Getting Started

Welcome to the Forms module! This section will help you understand forms and get started building your first form.

What Are Forms?

Forms are user-facing applications for collecting, displaying, and managing data in Ambience. They integrate seamlessly with workflows and ETL chains to create complete business solutions.

Start Here

1. Why Forms?

Understand the value proposition and capabilities of forms: - When to use forms vs other approaches - Key capabilities and features - Real-world use cases - Integration with Ambience ecosystem

Time: 5 minutes

2. Quick Start Guide

Build your first form in 15 minutes: - Create a simple employee information form - Add input fields and validation - Test your form - Learn the basics hands-on

Time: 15 minutes

3. Core Concepts

Learn the architecture and concepts: - Form definitions, instances, and results - Component hierarchy - Design-time vs runtime - Client-server architecture - Data flow and validation

Time: 20 minutes

Learning Path

Beginner

  1. Read Why Forms?
  2. Complete Quick Start Guide
  3. Read Core Concepts
  4. Explore Form Designer
  5. Try Simple Examples

Intermediate

  1. Learn Workflow Integration
  2. Learn ETL Integration
  3. Study Complete Example: Leave Request
  4. Explore Form Rules
  5. Learn Internationalization

Advanced

  1. Master Component Reference
  2. Study all Examples
  3. Learn advanced patterns from examples
  4. Build complex multi-page forms
  5. Integrate with external systems

Common Questions

What can I build with forms?

  • Data entry applications
  • Approval workflows
  • Multi-step wizards
  • Self-service portals
  • Interactive dashboards
  • Data maintenance tools

Do I need to know programming?

No! Forms use a visual designer with drag-and-drop components. However, knowledge of: - ETL for validation and processing - Workflows for business processes - JavaScript for advanced customization

…will help you build more sophisticated solutions.

How do forms integrate with workflows?

Forms can create workflow instances, display workflow state, and send events to progress workflows. See Workflow Integration.

How do I validate form data?

Forms support multiple validation layers: - Client-side (mandatory fields, formats) - Server-side (ETL chainsets) - Custom scripts

See ETL Integration for details.

Can forms support multiple languages?

Yes! Forms have built-in internationalization support. See Internationalization.

Next Steps

Choose your path:

Resources

Next: Why Forms?