DOCUMENT > How do I create and insert form fields into a document automation?

Tallyfy offers document automation via templates that launch read-only documents with editable fields 

We all know that being able to edit everything in a Word or Google Doc is flexible - but results in a total mess for consistency. From one template, you can create thousands of variations of the template - each with unknown and uncontrolled changes.

Tallyfy solves this problem via templates that we call "document templates". The idea is that you author a single template - and then add form fields for just the editable parts.

That's very important to point out first - when you a launch a process from a document template - only the fields are editable. Everything else is read-only. This ensures that only parts you nominate as editable can be edited with dynamic values - and the rest stays the same. 

To make your document template even easier to create - we also offer snippets and embedded templates - where you can edit a block of content once, and then have it go-live across any template and any process that holds a reference to it. Lego bricks for lego bricks.

How to add editable fields in your document?

1. Begin by identifying all unique fields in your document - these will be your 'Form Fields'. For example, in the sample credit approval letter below: Sender's name, Letter date, Recipient's name, Recipient's address are all 'Form fields'.

2. Next, Click 'Power Tools' on the editor tab on the top. In the builder, click on 'Form Fields' to start adding editable fields.

3. Drag and drop or click 'Add' on the particular type of form field in the desired place. For instance, drag and drop a short text field for 'Customer Name'.

As you go on adding different form fields, respective 'Variables' will be created for each of these fields. Variables are instances of form fields that can be repeatedly referenced and used.

Here, 'Form Fields' are in green and their referenced 'Variables' are in blue.

4. You can set form fields to be 'Required' if it's mandatory to fill them out. This means, when you launch the document, these required fields will need to have data filled in.

Your document is now ready to launch. You can learn more about launching a document here.