Create Your First Form

Forms are the foundation of data collection in Mapalyze. A form defines what information your field team collects -- from text answers and photos to GPS coordinates and signatures. This guide walks you through building your first form from scratch.

Open the Form Builder

  1. Log in to your Mapalyze dashboard at app.mapalyze.com.
  2. Click Forms in the left sidebar.
  3. Click the New Form button in the top-right corner.
  4. Give your form a name (for example, "Site Inspection") and an optional description.
  5. Click Create to open the Form Builder.

Add fields to your form

The Form Builder uses a drag-and-drop interface. The left panel shows all available field types, and the center panel shows your form as you build it.

To add a field:

  1. Drag a field type from the left panel and drop it into your form.
  2. Click the field to open its settings on the right panel.
  3. Set the field label, placeholder text, and whether the field is required.

Common field types

  • Text -- Short or long text answers. Use for names, descriptions, and notes.
  • Number -- Numeric input with optional min/max validation.
  • Single Choice -- A dropdown or radio-button list where the user picks one option.
  • Multiple Choice -- Checkboxes where the user can select several options.
  • Photo -- Capture or attach photos from the device camera or gallery.
  • Location -- Automatically captures GPS coordinates, or lets the user drop a pin on a map.
  • Date/Time -- A date picker, time picker, or both.
  • Signature -- A touch-based signature pad for capturing sign-off.

Configure field settings

Each field has settings you can adjust:

  • Required -- Toggle this on to prevent submission without an answer.
  • Help text -- Add instructions that appear below the field label to guide your field team.
  • Default value -- Pre-fill a field with a common answer to speed up data entry.
  • Visibility -- Use conditional logic to show or hide a field based on a previous answer (covered in detail in the Conditional Logic article).

Preview your form

Before deploying your form to the field, preview it to make sure everything looks right:

  1. Click the Preview button in the top toolbar.
  2. The form opens in a simulated mobile view so you can see exactly what your field team will see.
  3. Fill in some test data to verify that required fields, choice lists, and validations work correctly.

Save and publish

When you are satisfied with your form:

  1. Click Save in the top-right corner. Your form is saved as a draft.
  2. Click Publish to make the form available on all devices.
  3. Team members who have the Mapalyze mobile app will see the published form automatically after their next sync.

Tips for building effective forms

  • Keep it concise. Field workers are often outdoors with limited time. Only ask for the data you truly need.
  • Group related fields. Use sections to organize your form into logical groups (for example, "Location Details," "Condition Assessment," "Photos").
  • Use help text generously. Brief instructions under each field reduce confusion and improve data quality.
  • Test on a real device. Preview on the web is helpful, but testing on a phone or tablet in the field gives you the most realistic experience.

Your first form is now ready for data collection. Next, learn how to collect your first record in the field.

Need more help? Contact our support team.

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