Build your forms

The following components are available for you to use when building a form:

Field components

• Short answer - commonly known as a text field or textbox. Use this for collecting single-line answers from your users.
• Long answer - commonly known as text area. This can be used for comments, notes, or user input that may include long or multiple lines.
• Single choice - commonly known as a radio button, this is used for collecting single-choice answers.
• Multi choice - commonly known as a checkbox. This is used when you want to allow two or more options selected.
• Select from list - dropdown menus are used with category-related questions.
• Numbers only - a number field to capture any kind of number.
• Currency – a number field to capture currency.
• Date - a way to collect dates.
• Email - the email field offers a built-in validation for the proper email format.
• Address - allows users to enter their complete address with predefined NZ post API search.
• Yes/No question – predefined radio buttons to capture a yes or no answer.
• Upload a document - allow your users to upload a file to your form.
• Bank account number – predefined number field to capture NZ bank account numbers.
• Information box – banner to display useful information.
• Warning box - banner to display alert messages/important information.
• Add more rows – repeatable input fields in a table format.
• Rating scale - used for ratings based on a scale.
• Survey – table format rating scale.
• Website URL – predefined field to capture website address.

Layout

• Heading – add headings to different sections.
• Add content – a way to add text to the form.
• Columns – allows you to divide the page.]
• Table – allows you to display input fields in a table format.

Presets 

• Date (past date) - predefined validation to only accept a date from the past.
• Date (future date) – predefined validation to only accept a date from the future.
• Show stopper (two answers) - predefined logic to block.
• New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) lookup.
• New Zealand Post address lookup.
• Privacy statement.
• Upload field – you set acceptable file types and size.
• Declaration field – with your custom terms, conditions or statements.
• What happens next – your custom content with links for payment or further information.

The following features are available to suit your service:

• Show/hide logic
• Field validation including mandatory or optional
• Ghost text
• Help text
• Field tip text
• Character count
• Field formatting for example, bank account number
• Service provider logo and contact details
• Forms use the UK Government Design System in lieu of a NZ Government Design System
• Analytics to show service performance like customer satisfaction and completion rates.

We have two templates that we offer for any agency or council to use. 

Single page 

The single page template is excellent for simple, short forms, i.e. when you want to be notified about something, a one-way information transfer or a sign up to something.

Multi-page

This template allows agencies to build forms with multiple pages. Ideally used for more complex forms where a lot of data needs to be captured across several topics or sections. Use this template for forms such as licence or permit applications, reporting, registrations, grant and funding requests.

Our common screens are built using consistent and familiar components, leading to a smoother user experience. Users can easily predict how different parts of the interface will behave which reduces frustration and effort.

Here are the common screens in order of display for multi-page template:

Before you start

Information about how long the application will take, that it will timeout and that users can save progress and return. Use this screen to tell users who can apply, what they should know before they begin including the titles or available links to any documents they’ll need to upload.

Get started

Outline application requirements and ask questions to confirm eligibility. These questions at the start of the form aim to stop people who are not eligible for the service completing the form.

Applicant details

Identify who is applying and who is the contact person for this application.

Upload documents

List the mandatory documents needed for this application. If there aren’t any required, this screen will allow the user to upload anything they deem relevant as an optional field.

Declaration

This is legally required to confirm the role of the applicant and that the information supplied is true and correct.

FormBuilder is actively collaborating with 35 government service teams to digitise forms, with 53 forms published, 30 builders and over 153,786 submissions to date.