Form Templates
A Form Template turns a visual workflow into an interactive, standalone form. Non-technical colleagues, clients, or external partners simply fill in the defined input fields and click Run.
The runner never sees the underlying canvas, intermediate logic steps, or sensitive connected credentials. Use a Form Template whenever an automation should be operated by people who need the result without having to learn or modify the workflow.
Single-submission web forms for structured intake (lead forms, onboarding, invoice processing).
Form InterfaceMulti-turn conversational interfaces for AI assistants, customer support bots, and Slack helpers.
Chat InterfaceFull editable canvas templates for builders to fork, customize, and extend in their own workspace.
Step TemplatesComparing Deployment Interfaces
| Feature | Form Template (Form Interface) | Chat Interface (Chat Trigger) | Step Template (Canvas Fork) |
|---|---|---|---|
| User Interaction | Structured web form submission | Interactive multi-turn chat | Full visual canvas editor |
| Best For | Data intake, HR requests, report generation | Support bots, documentation Q&A, Slack helpers | Reusable workflow patterns & blueprints |
| Canvas Visibility | Completely hidden | Completely hidden | Full canvas visible & editable |
| Credentials | Uses builder’s secure workspace connections | Uses builder’s secure workspace connections | Requires forker to connect own accounts |
| Entry Point | Form link or workspace Deployment | Hosted chat page or Slack bot | Marketplace or workspace template library |
How to Build a Form Interface
You build the automation on the multiplayer canvas as normal, then choose which fields across your steps should be exposed on the public form:
Open the Form Interface Drawer
On your workflow canvas, click More (⋮) in the top-right toolbar and select Form interface (or click the Interfaces icon in the bottom-right dock).
Select Fields from Canvas Steps
Click Add fields. The drawer displays all steps on your canvas. Click any step to inspect its configurable parameters, then check the fields you want the form runner to provide.
Configure Labels, Descriptions & Validation
For each exposed field, customize the presentation:
- Field Label: Give the field a clear, non-technical title (e.g.
Customer Email Addressinstead ofcust_email). - Placeholder & Helper Note: Add instructions or format hints (e.g.
e.g. [email protected]). - Required toggle: Mark whether the field is mandatory before the runner can submit the form.
Enable Pre-filled Default Values (Optional)
Toggle on Default values to populate the form with initial values derived from your current canvas step configuration. This lets runners submit standard requests with a single click while still allowing customization when needed.
Preview and Test
Test the form directly inside the drawer preview. Enter sample inputs and confirm that values map correctly into your canvas steps before deploying.
Supported Form Field Types
Glow automatically renders the appropriate UI control based on the underlying step parameter type:
| Field Type | Form Control | Examples & Use Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Short Text | Single-line text input | Customer names, email addresses, order IDs |
| Long Text / Markdown | Multi-line textarea | Support ticket descriptions, feedback comments |
| Numeric | Number input with increment controls | Invoice amounts, item quantities, threshold caps |
| Single Select | Dropdown selection menu | Priority tiers (Low, Medium, High), department choices |
| Date & Time | Calendar date/time picker | Appointment dates, report start/end dates |
| File Upload | Drag-and-drop file uploader | PDF invoices, CSV datasets, image receipts |
Deploying and Sharing the Form
Once your form interface is configured, you have several ways to distribute it:
Direct Form Link
Generate a standalone hosted web URL:
- Switch your workflow from Draft to Live in the top navigation bar.
- In the canvas header, click Share → Form Link.
- Choose access permissions:
- Public: Anyone holding the link can submit the form.
- Workspace Members Only: Requires signing in with an authenticated workspace account.
Runner Experience and Result Delivery
When an end-user opens your Form Template link:
- Clean Branded View: They see a clean, distraction-free interface displaying only your configured input fields, descriptions, and a prominent Run button.
- Real-Time Validation: Required fields and format constraints (e.g. valid email syntax or file upload size limits) are validated client-side before submission.
- Execution Delivery:
- Synchronous Workflows: If the workflow produces an immediate output (such as a generated summary or calculated score), the result displays directly on the completion screen.
- Asynchronous Workflows: For background automations (such as updating Salesforce records or sending Slack notifications), the runner receives a confirmation receipt while work completes in the background.
Real-World Use Case Patterns
| Template Pattern | Canvas Workflow | Runner Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Client Onboarding Intake | Form Intake → Create HubSpot Contact → Generate Google Drive Folder → Alert Slack | Client account manager enters customer details and uploads contract PDF. |
| AI Expense Receipt Processor | Form Intake (File Upload) → AI Prompt (Extract JSON) → Validate → Quickbooks Write | Employee uploads photo of receipt; total amount and category are extracted and submitted. |
| Custom Data Query Generator | Form Intake (Date Range & Filters) → Database Query → Format CSV → Email Attachment | Operations team selects date range and receives automated CSV export in their inbox. |
What’s Next?
- 👉 The Deployment Page →: Manage published versions and deploy forms across client workspaces.
- Chat Trigger & Interfaces: Create multi-turn conversational AI interfaces and Slack bots.
- Step Templates: Share editable canvas blueprints with workflow builders.