Overview 

Simple Field Types

Fields	Description
Simple Fields
Single Line Text	Enter text like name, address, etc
Multi-line Text Area	Allows you to type in text exceeding one line. Ex: Address line 1, Address line 2, etc.
Number	Enter numbers
Email	Add email addresses
Phone	Add contact numbers
Date	Add dates in any format
Percent	Add values in percentages
Currency	Add values in any currency
Radio Buttons	Allows you to insert a set of options from which any one can be chosen.
Dropdown	Allows you to make drop-down lists for the user to choose any option from the list.
Image	Insert an image
Checkbox - Single	Allows you to insert a checkbox wherever necessary.
Checkboxes - Group	Allows you to add multiple checkboxes at one click from which one or more boxes can be checked. Check Additional Notes Section For Grouping checkboxes
File Upload	Allows recipients to upload a file of the configured type and size
Signature & initial	Insert a signature and an initial field
Dynamic or Relational Fields
Lookup	Lookup fields automatically fetch and fill data from a linked data source.
Subform Table	Special type of form field that allows users to enter multiple rows of related information within a single section of the form. It includes built-in plus (+) and minus (–) buttons that let users add or remove rows dynamically while filling the form. Learn More
Watch	A Watch Field is a special type of dependent field that automatically updates its value based on changes made to other Lookup field associated with it.
Advanced Fields
Condition	Conditions let you show different sets of content based on what value a user enters in a particular field.
Formula	formula fields allow you to automatically calculate values based on inputs entered in other fields, similar to formulas in spreadsheets.

Insert Fillable Fields 

1. Open the document, position the cursor in the document, and go to the Automate tab.
   
2. Click on the field to insert it in the document.
   

1. Setup Simple Fields & Properties

Assign Field Label  

1. Click on the inserted field to open its properties panel.
   
2. Enter the desired label name and optionally set a character limit for the field.
   

Set Field Visibility 

1. Visible : Responders can view & interact with these fields.
   
2. Hidden : Invisible to responders but stores necessary data for form processing.
   
3. Visible but does not print : Fields are visible to responders but do not appear in the printed version. Use this setting for providing instructions or additional information that assists users during form completion but isn't needed in the printed records.
   
4. Hidden but printable : Fields contain data for record-keeping that isn’t needed on the screen but should appear in the print. Example: A hidden field might include a transaction ID or a confirmation code that’s useful for printed records but doesn’t need to be shown while filling out the form.
   

Mark Field as mandatory

1. Mandatory fields require the user to fill them before submitting the form. They help ensure critical information is captured.
   
2. Optional fields can be left blank and are used for non-essential input.
   

Enable Read Only 

Set Tab Order  

1.  From the Left Panel: Click Configure custom tab order under Tab order as shown 

1. From the Navigation Panel: You can also set the order by dragging and moving fields under the Field Navigation Panel opened on the right. Open the Field Navigation Panel and select Fillable Fields from the dropdown list.

1. Set the order by dragging and moving fields inside the panel or pick a tabbing order preset click on the tabbing order dropdown as shown in the image and select an option.
   

Assign a Tooltip

Use tooltips to explain what kind of information is expected or give context to the field. This text or hint will display when recipients hover over a field.

Linking Fields 

Linked fields allow you to dynamically connect two or more fields so that the value entered in one field is automatically reflected in another. To Link fields, assign the same label name to the fields to be linked.

2. Setup Dynamic and Relational Fields

Lookup fields automatically fetch and fill data from a linked data source. They’re available only in Fillable Templates.

Setup Lookup Fields

1. Link a data source via the Automate Tab.
   
2. Insert a Lookup Field
   
3. Choose the Lookup Field Type  and Configure the Field to Lookup from as shown
   

Setup Watch Fields (Dependent)

Dependent fields dynamically update based on lookup field value changes. After setting up the Lookup field, all dependent fields must be set to watch it in order to retrieve and display related information.

1. After setting up the Lookup field, Go to each dependent field that should auto-fill based on the Lookup field:
   

1. In the left pane, under Field Properties, look for the option Watch a field
   

1. From the dropdown list, select the Lookup field this field is dependent on.

3. Setup Advanced Fields

Insert Conditional Fields 

1. Click Condition under 'Advanced Fields'.
   
2. Select the field for which you want to set up condition(s) from the dropdown list.
   
3. Select a condition from the drop-down list.
   
4. Specify the condition here and click Insert.
   

Insert Formula Fields 

In Zoho Writer fillable templates, formula fields allow you to automatically calculate values based on inputs entered in other fields, similar to formulas in spreadsheets. These fields are useful for:

1. Calculating totals (e.g., Quantity × Price)
   
2. Auto-filling dates (e.g., Due Date = Start Date + 30 days)
   

1. Place the cursor in the fillable template where you wish to add the formula.
   
2. Click the hamburger icon, go to the Fields tab > Dynamic Fields > Formula.
   
3. In the New Formula dialog that opens, you can define the expression using field references, operators, and functions and click Insert. 

Additional Notes 

Note 1 : Create Checkbox Group 

1. Select more than one single checkbox field you have inserted in your fillable template.
2. Select Convert to checkbox group as shown in the image to merge them into a group.
   

Note 2 : Bulk Populate Dropdown Fields 

When you have a large set of options to add to a dropdown field (e.g., a list of countries, product names, or departments), instead of manually typing each option, you can import them in bulk from a CSV or JSON file.

1. Insert a Dropdown Field in the document, click on it to bring the properties panel.
   
2. In the panel under Dropdown Options, choose SERIES and configure the options as comma separated values or import a csv file or json to populate the dropdown.
   

Troubleshooting Tips / How To

Topic : 1

Description :  Can I place a fillable field in multiple locations in a document and have it update automatically?

Workaround: Fillable Field can be copied and pasted in all required locations in the document. This way fillable fields can be reused in multiple places within the document, and updating one instance will reflect across all of them.

Topic : 2 
Description :   We uploaded this document to Writer, but when inserting a dynamic ‘Today’s Date’ field, we’re unable to change its font style, color, or size.
Solution :  Please insert Text box and then insert the date field in the textbox. When the field is selected as shown, click on settings to format the field 

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