# Export to form

**Category:** Web

**Version:** 1.0

**Last updated:** February 2, 2026

**Author:** Any2Info

***

### Description

The **Export To Form** node is used to create or update forms based on incoming rows from a dataflow.

Each incoming row can result in:

* The creation of a new form
* An update of an existing form
* Or the row being ignored

depending on the provided **FormID**, **Reference**, and node configuration.

The node also supports creating and updating **sub-forms**, adding **attachments**, and assigning **users and user groups** to forms.

***

### Configuration Options

| Setting         | Required | Description                                                                       |
| --------------- | -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Connection      | Yes      | Select the connection to the platform where the forms are stored.                 |
| Collection      | Yes      | Select the collection that contains the form.                                     |
| Form definition | Yes      | Select the form definition that determines the structure of the form.             |
| Advanced        | No       | Opens a configuration screen where incoming columns can be mapped to form fields. |
| AllowNew        | No       | Allows the creation of new forms.                                                 |
| AllowUpdate     | No       | Allows updating existing forms.                                                   |
| Form template   | No       | ID of an existing (already filled) form that is used as a template for new forms. |

***

### Form Identification

Existing forms are identified using **FormID** or **Reference**.

#### FormID and Reference behavior

| FormID value                    | Result                                                                                    |
| ------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| FormID > 0                      | The existing form with this ID is updated. A new form is never created.                   |
| FormID = 0                      | A new form is always created.                                                             |
| FormID = null / empty / invalid | The row is ignored.                                                                       |
| FormID < 0                      | Rows with the same negative FormID are treated as a single form. One new form is created. |
| Reference                       | Existing form is updated. If the reference does not exist, a new form is created.         |

**Note:**\
Reference values are **case sensitive**.\
If the Reference field is not enabled on the form definition, updating via Reference is not possible.

***

### Attachments

Attachments can be added to a form using the **paperclip icon**.

This opens a mapping screen where:

* A **Base64 column** containing the file content must be selected.
* A **filename column** containing the file name must be selected.

If the attachment is a **ZIP file**, extraction can be enabled.\
When enabled, the ZIP file is unpacked and all files inside the archive are added individually as attachments.

***

### Assigned Users and User Groups

Forms can be assigned to **users** and/or **user groups**.

This can be configured via the **Assignment** dialog:

* Fixed users or user groups can be selected.
* Or an incoming column can be mapped that contains user or group IDs.

Assignments can affect form visibility in the form viewer.

***

### Output

The node adds the following output field:

| Field      | Description                                                          |
| ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| MainFormId | Contains the affected Form ID of the main form (created or updated). |

***

### Tips & Best Practices

* **Sub-forms**\
  When creating or updating sub-forms, always start from the **main form**.\
  Select the main form as the form definition and navigate to the sub-form via the tree structure.
* **Updating existing forms**\
  When updating a form and the **FormID is known**, use this FormID as the **Reference** to ensure the correct form is updated.

***

### Errors & Troubleshooting

**Forms are created but not visible in the web application**

* The *Assign User* field may not be filled in.
* Or the form is assigned, but the web application is filtering on assigned users.

**Error: field is not writable**

* The target field is not writable (for example, a calculated or read-only data field).

***

### Changelog

| Version | Date             | Change                               |
| ------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| 1.0     | February 2, 2026 | Initial documentation version added. |