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Form Designer

The Form Designer tab lets you build a custom layout for how contributors see and enter data in form mode. Instead of a default single-column list of fields, you can arrange fields into multiple columns, visual groups, and tabs — and control which fields appear in which views.

Access: Blueprint Designer → Form Designer tab.

When to use the Form Designer​

The default form view shows all fields in a single vertical column in the order defined in the Fields panel. The Form Designer is useful when:

  • A section has many fields and a single column becomes unwieldy.
  • Some fields belong together logically and should be visually grouped.
  • You want tabs to split a long section into manageable chunks.
  • Some fields are only needed in detailed mode (not the quick-entry view).

If a section has fewer than 6–8 fields, the default layout is usually sufficient.

Layout structure​

The Form Designer uses a 12-column grid system with three levels of nesting:

Tabs (optional)
  └── Rows
       └── Columns (1–12 wide)
            └── Blocks (field groups)
                 └── Fields

Tabs​

Divide a section into multiple sub-pages within the form. Contributors see a tab bar at the top of the form and switch between tabs.

To add a tab: Click + Add Tab in the Form Designer toolbar.

Useful for sections with 15+ fields or fields that belong to distinct sub-topics (e.g. a Project Details section with tabs: "General", "Schedule", "Budget", "Contacts").

Rows​

Each tab (or the form root if no tabs) contains rows. Rows stack vertically.

To add a row: Click + Add Row within a tab.

Columns​

Each row is divided into columns. Columns are sized in units of 12 (e.g. 6 + 6 = full width, 4 + 4 + 4 = three equal columns, 8 + 4 = wide + narrow).

To add a column: Click + Add Column within a row and set its width (1–12).

Blocks​

A block is a labelled group of fields within a column. Blocks can have an optional title and can be collapsed by default.

To add a block: Click + Add Block within a column.

Block options:

  • Title — Optional heading above the group of fields.
  • Collapsed by default — Block appears collapsed in form mode; contributors expand it on demand. Useful for optional or advanced fields.

Fields​

Drag fields from the Field List panel on the left into blocks. A field can only appear in one block.

note

Fields not placed in any block remain in the default unplaced fields list and render at the bottom of the form as a fallback column.

Display modes​

Each block or row can be assigned a display mode:

ModeDescriptionBest for
Always visibleAlways shown to all contributorsRequired fields, primary data entry
CompactShown in compact (grid-like) input styleDense data entry with many short fields
Collapsed by defaultBlock is collapsed; contributor expandsOptional/advanced fields

Field visibility overrides​

Each field in the Form Designer can have its visibility overridden independently of its default conditional visibility rule:

  • Always show — Show regardless of other field values (overrides the condition).
  • Always hide — Hide in form mode but still collect data in grid mode.
  • Use field condition (default) — Respect the conditional visibility rule defined in Field Properties.

Saving the layout​

Form Designer layout changes are not auto-saved. Click Save Layout in the Form Designer toolbar before navigating away. An unsaved-changes warning appears if you try to leave without saving.

Previewing the layout​

Switch to the Preview tab in the Blueprint Designer to see how the Form Designer layout will look to contributors. The preview renders the form in read-only mode with sample placeholder values.