Sunday, September 28, 2008

Designing a custom form in your Office Live Business application

Log-in to your Office Live account (home.officelive.com)

Click Business Applications (You may have to activate if this is your first time using it. If so, click Activate.)

Select an existing application (Team Workspace)

Or click Add Application to create Your custom applications.

Select Blank Workspace

Click Ok.

In the Title box, type - Web Forms (or you may wish to name it whatever you like)

In the URL box, type, - WebForms (or the name you select)

Click OK.

You should be presented with a blank Dashboard. Click Add.

Select Custom List from the drop down.

In the Name box, type "Menu Opinions" (again you decide on the name)

Enter a description if you like.

Click Create.

Your new list is created. Now it's time to add columns or fields for your form. With the new list selected (Menu Opinions) click Settings then List Settings.

A Title field is already provided. You can choose to either rename this column and/or make it not required to fill-out.

In the Columns section, click Create column

Name your column (e.g. First Name) then select the type of form field. A single line of text is just a normal text field. A Multiple lines of text is a combo text (for entering lots of text). A choice menu is where you create drop-down menu options, radio buttons, and/or checkboxes.

In the additional column settings, you can select yes or no to make the field required to fill-out.

Click Ok.

Repeat this step for each field or column you wish to have.

When you're done creating columns, click the name of the form towards the top (next to Customize).

On the right-hand side of the page, under Connect to Web Site, click Forms > Build a Form.

A dialog box displays to create a form page for your website. Give your form a Page title (e.g. Opinions) and URL (e.g.: opinions.aspx)

Click Build form

If the Office Live Web Designer doesn't display, check your pop-up blocker. Enable the Office Live site in your pop-up blocker and go to your Page Manager (Home> Web Site).

Click Edit to complete your new form.

When the Page Editor window opens with your new form inside, right-click the box in the page and select Properties.

You can either customize the data details or layout and type in a success message towards the bottom (one is already provided).

Click Ok.


Save the Page.


Your custom form is now ready.



Next steps, you may want to provide a confirmation or thank you email to customers who have submitted an opinion. For this you will need to have a workflow in place. PM or contact me via my website - http://norrishughes.com if you would like an automatic thank you to be sent upon submission.



Enjoy!。