Admins have full access to the Basic Form Editor and Advanced Form Editor, where they can make text edits, structural changes, new pages, new ad-hoc forms, and dependencies, which are all self-service. For changes that connect to other parts of your site (Liquid, business rules, integrations), we recommend consulting Support first, since a downstream connection can break silently if it isn't accounted for.
💡Quick Answers
- Do I need to be in a Draft to edit a form? Yes. Always clone the Active version of the form first to create a Draft. Edits apply to the Draft only, and the Active form continues to serve families until you publish your changes. See "Forms: Basic Form Editor (Text Edits)" for the clone-edit-publish flow.
- What's the difference between the Basic Editor and the Advanced Editor? The Basic Editor is for visual text edits (headers, prompts, comment text) with a styling toolbar. The Advanced Editor is for structural changes, like adding existing fields, setting dependencies, rearranging questions, and editing tables and lists in HTML.
- Why can't I add a brand-new field in either editor? New fields must exist on the Fields page first (Settings > Fields & Data > Fields) before they can be placed on a form. To create custom fields yourself, see "Create and Edit Fields." Once the field exists, add it to the form via the Advanced Editor.
- When should I consult Support instead of doing it myself? Whenever your change touches dependencies, Liquid logic, business rules, an integration, or a recommendation form during peak season. You technically can make the change, but a single broken dependency can cascade silently. When in doubt, submit a request to the support team using the information in the article "Finalsite Enrollment Support: How to Submit Form Requests."
In this Article
- Quick Decision Guide: "I Want To..."
- Detailed Editor Comparison
- When to Consult Support
- Before You Edit: Clone the Active Form
Quick Decision Guide: "I Want To..."
| I want to... | Tool | Step-by-Step Guide |
| Fix a typo or apply bold/italic/underline | Basic Editor | Forms: Basic Form Editor (Text Edits) |
| Add an existing field to a form | Advanced Editor | Forms DIY: Add a question or prompt to a form (adding fields) |
| Add a calendar/date picker | Advanced Editor | Forms DIY: Add a calendar to a form |
| Add a section header, subsection, or comment block | Advanced Editor | Forms DIY: Add text to a form (Sections, Subsections, and Comments |
| Set a dependency ("only show this if X") | Advanced Editor | Field Dependencies & Filters on Forms |
| Rearrange or reorder fields | Advanced Editor | Forms: Advanced Editor |
| Edit a Likert field description (rec forms) | Advanced Editor | Forms: Advanced Editor |
| Remove an option from the Inquiry Call to Action section | Fields page (not the form editor) | Inquiry Form DIY: Remove an Option From the Call to Action Section |
| Add a calendar to the Inquiry Call to Action section | Advanced Editor | Inquiry Form DIY: Add a Calendar To The Call to Action Section |
| Add a brand-new field that doesn't exist yet | Fields page first, then Advanced Editor | Create and Edit Fields |
| Change dropdown options on a field | Fields page (not the form editor), then Advanced Editor if dependencies need to be updated | Create and Edit Fields |
| Add a new page to an existing form | Advanced Editor | Creating New Online Forms and Form Pages |
| Build a brand-new ad-hoc form (Appointment, Document Request, AdHoc, etc.) | Settings > Forms > (+) Add Form | Creating New Online Forms and Form Pages |
| Update a Common, Teacher, or Counselor Recommendation form, Document Request form, or Contract | 🔶 Recommended: consult Support | Finalsite Enrollment Support: How to Submit Form Requests |
| Change dependencies, Liquid logic, or fields tied to integrations | 🔶 Recommended: consult Support | Finalsite Enrollment Support: How to Submit Form Requests |
Detailed Editor Comparison
| Form Element / Action | Basic Editor | Advanced Editor | Consult Support? |
| Edit headers, subheaders, prompts, and comment text | ✅ Yes - Format toolbar | ✅ Yes - HTML only | — |
| Add/edit HTML tables | ❌ No | ✅ Yes - HTML only | 🔶 Recommended |
| Add/edit bulleted or numbered lists | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | — |
| Set dependencies / filter options ("if this, then that") | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | 🔶 Recommended if editing Liquid |
| Change field type (e.g., section → subsection) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes - Delete and re-add in new type | — |
| Edit Likert field descriptions (rec forms) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | 🔶 Recommended |
| Add an existing field to the form | ❌ No | ✅ Yes - Must exist on Fields page | — |
| Add a brand-new field | ❌ No | ❌ No - Create on Fields page first | — |
| Change a field's dropdown values | ❌ No | ❌ No - Edit on Fields page | 🔶 Recommended if used in rules/exports/integrations |
| Add/edit field descriptions | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes - Only at field-creation, not on existing | — |
| Reorder fields or sections | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | — |
| Add a new page to an existing form | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | — |
| Build a brand-new ad-hoc form | ✅ Yes - Settings > Forms > (+) Add Form | — | — |
| Major restructure across multiple pages | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | 🔶 Recommended for large rewrites |
| Common / Teacher / Counselor rec form structure | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | 🔶 Recommended |
| Contract form content | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | 🔶 Highly Recommended |
When to Consult Support
You can technically make most form changes yourself, but Support has visibility into how forms connect to the rest of your site. We recommend a Support consult for:
- Dependencies and Liquid logic. A small change can ripple through other forms, contracts, and payment plans.
- Fields tied to business rules, exports, or integrations. Rules, export configuration, or mapping may need updating alongside.
- Recommendation form changes (Common, Teacher, Counselor). Timing matters during peak season.
- Large restructures spanning multiple pages. It's safer for Support to handle in bulk.
- Contract form content. Tied to billing logic; Support usually owns these.
When you reach out, use the article "Finalsite Enrollment Support- How to Submit Form Requests" for the details to include in your request. Standard turnaround is up to 14 business days; peak seasons may take longer.
Before You Edit: Clone the Active Form
You can't edit the Active form directly; every edit happens on a Draft:
- Settings > Forms → select the form.
- Locate the Active version, click Select, and choose Clone to create a Draft.
- Open the Draft by clicking Edit Form (Basic Editor) or Select > Advanced Editor.
- Make your changes, save as you go, then publish when ready. The previous Active version will be archived.
Full step-by-step instructions can be found in "Forms- Basic Form Editor (Text Edits)" and "Forms- Advanced Editor."
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