DotCMS version 1.9 introduces a new way to create and manage forms through structured content, allowing for improved security and flexibility. Key features include support for multiple form field types, dynamic reporting, and enhanced form handling without the need for HTML coding. This update aims to simplify form creation and boost user interaction while addressing previous limitations such as spam and technical barriers.

1. Forms
as
Structured
Content
dotCMS
version
1.9
introduces
the
ability
to
store
form
submissions
as
structured
content
We
hope
you
enjoy
our
presenta>on
of
this
powerful
new
feature!
Welcome!

2. I
don’t
like
change!

3. What
was
wrong
with
the
old
way?
• Email
harves>ng
from
forms
• Spam
aGacks
• No
server
side
form
valida>on
• Limited
form
repor>ng
• Inability
to
dynamically
interact
with
form
submissions
• Form
code
exposed
on
webpage
• Higher
barrier
of
entry
to
crea>ng
forms

4. 1.9
Supported
Form
Building
Methods
What
got
added?
Legacy
Support?
 Form
structure
type
 Legacy
Form
Builder
 Add
form
content
on
 Legacy
Form
Handling
any
page
 Legacy
Form
Repor>ng
 HTML
free
form
building
 De-­‐coupling
form
code
from
the
page
 Dynamic
form
repor>ng

5. Why
is
it
Cool?

6. Why
is
it
Cool?
• Create
custom
forms
with
no
HTML/Velocity
• Make
complex
forms
with
ease
• Simple,
re-­‐usable
forms
• Create
dynamic
pages
that
react
to
form
submiGed
content
• Dynamic,
customizable
form
repor>ng

7. 24
Form
Field
Types
field
types
include...
Category
fields

 Rela>onships
 Tab
dividers
 WYSIWYG
 Images
 Binary
Files

8. I
fear
this
has
become
complicated

9. How
do
I
create
a
new
form?
1. Make
a
“ Thank
You”
page
2. Create
a
form
structure
3. Fill
in
required
hidden
form
fields
4. Add
the
desired
form
fields
5. Add
the
form
to
a
webpage

10. Placing
a
Form
on
an
HTML
Page
• Forms
can
now
be
added
to
all
content
containers
• Content
Editors
can
now
search
for
and
place
forms
on
webpages
without
having
access
to
form
code
• Permissions
control
which
forms
users
can
see
and
use

11. Form
Crea>on
Made
Easy!
• Let's
Create
a
Sample
Form!

12. Don't
Panic!
You
are
NOT
boxed
in
by
default
styling

13. Styling
Form
Content
Default
Dojo.css
/dotCMS/html/js/dojo/release/dojo/dijit/themes
How
can
I
override
dojo.css
with
my
own?
#set($contentFormMacroCSS
=
'/path/
formstyle.css')

14. New
Methods
in
Form
Repor>ng
• Download
simple
Excel
reports
• View
forms
as
content
• Create
dynamic
form
reports
• Legacy
form
repor>ng

15. Dynamic
Display
of
Form
Submissions
• Generate
#pullContent
pullContent
query
in
("+structureName:Trainin
form
content
search
gFeedback","0","modDat
• Place
a
velocity
e
desc")
widget
on
a
page
that
pulls
form
#foreach
submissions
($formSubmission
in
$list)
.....
#end

16. Review
of
New
Form
Handling
Concepts
 Three
supported
methods
for
crea>ng
forms
(legacy
form
builder,
legacy
form
fields,
forms
as
structured
content)
 Powerful
new
form
fields
 Stop
Email
harves>ng
 Form
submissions
now
stored/retrieved
as
content
 HTML
pages
can
now
pull
content
from
form
submissions
 Simple
form
crea>on

17. Penny
for
your
thoughts
• What
do
you
like
about
the
changes?
• How
can
this
tooling
be
leveraged?
• Possible
use
cases?
• What
is
your
ini>al
reac>on
to
this
feature?