Forms
Create and manage forms for inserting and updating data in your database. Build user-friendly forms without writing code.
Forms
Forms let you create user-friendly interfaces for adding new records and updating existing ones in your database. No coding required - forms are automatically generated based on your table structure.
What Are Forms?
Forms are interfaces that make it easy to:
- Insert new records - Create forms for adding data to your tables
- Update existing records - Build forms for editing existing data
- Validate input - Ensure data meets your requirements
- Handle relationships - Work with related tables automatically
Types of Forms
Insert Forms (Create)
Insert forms are used to add new records to your tables. They include:
- Fields for all relevant columns
- Required field indicators
- Input validation
- Dropdowns for related data
- Date pickers for date fields
Update Forms (Edit)
Update forms are used to modify existing records. They include:
- Pre-filled fields with current values
- Ability to change any field
- Validation before saving
- Relationship handling
Viewing Forms
Forms are organized by type on the Forms page:
- Go to the Forms page in your workspace
- Use the tabs to switch between:
- Create - Insert forms for adding new records
- Update - Update forms for editing existing records
Each form card shows:
- Table Name - Which table the form is for
- Description - What the form is used for
- Type Badge - Insert or Update indicator
- Last Updated - When the form was last modified
Using Forms
Opening a Form
Click any form card to open it. The form will display:
- All relevant fields for the table
- Current values (for update forms)
- Validation rules
- Save and cancel buttons
Filling Out Forms
When filling out a form:
- Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*)
- Dropdown fields show available options
- Date fields include a date picker
- Text fields support various input types
- Related fields may show suggestions from other tables
Saving Forms
After filling out a form:
- Review all fields to ensure they're correct
- Fix any validation errors (shown in red)
- Click Save to submit the form
- Wait for confirmation that the data was saved
Canceling Changes
If you don't want to save changes:
- Click Cancel to close the form
- Any unsaved changes will be lost
- You'll return to the forms list
Form Features
Automatic Field Detection
Forms automatically detect:
- Field types (text, number, date, etc.)
- Required fields
- Default values
- Relationships between tables
Validation
Forms include built-in validation:
- Required fields must be filled
- Numbers must be valid
- Dates must be in correct format
- Relationships must reference valid records
Error Handling
If something goes wrong:
- Validation errors appear below fields
- Database errors are shown clearly
- You can fix errors and try again
- No data is saved until all errors are resolved
Creating Forms
Forms are typically created automatically when you:
- Add a table to core tables
- Generate a data interface
- Create a view for a table
You can also modify existing forms using the chat interface to customize fields, add validation, or change the layout.
Modifying Forms
To modify a form:
- Open the form you want to modify
- Use the chat panel to describe changes you want
- Examples:
- "Add a field for notes"
- "Make the email field required"
- "Hide the status field"
- "Change the order of fields"
The AI will update the form based on your request.
Best Practices
Form Design
- Keep it simple - Only include necessary fields
- Group related fields - Organize fields logically
- Use clear labels - Make field purposes obvious
- Provide help text - Add descriptions where helpful
Data Entry
- Validate early - Check data before saving
- Use defaults - Set sensible default values
- Handle relationships - Make foreign keys easy to select
- Provide feedback - Show success/error messages clearly
Security
- Validate on server - Never trust client-side validation alone
- Check permissions - Ensure users can only edit what they should
- Log changes - Keep track of who changed what
- Backup data - Regular backups protect against mistakes
Troubleshooting
Form Not Saving
If a form won't save:
- Check for validation errors (shown in red)
- Verify all required fields are filled
- Ensure data types are correct
- Check your database connection
Field Not Appearing
If a field is missing:
- The field might be hidden by default
- Check if the field exists in your table
- Try modifying the form to add the field
- Verify table permissions
Related Data Not Loading
If dropdowns are empty:
- Check if the related table has data
- Verify the relationship is set up correctly
- Ensure you have permission to view related data
- Try refreshing the form
Related Documentation
- Core Tables - Understanding your core tables
- Natural Language Queries - Modifying forms with chat
- Data Insights - Creating visualizations
