# Create a Form ## Description This document provides instructions on how to create a form for a program. ## Prerequisites * A person must have installed any tool that has spreadsheet features in his/her machine * A person must have basic knowledge of working with spreadsheets and Extended Mark-up Language (XML) ## Procedure You can create a form for a program using any tool that has spreadsheet features and XML. * Spreadsheet - for example, Microsoft Excel, Google sheet, and so on Note: For example, here Microsoft Excel is used to create a form for a program. * XML ### Create a form using Microsoft Excel You can use the existing template in XLS format to create a form for a program. 1. Open the template by using MS Excel. The template to create a form for a program is displayed.

The columns and their descriptions are given below. #### Survey worksheet | Column | Description | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | type | This column contains the data type of the field value. For example, the data type can be integer, text, list, image and so on. | | name | The name represents the variable name of the field mapped in back-end | | label::English |

The label is the field name appears in the user interface (front-end).

Note:

You can the added the column, if the field name to be displayed/translated in another languages in front-end. By default, the column name is label::English.

For example, you can add label::French, label::Germany and so on.

| | required | In this column, enter Yes, if the field value is mandatory. | | read-only | Enter yes, if it is read-only field. | | calculation | Enter the formula to calculate the field value, if required. | | default | Enter yes, if any default value to be displayed in the field. | | relevant | This column determines whether a question to be displayed to a user or not. It allows you define branching or skip logic in your forms. | | appearance | Enter the element of the field. For example, the field element can be field-list, field-drop-down, horizontal and so on | #### Choices worksheet This worksheet contains the data based on the field element. For example, here the below image represents the field which has value in list format.

The column and their descriptions are given below: | Column Head | Description | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | list | Enter the field value in list format | | name | The name represents the variable name of the field mapped in back-end | | label::English |

The label is the field name appears in the user interface (front-end).

Note:

You can the added the column, if the field name to be displayed/translated in another languages in front-end. By default, the column name is label::English.

For example, you can add label::French, label::Germany and so on.

| #### Settings worksheet This worksheet contains the history of the form. It contains the title, form id, public key, submission url, instance name, and the version of the form.

The columns and their descriptions are given below. | Column | Description | | --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | form\_title | The title of the form | | form\_id | The unique ID of the form | | public\_key | This is a key required for encrypted forms | | submission\_url | It is a specific URL for uploading data, overrides default | | instance\_name | It allows user to create a dynamic naming convention for each submitted instance | | version | The version history of the form | ### Create a form using XML You can create a form using XML. [Click here](https://docs.getodk.org/xlsform/), to learn about create a form using XML.