FORMS: Update Forms
Learn how to create and configure Update Forms to modify existing contact, company, or staff data in Unificus.
What is an Update Form?
An Update Form is a secure method for modifying information about Contacts, Companies, or Staff members already stored in your CRM. Unlike Kickoff Forms, Update Forms require authentication and cannot be shared publicly.
Update Forms operate in an authenticated manner only—they’re never accessible to unknown visitors. This means you’ll always know who is accessing the form, making submitted data more trustworthy. For publicly accessible forms, consider Kickoff or General Forms instead.
When a Contact or Staff Member completes an Update Form, the information in their CRM or Staff Profile gets updated automatically. Any new data entered will overwrite the previously saved information.
How do I create an Update Form?
Begin by accessing the Forms menu and selecting +Create Form.
Choose Update Forms from the available options. You can also click the icon next to +Create Form to select from a dropdown.
Form Usage: Specify whether the form targets Contacts or Staff members. The default selection is Contacts, but you can switch to Staff using the dropdown arrow.
Changing the usage to Staff/Team will reset all form settings. Click OK to confirm this change.
Form Title: Enter a descriptive name for your form. The default text “Untitled Form” appears initially, but you can replace it with your preferred title.
Allow the Contact or Staff Member to Save the Form as Draft
- Enable this option to let users save incomplete forms and return later. When activated, a “Save Draft” button appears alongside the “Submit” button.
- Users can preserve partial work and finish the form whenever they’re ready. This feature relies on cookies, so clearing the browser cache or disabling cookies may prevent it from working correctly.
Form Header and Footer
You can include custom HTML content above or below your form.
Click the arrow next to Header or Footer to expand the HTML Content Block.
This allows you to insert text, images, and other content.
You can also click the CSS Class section to add custom styling.
Building your Form Fields
Use the dropdown menu to add Default or Custom Fields. Any Custom Fields you’ve previously created appear in this list. To create new fields, click the + button adjacent to the desired Custom Field Type.
Learn more about Custom Fields
After adding a field, rearrange the order by clicking the icon and dragging it into position. Remove a field by clicking the red delete icon.
Each form field displays icons that indicate its type.
Learn more about Form Field Icons
Click the arrow to configure a field’s settings.
Required: The form cannot be submitted until this field is completed.
Placeholder: Text that guides the user on what to enter.
Pre-Fill Value: A default value displayed in the field automatically.
Read Only: The field displays information but cannot be edited.
Hidden: The field remains invisible and cannot be populated.
Subtext: Additional descriptive text below the field label. Use this for explanations or examples. You can add Dynamic Data Placeholders to personalize the message. Click the {x} in the editor to insert them.
Learn more about Dynamic Data Placeholders
Selection Actions: Available for Radio Button, Checkbox, and Dropdown fields, these actions trigger based on user selections.
Learn more about Form Field Choice Actions
CSS Class: Assign custom CSS classes to style the field independently. Separate multiple classes with commas, then target them in the Link/Embed tab.
CSS ID: Add a unique CSS identifier to the field for targeted styling on the Link/Embed tab.
Field Styling & Layout Classes: Use pre-built CSS classes to customize field appearance without writing code.
Field Styling & Layout Classes
These ready-made classes let you arrange fields in columns (up to 4 per row) and emphasize important sections. Mix and match as long as the percentages total 100%.
field_first - Required for the first column when building multi-column layouts
field_half - Expands the field to 50% of available width
field_third - Expands the field to 33.3% of available width
field_fourth - Expands the field to 25% of available width
field_cb - Adds a light grey background with padding
field_important - Adds a soft red background, red border, and padding
Usage Guidelines
For two side-by-side fields, give the left field both classes separated by a comma: field_first, field_half. The right field needs only: field_half. Ensure percentages total 100% per row, and always include “field_first” for the first field in any row.
TIP: Since this form updates existing records, you typically don’t need to include fields like First Name or Last Name.
How do I use Company Custom Fields?
Select a Company Custom Field from the dropdown, or create a new one by clicking the + button. Click the settings icon to manage your custom fields.
When creating a Company Custom Field, choose its visibility:
CRM > Company > Public - Visible to the Primary Contact and all related Contacts
CRM > Company > Private - Visible to the Primary Contact only
Learn more about Custom Fields
How do I use Project Custom Fields?
Select a Project Custom Field from the dropdown or create one by clicking the + button.
Once selected, determine where the field applies using the Apply To dropdown.
Three Application Options
Project Generator - The field applies to a specific Project Generator you select.
Contact’s most recent Project - The field applies to the Contact’s newest project.
Project Title Starting with the following - Search for and select a Project by its title.
IMPORTANT: You must specify an ‘Apply to’ preference for each Project Custom Field. You can set different locations for different fields. Alternatively, enable the Target to choose the project location via the Project Selection option in Advanced Blocks.
How do I use Staff Fields?
When building a Staff Update Form, you can only select from Staff Fields and Advanced Blocks.
Choose from the Staff Fields dropdown to add a Default Staff Field or Staff Custom Field. Create new ones by clicking the + button.
How do I use Advanced Blocks?
For Contact/Company forms, the Advanced Blocks dropdown offers HTML Content, Appointment Block, Signature Block, and Choice Block.
For Staff/Team forms, you can use HTML Content, Signature Block, and Choice Block.
Insert these blocks before, after, or between fields.
HTML Blocks: How do I add custom content?
Use HTML Content Blocks to add text, images, videos, or other media to your form. Position them anywhere—before, after, or between fields. Add as many as needed.
Select HTML Content from the Advanced Blocks dropdown.
The block automatically adds to your form.
Click the icon to expand the block, then select Edit Content.
A WYSIWYG editor opens for content creation. Click the <> icon to switch to HTML mode.
Toggle options allow you to hide content when embedded or show it only for staff submissions.
Signature Block: How do I add a signature field?
Include a Signature Block in your form to collect digital signatures on agreements, policies, or authorizations.
Open Advanced Blocks and select Signature Block.
After adding it, click the arrow to customize the text and labels that appear to form users.
You can add multiple Signature Blocks and customize each one independently.
Appointment Block: Can Contacts schedule appointments while completing the form?
Select Appointment Block from the Advanced Blocks dropdown.
Once added, specify the Appointment Generator(s) under Appointment Scheduling. You can select multiple generators.
Project Selection: Can users choose which project receives the custom field information?
When using Project Custom Fields, add the Project Selection option from Advanced Blocks to let users pick which project (existing or new) receives the field data.
You still need to set ‘Apply Project Generator’ from Automation options, but this removes the preset selection and moves it to the form front-end or staff submission.
Choice Block: Can I customize automations based on user choices?
A Choice Block lets prospects or clients select different paths while submitting an Update Form. For example, offer subscription tiers with different pricing, or add contacts to different circles with unique content.
The block appears as a dropdown menu. Automations and actions triggered depend on the selected choice.
Select Choice Block from the Advanced Blocks dropdown.
The block automatically adds with one default choice.
IMPORTANT: Adding a Choice Block removes the “Form Assignments & Automations” section. Instead, configure automations for each choice by clicking the gear icon next to the choice.
Click the icon to set up what happens for that specific choice.
Click Add New Choice to include additional options.
The Choice Block title appears as the field label, with options appearing in the dropdown.
Ordering Form Fields
Reorder fields using either method:
Click the three-line icon and drag the field to its new position.
Or click the field number and enter the correct position number.
How do I trigger Automations?
With a Choice Block, configure automations for each choice by clicking the gear icon next to that choice. Without a Choice Block, assign automations using the Trigger Automation dropdown at the form’s bottom.
How do I send Email Notifications?
Click the + icon at the form’s bottom to reveal the Send Email Notification button.
Assign the notification to one or more users and/or toggle to email the form submitter.
Click {X} Placeholders for the Subject Line to view available placeholders.
Click {X} to see placeholders for the email body.
Toggle ‘Attach the Form Submission PDF’ to include a form submission copy in the email.
How do I configure Conditional Logic for Fields?
Conditional Logic makes your form dynamic by showing or hiding fields based on what users enter. Depending on the target’s input, different fields can appear or disappear.
All Custom Fields (except File Upload) support Conditional Logic.
While editing, click the icon on the right-side tab to open a panel where you can configure your Conditional Logic.
Learn more about Conditional Logic
How do I configure Embedding options?
During form editing, click the Link / Embed button in the upper right corner.
After saving, access this screen via the Options menu next to the form name and selecting Link / Embed.
Your Default Form Embed Settings apply here by default, but you can adjust them individually.
Learn more about Form Embed Settings
How do I switch between Forms?
The top right displays a dropdown showing your current form’s name. Click it to switch to a different form or form type.
How do I use an Update Form?
On the Link / Embed screen, a Placeholder is available for platform use. Click it to copy the code to your clipboard.
You can also click the form ID in the List View to copy the placeholder.
Use this placeholder in a Portal Page’s Text Block to embed it.
Learn more about the Content Block Editor
IMPORTANT: Forms don’t render in Preview mode. Impersonate a Contact with portal access to see the actual appearance. Update Forms currently work only for Contacts, not Staff Roles.
STAFF SUBMIT
Staff Submit Forms let you or your team add new information or update existing data in the platform.
In the Forms List View, click the Options menu button.
Select Staff Submit, and the Update Form opens in a new tab with a Contact selector. Upon submission, the data updates and all related automations trigger immediately.
How do I view submissions for my Update Form?
While viewing Forms, click the Options menu button and select Submissions.
Alternatively, click the Submissions button while editing, located in the upper right corner.
Each submission displays the submitter’s name, email address, and the exact date and time of submission.
To manage submissions, click the Options menu button next to the one you want to manage.
View: Display the submission details in a modal window.
Download PDF: Save a PDF version of the submission.
Delete: Remove the submission from the platform. Note: This action cannot be reversed.