefilling Best Practices

• Allow Override - Users should be able to change prefilled values
• Indicate Prefilled Fields - Make it clear which fields are auto-populated
• Use Smart Defaults - Choose defaults that apply 80%+ of the time
• Don't Over-Prefill - Only prefill when it truly saves time
• Test Context - Verify prefilling works in all scenarios

Validation ensures data entered into forms meets specific requirements before submission. Advanced validation techniques create robust, error-free data collection.

Types of Validation

1. Required Fields

Prevent form submission without essential data

2. Format Validation

Ensure data matches expected patterns:

• Email format
• Phone number format
• ZIP code format
• URL format
• Custom patterns (regex)

3. Range Validation

Restrict values to acceptable ranges:

• Minimum/maximum numbers
• Date ranges
• Text length limits

4. Uniqueness Validation

Ensure values are unique in the table:

• Unique email addresses
• Unique usernames
• Unique order numbers

5. Cross-Field Validation

Validate relationships between fields:

• End date after start date
• Maximum value greater than minimum
• Confirmation fields match

6. Custom Validation

Complex business rules and logic

Implementing Validation

Field-Level Validation

1. Open table in Data Builder
2. Edit field settings
3. Configure validation rules:
   • Mark as required
   • Set format requirements
   • Define min/max values
   • Enable uniqueness check
4. Set custom error messages

Form-Level Validation

1. Open form component settings
2. Configure field-specific rules
3. Add cross-field validation
4. Set up conditional validation

Validation Examples

Custom Error Messages

Provide clear, helpful error messages:

• Bad: "Invalid input"
• Good: "Email address must be in format: name@example.com"

• Bad: "Error in field"
• Good: "End date must be after start date"

• Bad: "Required"
• Good: "Please enter your phone number to receive booking confirmation"

Validation Best Practices

• Validate Early - Show errors as users type when possible
• Clear Messages - Explain exactly what's wrong and how to fix it
• Highlight Errors - Use color and icons to draw attention
• Don't Block Progress - In multi-page forms, validate page by page
• Be Forgiving - Accept variations in format when possible
• Provide Examples - Show correct format in help text

Well-designed forms improve usability and completion rates.

Layout Options

Single Column Layout

• Best for most forms
• Clear top-to-bottom flow
• Easier to complete
• Better for mobile

Multi-Column Layout

• Saves vertical space
• Group related fields visually
• Use sparingly
• Avoid on mobile

Sections and Grouping

• Use section headers
• Group related fields
• Add dividers between sections
• Use collapsible sections for optional info

Field Ordering

Order fields logically:

1. Start with essential fields
2. Group related information
3. Follow natural conversation flow
4. Save optional fields for end
5. Put submit button at bottom

Labels and Help Text

• Clear Labels: Use descriptive, concise labels
• Help Text: Provide guidance for complex fields
• Placeholders: Show example input format
• Tooltips: Add additional context without cluttering

Form Design Best Practices

• Use consistent spacing
• Align fields to left
• Make buttons obvious
• Use appropriate field sizes
• Minimize required fields
• Group related information
• Test on mobile devices

Configure what happens after form submission:

Redirect Options

• Stay on Page: Show success message, clear form
• Go to List Page: Navigate to table view
• Go to Detail Page: View the created/edited record
• Go to Custom Page: Navigate to specific page
• Go to URL: Redirect to external URL

Success Messages

• Confirm successful submission
• Provide next steps
• Include record details if relevant
• Offer additional actions

Error Handling

• Show clear error messages
• Keep entered data (don't clear form)
• Highlight problematic fields
• Explain how to fix errors

Additional advanced form features:

AJAX Forms

• Submit without page refresh
• Better user experience
• Faster submission
• Enable inline editing

Form Templates

• Save common form configurations
• Reuse across applications
• Maintain consistency

Dynamic Fields

• Add repeating field groups
• Variable number of line items
• User-controlled field addition

File Uploads

• Configure file types
• Set size limits
• Enable multiple files
• Show upload progress

Example 1: Job Application Form

• Multi-page structure
  • Page 1: Personal Information
  • Page 2: Work Experience
  • Page 3: Education
  • Page 4: References
  • Page 5: Additional Questions
• Conditional fields: Show "Other" text box if "Other" selected in dropdown
• File upload: Resume and cover letter
• Validation: Email format, phone format, required fields

Example 2: Service Request Form

• Prefilling: Customer info from logged-in user
• Conditional fields: Different fields based on service type
• Dependencies: Equipment dropdown filters by location
• Default values: Request date, status, assigned technician

Example 3: Product Order Form

• Multi-page: Customer info, products, shipping, payment
• Calculated fields: Line totals, subtotal, tax, grand total
• Dependencies: Product selection populates price
• Conditional: Show shipping fields if physical product
• Validation: Credit card format, quantity limits

Ensure forms work correctly:

Testing Checklist

• Test all field types
• Verify conditional logic
• Test validation rules
• Check prefilling behavior
• Test multi-page navigation
• Verify submission and redirect
• Test on mobile devices
• Test with different user roles
• Test error scenarios

Optimization Tips

• Remove unnecessary fields
• Make more fields optional
• Use smart defaults
• Improve labels and help text
• Simplify validation
• Reduce pages if possible
• Improve visual design
• Speed up load time

Monitoring Form Performance

• Track completion rates
• Identify abandonment points
• Monitor submission times
• Collect user feedback
• Analyze error patterns

In this section, you've learned advanced form techniques that create better user experiences:

• Multi-page forms break long forms into manageable sections
• Conditional fields show only relevant inputs
• Field dependencies automatically populate related data
• Form prefilling saves time with smart defaults
• Advanced validation ensures data quality
• Layout and design principles improve usability

These skills are essential for building professional applications. Master them through practice and experimentation.

Hands-On Exercise (To Be Added)

Exercise placeholders will include practical activities such as:

• Create a multi-page customer onboarding form
• Implement conditional fields in a service request form
• Set up cascading dropdowns for location selection
• Configure form prefilling from connected records
• Add advanced validation to a registration form

Knowledge Check (To Be Added)

Quiz questions will test understanding of:

• When to use multi-page forms vs single-page forms
• How conditional fields improve user experience
• Different types of field dependencies
• Best practices for form validation
• Form layout and design principles