Why do forms have to be only one column? I need to develop forms that are more complex than all the fields in one column. Any suggestions?
Why do forms have to be only one column?
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+35Your best bet is to use Fillout's advanced forms for Airtable.
Fillout is 100% free, it supports multiple columns, and is has native integration with Airtable.
Fillout offers hundreds of features that Airtable’s native forms don’t offer, including the ability to update Airtable records using a form, display Airtable lookup fields on forms, control access to a form via SSO or email domains, perform math or other live calculations on your forms, accept payments on forms, collect signatures on a form, create multi-page forms with conditional paths, create new linked records on a form, connect a single form to dozens of external apps simultaneously, add CAPTCHAs to your form, and much more.
I show how to use a few of the advanced features of Fillout on these 2 Airtable podcast episodes:
- Using Fillout to create an eSignature approval process with PDF file creation.
- Using Fillout to create an order entry form with line items.
Hope this helps! If you’d like to hire the best Airtable consultant to help you with anything Airtable-related, please feel free to contact me through my website: Airtable consultant — ScottWorld
What JotForm provides, Air Table should provide natively. When I make a form from a table in my base the same tools found in JotForm should be available from within Air Table. Having to use another paid service to make better forms is not useful.
What JotForm provides, Air Table should provide natively. When I make a form from a table in my base the same tools found in JotForm should be available from within Air Table. Having to use another paid service to make better forms is not useful.
By logical extension then – Airtable should also include best-in-class:
- Search and Findability
- Storage
- User Security
- API Security
- Computational Performance
- HIPAA Security Compliance
- DPA Security Compliance
- GDPR Security Compliance
- Formula Editor
- Formula Library
- Javascript Engine
- Document Management
- Reporting System
- Email System
- SMS System
- Data Visualization
- Attachment Annotations
- Video Streaming
- Image AI
- Microservices
- Webhook Architecture
- Backup Services
- Recovery Services
- Professional Services
- Support Response
- UI Configuration
I apologize for the snarky manner I chose to make a point. That point being that we all have our key wants and we’d all like the world of IT to be seamless, perfect, and exactly how we interpret the product should be.
But the reality is that vendors must make choices and compromises or they will fail to sustain profitable operations and possibly raise fees to compensate for the added costs.
Would you like to pay $35/month/user to subsidize my interest in GDPR compliance and video streaming?
I didn’t think so.
No platform can afford to copy other provider’s feature lists; it’s risky (because of patents) and it’s never likely to work anywhere close to what specialists have created in various feature segments. Furthermore, you’d have to hire a lot of specialty skills across all these feature categories.
Yes - I agree that forms is closer to the core functionality of data collection, a feature segment that Airtable could do better. But, each vendor must be able to set boundaries and work well with partners to facilitate ideal solutions.
I agree. Given my comments, what’s the best remedy you can recommend?
Sorry, your reply is not helpful. At. All. Form design is a core feature or function of database design that is at the heart of the Air Table platform. Maybe it doesn’t need all the functionality of JotForm, but should have more than what it has now. It doesn’t have to be best in class, just more than rudimentary like it is now. Much of what you list is more specialized but I see several listed that would be useful to be included or improved.
+35
Lane_Smith:What JotForm provides, Air Table should provide natively.
I disagree with you. Airtable is not form software. Their mission is not to replicate pre-existing form software that has thousands of features. There are hundreds of different form software services out there, all of which can be integrated with Airtable.
As I mentioned above, Fillout is the best form software for Airtable.
- ScottWorld, Expert Airtable Consultant
By logical extension then – Airtable should also include best-in-class:
- Search and Findability
- Storage
- User Security
- API Security
- Computational Performance
- HIPAA Security Compliance
- DPA Security Compliance
- GDPR Security Compliance
- Formula Editor
- Formula Library
- Javascript Engine
- Document Management
- Reporting System
- Email System
- SMS System
- Data Visualization
- Attachment Annotations
- Video Streaming
- Image AI
- Microservices
- Webhook Architecture
- Backup Services
- Recovery Services
- Professional Services
- Support Response
- UI Configuration
I apologize for the snarky manner I chose to make a point. That point being that we all have our key wants and we’d all like the world of IT to be seamless, perfect, and exactly how we interpret the product should be.
But the reality is that vendors must make choices and compromises or they will fail to sustain profitable operations and possibly raise fees to compensate for the added costs.
Would you like to pay $35/month/user to subsidize my interest in GDPR compliance and video streaming?
I didn’t think so.
No platform can afford to copy other provider’s feature lists; it’s risky (because of patents) and it’s never likely to work anywhere close to what specialists have created in various feature segments. Furthermore, you’d have to hire a lot of specialty skills across all these feature categories.
Yes - I agree that forms is closer to the core functionality of data collection, a feature segment that Airtable could do better. But, each vendor must be able to set boundaries and work well with partners to facilitate ideal solutions.
I agree. Given my comments, what’s the best remedy you can recommend?
My remedy? At least add some design features. Drag, drop, resize fields on the form and not be limited to just one column would be helpful.
My remedy? At least add some design features. Drag, drop, resize fields on the form and not be limited to just one column would be helpful.
Well then - we agree! We’ve determined that it would be ideal and probably reasonable if Airtable would improve the forms feature in a few simple ways.
I disagree with you. Airtable is not form software. I think they should fix the bugs with their forms (i.e. not being able to submit hidden fields), but that’s about it. And possibly include the ability to edit existing records via a form. But their mission is not to replicate pre-existing form software that has thousands of features. There are hundreds of different form software services out there, all of which can be integrated with Airtable.
Forms are very useful for viewing, browsing and entering data in a database. With many fields, having one long column is not very useful. I don’t think replicating all the thousands of features of full fledged form services is needed, but Air Table could benefit with some additional form design features so we’re not locked into just one column. This is an issue with other platforms to by the way and not just Air Table.
Forms are very useful for viewing, browsing and entering data in a database. With many fields, having one long column is not very useful. I don’t think replicating all the thousands of features of full fledged form services is needed, but Air Table could benefit with some additional form design features so we’re not locked into just one column. This is an issue with other platforms to by the way and not just Air Table.
Indeed, they are each walking a tightrope; some better than others.
I recommend letting your voice be heard through support and by posting a clear list of ways they can improve forms over in the Product Suggestions section.
+35Forms are very useful for viewing, browsing and entering data in a database. With many fields, having one long column is not very useful. I don’t think replicating all the thousands of features of full fledged form services is needed, but Air Table could benefit with some additional form design features so we’re not locked into just one column. This is an issue with other platforms to by the way and not just Air Table.
Lane_Smith:
You can send your feature requests to support@airtable.com.
- ScottWorld, Expert Airtable Consultant
Well then - we agree! We’ve determined that it would be ideal and probably reasonable if Airtable would improve the forms feature in a few simple ways.
Well, we’ll have to agree to agree then! :grinning_face_with_big_eyes:
Indeed, they are each walking a tightrope; some better than others.
I recommend letting your voice be heard through support and by posting a clear list of ways they can improve forms over in the Product Suggestions section.
Thanks for the suggestion. I will that. Do you have ideas?
You should send your feature requests to support@airtable.com.
You should also note that Airtable RARELY — and I mean RARELY — listens to user feedback, so I wouldn’t hold your breath for ANY improvements to ever come to forms. You might be holding your breath for 5 years or longer. Airtable’s entire business strategy is to roll out half-baked, basic, very simple features that are “good enough” for them to “check the box” that they have added that particular feature, and then they move onto something else. Airtable is a “wide but shallow” product, which makes it incredibly frustrating to work with sometimes.
In the meantime, your only option is to use JotForm or some other external form software.
Thanks. I’ll try Bill.French’s suggestion and try the Product Suggestions section. Hope springs eternal!
+15Hi there!
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