Creating a Webform : Help Center

The Actionstep webform builder allows you to create webforms that connect your public-facing intake forms with your Actionstep system. Submitted forms are transmitted directly from your website into a web form data queue where you can review the data and decide whether to remove the data or use it to create or update a matter / contact card in Actionstep. You can also use webforms to update multi-row data collections.

The webform creation workflow is divided into three parts, which are described below:

Part 1: Creating the Form
Part 2: Setting Up the Webform Fields
Part 3: Generating and Using the Webform Code

Part 1: Creating the Form

While completing the first step, you will set some of the basics for how the webform will work. This includes the name and what matter type to associate the form with.

NOTES:
• You can only link a webform to one matter type. If you want to use a webform across multiple matter types, you must create multiple webforms for each matter type.

• If you intend to use a webform to update a matter, you cannot use the webform to show data that has already been entered for the matter. The form can only be used to update the matter, not allow clients to review and update their information.

To do this:

In Actionstep, go to More > Webforms > Form Manager. The Webforms List page appears.
Click New Webform in the top-right of the page. (You can also click the name of an existing webform to edit it.) The New Webform page appears.
Provide the following information:
- Form Name: Enter the name of the form.
- Status: Choose whether the form will be Active or Disabled.
- Matter Type: Choose the matter type you want the form associated with.
- Create/Update Matter: Choose whether the form will be used to create a new matter or update an existing matter. (If you're updating an existing matter, please see About Using a Form to Update an Existing Matter for additional information.)
- Success URL: Enter the URL where the client will be directed if the webform is successfully submitted.
- Failure URL: Enter the URL where the client will be directed if the webform cannot be submitted.
  NOTE: It's recommended you create success and failure URLs on your company's website. You can use the Preview option to see how the pages you select look.
- Alert Email: Optionally, enter the email address of the user who will be notified when forms are completed.
- Theme: Choose how questions and answer fields will be laid out on the form.
Click Save to save your changes, and then click Next to proceed to Part 2: Setting Up the Webform Fields .

Part 2: Setting Up the Webform Fields

In Part 2, you will choose which fields will be included in the webform, including specifying how the fields will be labeled on the customer-facing form as well choosing which order questions will be asked.

There are three types of data sources you can use when building your form:

Participant: This data source lets you gather details about the contacts for the matter, such as Client or Beneficiary.
Matter Data: This data source lets you gather customized information that is stored in the matter. For example, if you're creating a form for a personal injury matter type, Matter Data can be used to collect information about the incident.
Marketing: This data source helps you capture how this lead was found. (This option is not available if you are updating a matter instead of creating a new matter.)

To add and customize the fields on your webform:

Complete Part 1: Creating the Form as described above.
On the Field Settings page, choose from the following options in the Add Field pane:
- Data Source: Choose the type of data you want this field to be. Your choices are Participant, Matter Data, and Marketing. (See the list above for descriptions.)
  
  Once a data source is selected you will be prompted to provide specific details about the field. For example, if you select Participant, two additional fields appear: Participant Type and Participant Field.
- Label: Enter the label or question prompt that will appear next to the form field.
- Description: Optionally, add a description which can provide more information on what is expected in a field.
- Required: Select whether the user must answer a field before they can submit the webform.
Once the information above is provided, click Save to save the field. It is added to the main area of the page.
To add additional fields, click Add Field and complete Step 2 again.
Complete any of the following additional steps to further customize the form:
- To add a new field between two existing fields, click the add icon that appears on the border between the two fields.
- To remove a field, click the X next to the field prompt.
- To preview the form, click Preview and then choose the theme you want applied.
- To rearrange fields on the firm, click on the area surrounding the field and drag it to a different location.
Once your form is complete and organized the way you want, click Generate Code. The Generate Form Code page appears.
Proceed to Part 3: Generating and Using the Webform Code.

Part 3: Generating and Using the Webform Code

Once your form is ready to be published, you can generate the HTML for the form, which you can then add to your own website.

To do this:

Complete Part 1: Creating the Form and Part 2: Setting Up the Webform Fields, as described above.
On the Generate Code page, choose from the following options:
- Select Html to Copy: Choose this option to copy the HTML in the code box to your Clipboard. You can then paste the code in your own website editor or other file to save it until you are ready to use it.
- Download Html File: Choose this option to save a copy of the code as an HTML file. You can then use this HTML file to test the page or simply save the HTML file so you can use the code later.
  TIPS:
  • To test the HTML file, most users simply double-click the HTML file and it will open the local version of the file in your web browser and show you the rendered HTML. Web developers, however, are usually set up to open HTML files using an HTML editor. If you want to access the HTML code of an .HTML file and not the rendered form, try opening the file using Notepad++ or an other HTML editor. For help, please contact a web developer.
  
  • You or your web developer can further customize the generated code with additional styling and formatting changes and then add the updated HTML to your website. (Please note that Actionstep Support cannot assist you in these efforts.)

NOTE: As discussed above, a webform can be used to update information in an existing matter for a client. See Using Webforms to Update Your Matter for more information on how to do this.