neatComponents: website development system
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Data Entry mode and Edit mode 
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The Form component has two modes, accessible from the Toolbox:

  • 'View Form' mode
  • 'Configure Form' mode

When you browse to the component you are initially in View form mode. If you are logged in with sufficient permission you can use the Toolbox to switch to Configure Form mode.

View Form mode

This provides the normal view of the Form. Typically, users will see a list of existing records in the Form, with options for editing existing records, deleting them, or adding new ones.

Configure Form mode

This provides the configuration screens that allow you to define the fields in the Form and the Events that get triggered when a record is added or edited.


The View Form mode is a built-in Data Entry Form, automatically tied to the Form. Additional Data Entry Form components can be added to the site, and tied to the Form. Whilst it might seem that one Data Entry Form is sufficient per Form, the provision of several Data Entry Forms tied to the same Form provide additional flexibility, for example:

  • Allowing visitors to fill in one Data Entry Form, whilst Administrators can write notes in extra fields about the visitors' submissions, and check a box to allow the display of the record contents elsewhere on the site (ie moderation)
  • Breaking a long Form into several stages, or pages, to make it appear less daunting.
  • To provide 'premium' users with a more sophisticated Form - for example in a social networking site, to allow them to have a more detailed profile
  • To provide 'beginner' users with an easier, shorter, form, to encourage usage.
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Managing data