Application Forms

PawPlacer allows you to customize the application forms used throughout your organization operations, including adoption, foster, volunteer, and partner applications.

Overview

Customized application forms help you gather the specific information needed for your organization's processes. Each form type can be tailored to your organization's requirements while maintaining a consistent user experience.

Available Form Types

PawPlacer provides customizable forms for:

• Adoption Applications - For potential adopters
• Foster Applications - For temporary pet fostering
• Volunteer Applications - For volunteer recruitment
• Partner Applications - For rescue partners and organizations
• Surrender Forms - For owner surrenders of animals

Each form type has its own dedicated settings page accessible from the Settings menu.

Customizing Forms

Navigating Form Settings

To customize any application form:

1. Go to Settings > Forms
2. Select the tab for the form type you want to modify (e.g., "Adoption")
3. You'll see a list of form templates for that type

Understanding Form Structure

Each form consists of:

• Sections - Logical groupings of related questions (e.g., "Personal Information," "Home Environment")
• Fields - Individual questions or input fields within each section

Managing Sections

To organize your form:

1. Add Sections - Click "Add Section" and provide a name and optional description
2. Reorder Sections - Use the drag handle (⋮⋮) to drag and drop sections
3. Edit Section Details - Click the edit button to modify titles and descriptions
4. Delete Sections - Click the delete button to remove sections (this will delete all fields within)

Managing Fields

Within each section, you can:

1. Add Fields - Choose from various field types:

• Text - Single line text input
• Textarea - Multi-line text input
• Select - Single selection dropdown
• Multiselect - Multiple selection dropdown
• Boolean - Yes/No buttons
• Address - Address with autocomplete
• Agreement - Terms acceptance with optional signature
• Number - Numeric input
• Date - Date picker
• Tel - Phone number input
• Email - Email input
• State - US state dropdown

2. Configure Each Field:

• Set field label and description
• Mark fields as required or optional
• Add placeholder text
• Define options for select fields

3. Field Arrangement:

• Use drag handles to reorder fields
• Group related fields within sections
• Create logical flow for applicants

Form Templates

PawPlacer offers:

1. Custom Templates - Create and save different form configurations
2. Multiple Templates - Have different forms for different situations

You can:

• Create new templates from scratch
• Duplicate existing templates
• Set a default template for each form type
• Edit template names and descriptions

Special Considerations

Volunteer Forms

Volunteer forms include:

• Standard volunteer information fields
• Customizable sections and fields
• Support for availability scheduling when adding volunteers manually

Adoption and Foster Forms

These forms can incorporate:

• Pet preference questions
• Home environment assessments
• Previous pet experience questions

Implementing Your Forms

Once you've customized a form:

1. All changes are saved automatically as you work
2. The form is immediately available for new applications
3. Set it as default using the template menu options
4. Existing applications continue using their original form structure

Permissions

Only users with form administrator privileges or higher can modify application forms. Other team members can view form structures but cannot make changes.

Best Practices

• Keep forms concise - Ask only for information you'll actually use
• Group related questions - Use sections to organize content logically
• Use clear language - Avoid jargon and complex terminology
• Indicate required fields - Make it clear which information is essential
• Test your forms - Complete the application process yourself to identify any issues
• Consider accessibility - Ensure forms can be completed by people with disabilities