# Form Templates

> Turn complex workflows into simple, executable interfaces for non-technical users.

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.

  - [Form Interface](#how-the-form-interface-works): Single-submission web forms for structured intake (lead forms, onboarding, invoice processing).

- [Chat Interface](/build/triggers/chat): Multi-turn conversational interfaces for AI assistants, customer support bots, and Slack helpers.

  - [Step Templates](/getting-started/templates/step-templates): Full editable canvas templates for builders to fork, customize, and extend in their own workspace.

---

## Comparing 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 Address` instead of `cust_email`).
- **Placeholder & Helper Note:** Add instructions or format hints (e.g. `e.g. jane@company.com`).
- **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:

  
    **Generate a standalone hosted web URL:**
    1. Switch your workflow from **Draft** to **Live** in the top navigation bar.
    2. In the canvas header, click **Share → Form Link**.
    3. Choose access permissions:
       - **Public:** Anyone holding the link can submit the form.
       - **Workspace Members Only:** Requires signing in with an authenticated workspace account.
  

  **Distribute across client workspaces:** 1. Open **Team Assets → Deployment**
  in the left sidebar. 2. Locate your workflow row and confirm the **Interface**
  column is set to **Form**. 3. Click **Deploy** to snapshot a version and push
  independent copies to up to 50 client workspaces. 4. See [The Deployment
  Page](/getting-started/templates/deployment) for full versioning details.

  
    **Share with the global Glow community:**
    1. Open **Workflow Settings → Templates**.
    2. Click **Publish to Marketplace**.
    3. Add a descriptive overview, select domain tags, and submit your version.
  

---

## Runner Experience and Result Delivery

When an end-user opens your Form Template link:

1. **Clean Branded View:** They see a clean, distraction-free interface displaying only your configured input fields, descriptions, and a prominent **Run** button.
2. **Real-Time Validation:** Required fields and format constraints (e.g. valid email syntax or file upload size limits) are validated client-side before submission.
3. **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 →](/getting-started/templates/deployment)**: Manage published versions and deploy forms across client workspaces.
- **[Chat Trigger & Interfaces](/build/triggers/chat)**: Create multi-turn conversational AI interfaces and Slack bots.
- **[Step Templates](/getting-started/templates/step-templates)**: Share editable canvas blueprints with workflow builders.