Making changes to existing forms and fields in Events

If you already have live forms in Events and want to make updates, it’s important to understand how forms, fields, and layouts work together.

 

This article explains how to make changes confidently while taking existing data into account, and links to more detailed guides for each scenario.

 

Before you start

Most questions on your form connect to a field in the Object Manager. This link ensures responses flow correctly into your event records and dashboards.

When you edit a form, consider not only what reporters see but also how your changes may influence the way data is collected and stored.

 

For some updates, such as rewording or moving questions, there’s no effect on your data.

For structural edits, like adding or removing fields, it’s best to plan your changes carefully or test them in a duplicated form first.

 

🔗 For more information on how field mapping works, see this article.

 

Common changes and how to handle them

Here are the most common updates you might want to make to your existing forms, with links to step-by-step articles for each one:

 

✏️ Content and layout updates

These changes affect how the reporting form and Event Record look and feel for users, but don’t change how data is stored.

• How to reorder and reword form questions
  See how to reorganise or edit the wording of questions in your form without affecting your existing data.

• How to edit guidance text
  Update section guidance and help text to make forms clearer for reporters.

• How to restructure or reorder the layout of fields in the Event Record
  See how to adjust the layout and order of fields in the Event Record using the Layout Editor.

⚙️ Structural and data-related changes

These changes affect how your form connects to stored data, so it’s best to review their impact before publishing.

• How to update drop-down options
  Learn how to add, rename, or deactivate dropdown options while keeping your field mapping and reporting intact.

• How to add new questions to your form and map them correctly
  Follow the steps to add a new question, create its corresponding field, and map them together in Object Manager.

• How to add new fields to your Event record
  Learn how to create new fields in Object Manager to capture additional information in your event records.

• How to delete and hide fields
  Understand when to remove or deactivate unused fields and how it impacts existing event records.

• Understanding how forms, fields, and layouts connect
  Get a simple explanation of how data moves between the form builder, Object Manager, and event record layouts.

 

Best practice when editing forms

• Plan updates first. Note what you want to change and which fields may be affected.

• Keep forms simple. Avoid unnecessary questions or options that make reporting harder to manage.

Tip: You can make most text or layout updates directly in your live form. For anything that changes how data is stored or displayed in the Event Record, take a moment to plan or test before publishing.