Advanced Features

Using URL Parameters

Pre-fill form fields and edit existing records using URL parameters. Perfect for workflows and integrations.

What Are URL Parameters?

URL parameters allow you to pre-fill form fields when someone opens your form. This is incredibly useful for:

  • Pre-filling known information (like a customer name or order number)
  • Creating personalized form links for specific users or workflows
  • Editing existing Quickbase records
  • Integrating with other systems and workflows

How to Use URL Parameters

Add parameters to your form URL using the format: ?field_name=value

Basic Example

https://forms.syncforms.io/forms/your-form-id?first_name=John&last_name=Doe&email=john@example.com

This will pre-fill the "first_name", "last_name", and "email" fields with the provided values.

Field Names with Spaces

If your field label has spaces or special characters, use underscores or URL encoding:

https://forms.syncforms.io/forms/your-form-id?company_name=Acme%20Corp&phone_number=555-1234

Spaces can be replaced with underscores (_) or URL encoded as %20

Edit Mode: Updating Existing Records

Use the edit=recordId parameter to update an existing Quickbase record instead of creating a new one.

Edit Mode Example

https://forms.syncforms.io/forms/your-form-id?edit=2498&first_name=John&last_name=Doe

This will:

  1. Load the existing record (ID: 2498) from Quickbase
  2. Pre-fill all fields with the current record data
  3. Pre-fill additional fields from URL parameters (first_name, last_name)
  4. When submitted, update the existing record instead of creating a new one

How Edit Mode Works

When you include edit=recordId, SyncForms will:

  • Fetch the existing record from Quickbase
  • Pre-fill all form fields with the record's current values
  • Allow you to modify any fields
  • Update the existing record when you submit (instead of creating a new one)

Reference Fields & Proxy Fields

For reference fields (parent-child relationships) and proxy fields, you can pre-fill using the Quickbase Record ID:

Example: Pre-filling a Company Field

https://forms.syncforms.io/forms/your-form-id?company_name=5096

If "company_name" is a proxy/reference field:

  • The value 5096 is the Quickbase Record ID from the parent table
  • SyncForms will query the parent table to find the record with ID 5096
  • The dropdown will show the user-friendly value (e.g., "Acme Corporation")
  • On submit, it will send the Record ID (5096) to the Related field in your child table

💡 Pro Tip

You can combine edit mode with URL parameters. The form will load the existing record's data, and URL parameters will override specific fields. Perfect for updating records with new information!

Common Use Cases

1. Email Links with Pre-filled Data

Send personalized form links in emails:

https://forms.syncforms.io/forms/form-id?customer_name=Acme%20Corp&order_number=12345

2. Editing Existing Records

Create links to edit specific records:

https://forms.syncforms.io/forms/form-id?edit=2498

3. Workflow Integration

Link from other systems with context:

https://forms.syncforms.io/forms/form-id?project_id=789&assigned_to=john@example.com&priority=high

Best Practices

  • URL Encode Special Characters: Use %20 for spaces, %26 for &, etc.
  • Use Field Labels: Parameter names should match your field labels (with spaces replaced by underscores)
  • Test First: Always test your URL parameters in preview mode before sharing
  • Keep URLs Short: For very long URLs, consider using a URL shortener or only including essential parameters

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