Creating custom task request forms

Organization admins can create custom task request forms to make forms easier to complete, especially for users in your organization less familiar with Benchling. Forms are tailored to the type of task, enabling you to display only relevant fields and name them in ways that make the most sense for your users and organization. You can use field descriptions and sections to add context and further educate requesters. 

Create a custom request form

There are two ways to create custom request forms.

Template Collections page

To create a custom request form:

1. Click your avatar in the bottom-left corner.
2. In Feature Settings, select Template collections.
3. In the left-side panel, click Forms.
4. In the top-right corner, click Create and select Form.

Workflows Task Configuration page

On the Workflows Task Configuration page, click the Forms tab. Forms created here are saved in a template collection.

Build your custom request form

When building a form, you add actions, schemas, sections, and fields in the left-side panel. A preview of your form displays in the right-side panel.

Default form section

New forms have one section by default. You can use this section by adding a name and description, which displays when a requester uses the form, or further customize the section fields.

All fields in this default section are repeatable. This means for every task created in the form, the requester must complete all of the fields each time.

New sections are shared, meaning fields in these sections populate once and are shared across all tasks created from the form. You can then add fields individually to sections you configure.

Customize form fields

You can customize the schema fields shown on a form in a few ways:

• Add descriptions
• Hide optional fields
• Make optional fields required
• Modify field names
• Reorder fields

Add a form to a task

If you have access to forms for the selected Task schema, you can select which form to use when creating a task. To add a form:

1. In the task creation pop-up window, click Form. Note that selecting Table displays the generic Task schema and not the configured form fields.
2. Select the form name from the drop-down menu to the right.
3. Finish creating the task, then click Create.

Note: If users have access to a custom form, they can no longer use the form version of the generic schema.To ensure users always have access to the generic schema, create and share an additional form.