Customize your Forms

Using AI to Write Form Text Blocks

Form Text Blocks are the instructional and contextual content you add inside a ChartHop form. They're not fields — they're the copy that helps employees understand what a form is asking them to do.

Used well, they reduce confusion, set expectations, and make forms feel less like bureaucracy and more like a conversation. AI can write all of it. You just need to know what each section needs to say.

What Form Text Blocks support

Form Text Blocks accept HTML or Markdown. Both work. Which one you use depends on how much formatting you need.

Use Markdown when you want clean, simple text: a short intro, a bulleted list of instructions, a section divider. It's faster to write and easier to update.

Use HTML when you need branded styling: a callout box with a background color, a header that matches your visual identity, or a more structured layout.

Both support {{fieldCode}} syntax to pull in live employee data.

No JavaScript. No external stylesheets. HTML must use inline CSS only.

Common uses

An intro block at the top of a form explaining its purpose and what happens after submission

Section headers that divide a long form into logical parts

Instructional callouts ("All responses are confidential" or "This section is for managers only")

Contextual notes that appear mid-form ("Your answer here will be shared with your manager during calibration")

A closing block with next steps or a timeline

Before you start

Collect these inputs before you open an AI tool.

What to collect	Example
Form name	"Q1 Performance Review," "New Hire Onboarding Checklist"
Where the block appears	Top of form, mid-form section header, closing block
What it needs to communicate	Purpose, instructions, deadlines, confidentiality note
Tone	Warm and encouraging, clear and direct, neutral and informational
Any dynamic fields to include	{{first.name}}, {{manager.name}}
Output format preference	Markdown (simple) or HTML (branded)

Dynamic fields you can use

Field	What it shows
{{first.name}}	Employee's first name
{{last.name}}	Last name
{{job.title}}	Job title
{{manager.name}}	Manager's name
{{department.name}}	Department

The prompt to give your AI

For Markdown output (simple, fast)

You are helping me write a text block for a ChartHop form. Output format: Markdown only. No HTML. This block will appear [at the top of / as a section header in / at the bottom of] a form called "[YOUR FORM NAME]." It should: - [DESCRIBE WHAT YOU NEED: intro paragraph, bulleted instructions, confidentiality note, next steps, etc.] - Be short — this is a form, not a document. 3–5 sentences max unless I ask for more. - Use {{first.name}} if it makes sense to address the employee directly Tone: [warm and encouraging / clear and direct / neutral] Output only the Markdown. No explanation.

For HTML output (branded styling)

You are helping me write a styled text block for a ChartHop form. Rules: - Use only inline CSS — no <style> tags, no external stylesheets - No JavaScript - Dynamic fields use {{fieldCode}} syntax — keep these exactly as written My brand details: - Primary color: [YOUR PRIMARY HEX] - Accent / background color for callout boxes: [YOUR ACCENT HEX or a light tint] - Font: [YOUR FONT NAME], with Arial as fallback This block will appear [at the top of / as a section header in / at the bottom of] a form called "[YOUR FORM NAME]." It should: - [DESCRIBE WHAT YOU NEED: a styled intro box, a callout with an icon or colored border, a section divider with a label, etc.] - Be short — forms need to feel approachable, not overwhelming - Use {{first.name}} if it makes sense Output only the HTML. No explanation.

Tips for better results

Shorter is almost always better. A text block that takes 30 seconds to read is a text block employees will skip. Ask the AI to keep it tight and cut anything that isn't load-bearing.

Tell the AI the context. "This appears at the top of a performance review form that employees complete about themselves" gives it everything it needs to get the tone and content right.

Use Markdown for most things. Unless you specifically need brand colors or a callout box, Markdown is faster and easier to maintain. It also tends to look cleaner inside ChartHop's form UI.

Ask for a Markdown and HTML version. If you're not sure which you want, ask the AI to give you both. Pick the one that looks better when you preview the form.

Conditional logic

If a form serves multiple employee types or roles, you can show or hide text blocks based on employee data. ChartHop uses {% if %} / {% endIf %} blocks for this.

{% if {{employment.type}} == 'Full-time' %} This section applies to full-time employees only. {% endIf %}

{% if {{department.name}} == 'Sales' %} Your commission structure is outlined in your comp agreement on file. {% endIf %}

Give the AI the condition and the content you want shown:

Add a conditional block that only shows if {{department.name}} equals 'Sales'. When it does, show: [YOUR CONTENT] Use ChartHop's conditional syntax: {% if [condition] %} ... {% endIf %}

Adding it to ChartHop

Open the form you're editing

Add a Text Block element where you want the content to appear

Paste your HTML or Markdown into the editor

Preview the form to check layout and confirm field codes render correctly

Save the form