# Create New Webform

This guide explains how to create a new webform on your Varbase site, either from a template or by building one from scratch.

## Creating a Webform

### Step 1: Navigate to the Webform Management Page

1. Go to **Structure > Webforms** in the admin navigation sidebar, or navigate to `/admin/structure/webform`.
2. Click the **Add webform** button.

### Step 2: Set Basic Information

1. **Title**: Enter a descriptive title for the webform (e.g., "Contact Form," "Event Registration," "Feedback Survey").
2. **Administrative description**: Optionally add a description to help identify the form's purpose in the admin interface.
3. **Status**: Set the form to Open (accepting submissions) or Closed (not accepting submissions).
4. **Category**: Optionally assign a category for organizing webforms in the admin listing.
5. Click **Save** to create the webform.

### Step 3: Build the Form

After saving the basic information, you are taken to the form builder:

1. Click **Add element** to add a field to the form.
2. Browse or search the available element types:
   * **Basic elements**: Text field, textarea, email, number, telephone.
   * **Advanced elements**: Date, time, select, radios, checkboxes, autocomplete.
   * **File upload elements**: Managed file, image upload, document upload.
   * **Composite elements**: Name, address, contact information (multi-field groups).
   * **Markup elements**: Static HTML, horizontal rule, message text.
   * **Layout elements**: Fieldset, details, container, flexbox for organizing form structure.
3. Select an element type to add it to the form.
4. Configure the element:
   * **Title**: The label displayed to users.
   * **Required**: Whether the field must be filled out.
   * **Description**: Help text displayed below the field.
   * **Default value**: A pre-filled value.
   * **Validation**: Rules for acceptable input (e.g., minimum length, pattern matching).
   * **Conditions**: Show or hide this field based on other field values.
5. Click **Save** to add the element to the form.
6. Repeat for each additional field.

### Step 4: Arrange Fields

* Drag and drop fields in the form builder to reorder them.
* Nest fields within fieldsets or containers for logical grouping.
* Use the form preview to check the layout.

## Using a Template

Instead of building a form from scratch, you can start from a template:

1. On the **Add webform** page, look for the option to use a template.
2. Browse available templates (e.g., the Professional Business Contact template included with Varbase).
3. Select a template to create a new webform pre-populated with the template's fields and configuration.
4. Customize the form as needed. Add, remove, or modify fields.
5. Save the webform.

## Configuring Form Settings

After building the form, configure its settings:

1. Click the **Settings** tab on the webform.
2. Key settings include:
   * **General**: Form status (open/closed), submission limits, and access controls.
   * **Form**: Submit button text, preview page, confirmation message or redirect URL.
   * **Submissions**: How submissions are stored and managed.
   * **Emails/Handlers**: Email notification configuration (see [Setting up Email Handlers](https://docs.varbase.vardot.com/11.0.x/content-designers/webforms/setting-up-email-handlers)).
   * **Access**: Control who can view, submit, and manage the form.
   * **CSS/JS**: Custom CSS or JavaScript for the form (advanced).

## Testing the Form

Before making the form available to visitors:

1. Click the **View** tab to see the form as users will see it.
2. Submit a test entry to verify that:
   * All fields work as expected.
   * Required field validation is enforced.
   * Conditional logic shows and hides fields correctly.
   * The confirmation message or redirect works.
   * Email notifications are sent (if configured).
3. Check the **Results** tab to confirm the test submission was recorded.
4. Delete the test submission when done.

## Tips

* Keep forms as short as possible. Only ask for information you truly need.
* Use clear, descriptive labels and help text for each field.
* Group related fields together using fieldsets.
* Use conditional logic to hide fields that are not relevant to all users, keeping the form streamlined.
* Always test the complete form workflow, including submission confirmation and email notifications, before going live.