To set up a submission form in Dapple, open a project, click Form Builder, and either edit an existing template form, use the Smart Form Generator to build one from a plain-English description, or start from scratch. Add fields from the Add Item palette, customise the design, configure form-level settings, then publish. Most forms take 15–30 minutes to set up the first time.
What's the fastest way to build a form?
Approach | When to use it |
Edit a template form | Quickest. Every new organisation gets a few starter projects with pre-built forms based on your industry — edit fields, save. If you can't see an appropriate one already, try searching through the template library. |
Smart Form Generator | Best when you know what you want but don't want to drag every field in. Describe the form in plain English; Dapple builds it in seconds. |
Build from scratch | Most control. Drag each field in from the Add Item palette. It's a complete blank canvas and will therefore take the longest. |
The quickest way is using an existing template and tweaking that. Choose from the library
Or duplicate an existing project:
Step 1: Open Form Builder
Open the project from the Projects section.
Click the three-dot menu on the project card → Settings (or open the project and click into it).
Open Form Builder.
Step 2: Choose a starting point
If you want to edit an existing form, click Edit on any field to change it, or click Duplicate to copy a field and edit the copy. To build from scratch instead, click New → New Form.
Step 3 (optional): Use the Smart Form Generator
Inside the New Form flow, you'll see a description field. Write a plain-English description of the form you want and Dapple will generate it. Full guide: How to Use the Smart Form Generator
Step 4: Add fields
Click Add Item to drop a field into the form. Available field types include:
Title — headings to organise your form into sections.
Accordion — collapsible sections, ideal for submission guidelines or terms.
Text — formatted block of static text.
Image / YouTube — embed visual or video content.
Short / Long — single-line and multi-line text inputs.
Date — date picker.
Single / Dropdown / Checkbox — choice fields.
File Upload — for attachments (full file-type guide cross-linked).
Payment — Stripe-powered submission fees, tip jars, or add-ons.
Rating — numeric score input.
Codes — set up access codes to enter other forms
Full reference: What Are the Different Form Fields
Tip: Duplicating fields is a quick way to set up.
Step 5: Group fields into Steps (optional but recommended for long forms)
If your form is more than 8–10 fields, split it into Form Steps so creators see one section at a time. Full guide: How to Set Up Form Steps
To customise the different steps, select Design & Settings > Steps
Step 6: Add conditional logic (optional)
Use conditional logic to show or hide fields based on previous answers. Useful for entries where the number of works changes the upload fields, or where 'Other' selections reveal a text input. This is also the best way to customise the number of entries with the corresponding payment. Full guide: Setting Up Conditional Logic
Step 7: Customise design and settings
In the Settings & Design tab, choose a Header Image, Background image or colour to match your brand. In the Settings tab, configure:
Maximum number of submissions per creator.
Whether creators can save drafts and finish later.
The thank-you message creators see after submitting.
Configure steps
See the history of all your form versions
Step 8: Preview and publish
Click Save new version to commit your changes. Use the public link to preview the form in a new tab as a creator would see it. When you're happy, switch the project's Visibility to Public or Private.
Where to go next