As you use the Form Designer Template (FDT for short), you will notice there is a sleekness to the design. This is certainly the case within the Progress Reports section where an administrator can easily build custom forms that collect the exact information they need. Although the function of Progress Reports in the FDT is practically identical in legacy InfoReady templates, there are significant differences in the design and set-up, as well as added features.
To learn more about Progress Reports in the Form Designer Template, please see Progress Reports Guide.
Blank Canvas
- For those who have previously created Progress Reports in legacy (i.e., Funding, General, and Multitrack) InfoReady templates, you may recall the Progress Reports section comes pre-populated with certain sections and questions.
- These areas can be edited or deleted as needed. There is also a box you can check to disable Progress Reports.
- In contrast, the Progress Reports page for FDT will not include pre-populated reports or sections.
- The images below capture the screen display when you first click the Progress Reports button.
Legacy Templates
Form Designer Template
Pages and Sections
- Legacy templates have only one page and three default sections: Funding, Project, and Publications.
- Using FDT, administrators can replicate those as separate pages or sections.
- Additional pages or sections can be used to make the form clearer for awardees.
- Instead of clicking the Add a Section button, there is a special Section form field option.
- To mirror the legacy Publications section, administrators can set up repeated fields and use conditional logic to designate the number of corresponding publication fields an awardee can complete (if they have multiple publications).
- For more information, view: Form Designer Template: Iterative or Repeatable Fields
Legacy Templates | Form Designer Template |
Adding Fields (Questions)
- In legacy templates, administrators click a plus-sign icon to add a new field.
- In the FDT, administrators can add questions from the toolbar in a variety of ways.
- For more information, view: Form Designer Template: Adding & Editing Questions
Legacy Templates | Form Designer Template |
InfoReady Tools (FDT Only)
The Progress Reports section in the Form Designer Template has the same list of Form Field options you also see in the Requirements section of this template.
However, the Additional Requirements section only includes User Lookup and Application Keywords fields.
(It does not include the following, since they are not used in Progress Reports: Co-Applicants, Reference Letters, Primary Organization, and Applicant-Driven Routing Steps.)
File Uploads
Legacy Templates
- There is a pre-populated section at the bottom of the page called "File Uploads".
- If you want to include uploads with the report, you click "Yes" to the question: "Do you want to include file upload(s) with this report?"
- Then select how you want awardees to upload, and give the upload a label and instructions.
- For more information: File Uploads in Progress Reports
Form Designer Template
- Add a file upload form field anywhere in the report.
- You also have the option to specify what file type(s) can be uploaded by the awardee.
- If you want to provide a template file first, use a Supporting Documents field.