Building a Form
This page describes how to create and manage form fields in the PowerForms management interface.
Management Interface
After adding the module to a page, enter the Manage Form interface via the module menu. It runs independently of the DNN framework — faster, fully responsive, and manageable directly from mobile devices.
The main pages of the management interface:
| Page | Function |
|---|---|
| Field List | Field list; add, edit and delete fields |
| Field Sort | Drag to reorder fields |
| Field Groups | Group management (for grouped effects) |
| Import / Export | Field structure import/export |
| History Records | View submissions |
| Library | Media library |
| Effect List / Options / Style | Form effects, options and styles |
| Result List / Options / Style | Result pages |
| Settings | General, email, anti-spam and other settings |
| License | License management |
Creating a Field
When the module is first added to a page, three default fields (Name, Email, Messages) are created. Click New Field to add more.
Name
The internal field identifier — never displayed on the form. Rules:
- Only letters a-Z and digits 0-9 are allowed
- Names must be unique across fields
Alias
The field's display name shown on the form. Different fields may share the same Alias.
Name vs Alias
Name is the internal unique identifier used, for example, in the [FieldName] email placeholder; Alias is the user-facing display text. For example, Name UserName with Alias "Your Name".
ToolTip
Prompt text displayed inside the input box; it disappears when the user clicks into the field — similar to a placeholder.
Description
Explanatory text below the field providing more detailed help.
Control Type
The field's control type — 18 in total. Selecting a control dynamically shows its specific options. See Field Types Overview.
Required
When checked, the field is mandatory; a localized validation prompt appears if left empty on submission (30+ languages available, see General settings).
Field Width and Inline Layout
Each field can have its own width. Set the width of three fields to 33% each and they will display in one line:
Flexible percentage widths enable compact multi-column layouts.
Editing a Field
Click a field in Field List to open the editor. Besides the basic properties, the right side provides the following panels:
Publish
- Active: whether the field is enabled. Unchecked fields are hidden from the form.
- Start: the field's effective time — immediately (default) or a specific date and time.
- Disable: the field's expiry time — None (default) or a specific time, after which the field is hidden automatically.
Use Start / Disable for time-limited fields, such as an "early-bird signup" field visible only at the start of a campaign.
Permissions
View permissions can be set for each field individually:
- All Users: visible to everyone, including anonymous visitors.
- Permission Roles: check roles; only members of those roles can see the field.
For example, a "Company Name" field can be limited to the Registered Users role, or different fields displayed per membership level.
E-mail Template Options
Controls whether the field's value is included in email templates. Turn it off to hide the field from notification emails (e.g. password-like sensitive fields). See Email Templates & Tokens.
Groups
When using grouped effects (Basic Group / Collapsible Group), assign the field to a group here. See below for creating groups.
Reordering Fields
Open the Field Sort page and drag fields into the desired display order; changes take effect after saving.
Field Groups
Open the Field Groups page to create and edit groups:
Combined with the Effect_02_Basic_Group or Effect_03_Collapsible_Group effect, the form displays fields grouped:
Each group has its own name; the Collapsible Group effect additionally supports expanding/collapsing group content.
Next Steps
- Field Types Overview — all 19 controls
- Form Effects — how the form is displayed
- Adding the Form to the Site — deploying the form to pages