---
title: Distributing forms
slug: distributing-forms
docTags: 
createdAt: 2022-03-11T00:48:27.000Z
---

# Previewing a form

You can use the **Preview** feature to test your forms before sharing.

To preview your form:

1. **Save** your form. 
2. Select **Preview** in the header to test your form before publishing it for use. 
3. Select a Person to preview the form as. This allows any variables or [conditional questions](docId\:FA8qvxE2RIdH9vKxl6SHW) to be displayed as they would be to that person. 
4. Check that your form appears as you would like it to. 
5. Select **Exit Preview** to close the preview.

# Activating a form

By making your form Active, people will then be able to complete the form. You will also be about to use throughout ChartHop in Reviews, Surveys and with Automated Actions.  

To view and complete forms, your employees must have access to ChartHop. For example, you can't send forms to contractors that don't access to ChartHop. See more about [inviting users to ChartHop](docId\:geKO2l3uNeTWyIDSysJfG). 

To publish a form:

1. Navigate to the **Settings** tab of your form.
2. Select **Active** in the **Status** section at the top of the settings.
   - **Active** - Form can collect responses, be displayed on profiles and used in reviews
     - How it will be distributed is determined in the **Distribution** section of the form settings. See [Configuring form settings](docId:0i0EwWz9bTFhzdvsMbPYZ) for more details. 
   - **Inactive** - Form can't collect responses, is not displayed anywhere and can't be used in reviews, surveys, or actions. 
   - **Archived **- the form is hidden from the list of forms across the app. 
3. Select **Save** to activate the form. 



# Form distribution options

There are a variety of ways that you can share your form with employees. 

### Copy and share a link

For forms that are about "The person completing the form" or "No one specifically", you are able to send out a share-able link. The link can be found in **Setting > Distribution**

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zxjhb7-DqnuzAP-lru1l3-kw1kyRbbtb8ZBCIKHvCV9-20241121-205055.png)

### Add it to the top of a profile

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zxjhb7-DqnuzAP-lru1l3-LfXD_m6snJ2LU8Z-upL6V-20241121-205402.png)

For forms that are about "The person completing the form" or "another person," a button to complete the form can be surfaced on the header of the profile. See additional details in [Configuring form settings](docId:0i0EwWz9bTFhzdvsMbPYZ). 

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zxjhb7-DqnuzAP-lru1l3-kEsx7W9ct7aZDVcDIgui0-20241121-205417.png" size="50" width="535" height="282" position="center" showCaption="false"}

### Add it to a custom profile tab

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zxjhb7-DqnuzAP-lru1l3-2xfSjUOu3sSdzBX4psww5-20241121-205907.png" size="78" width="1142" height="467" position="center" showCaption="false"}

If you display form responses on a custom profile tab and the setting form is able to be completed by the person viewing the tab then they will see the "+ button name" at the top of the column. 

### Send it out as part of a  Review or Survey

By sending a form out as part of a Review or Survey, you are able to: add deadlines, add custom messages, track who has completed the form within the context of that survey, & view form results within the context of those. See more details here:

- [Adding forms to a review](docId\:rspAKbnl1fn0t-cXlgvNp) 
- [Adding forms to a survey](docId\:zimPJZsIqsYnXTjjXiUjm) 

### Send it out with an Automated Action

[Automated Actions](docId:6k2uHP22MlgnhaOvzQ0yX) allow you to send out forms based on a recurring schedule or triggered by employee lifecycle events such as a start date, 90 days after a start date or a termination. 

Using the Send form step you can add deadlines, custom messages, ans specify who the form is sent to and who it is about. 

 See this page for additional information about [sending forms vis actions](docId:6k2uHP22MlgnhaOvzQ0yX).

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zxjhb7-DqnuzAP-lru1l3-EQq5GsfB1oPpEgfcsdU3o-20241121-210256.png)