The Save & Resume feature allows end-users to save a partially completed form and come back at a later date/time to complete and submit.
Note: If you're using a combination of an older version of our form builder & file upload/signature fields, end users will NOT be able to have their files saved to the form until the form is submitted to the database. If you'd like your end users to have the ability to upload their files & signatures fields in the event that they need to save their form, please check out this article for updating your form version and this article for making sure you're using the most current version of our file upload field.
Turning Save & Resume On/Off
You can turn this feature on/off by going into the Form > Builder > Form Extras (located on the right side as seen below) > Save and Resume. In this window, toggle the "Save & Resume" option. You may also toggle the "Progress Indicator" option if you would like to show users where they are in the process of completing the form.
With this feature enabled, the end user will be able to save their partially-completed form by capturing the unique form URL. They may also choose to have this link emailed to them. When they are ready to revisit the form, they will simply click or paste the unique form URL into a browser, and the form will reload with any fields that had already been filled in. If they make any changes to the form, they will want to re-save and resend the form URL to themselves.
The link for saving a form can be found at the bottom of the live form.
The user will have 30 days to return and finish filling out the form, after which time their data will be lost. This timer is reset every time the user re-saves the form. Once a Save and Resume link is made to finish the form and then click 'Submit', then the link will no longer be active.
Save & Resume on forms with Data Encryption
If Data Encryption is enabled on your form you can still utilize the Save & Resume feature, however, your submitters will have to set up a password when creating their link. They will have to remember this password in order to get back into their form to complete it and there is no way to recover or reset this password once they have chosen it. Forgetting or losing the password will require submitters to start the submission over from the beginning.
Save & Resume FAQs:
What if my form is encrypted?
If form encryption is turned on for a form, the user will need to create a temporary password when they click "Save and Return Later". That password will need to be entered by that user each time they come back to the form URL.
Note: This password is not the same password as the encryption password set up on the form in Settings > Security. The encryption password set up on the form is just for viewing submissions in the Forms application. Not for the individual end users save and resume link
If someone loses the link to their partially completed form, can Formstack resend this to them?
A: At this time we do not have the ability to resend the links of partially completed forms.
Can I view forms that have not been submitted or check the status of these forms?
A: No, the partially completed forms and data are not visible until the form has been submitted to the database.
Do I need to save and send myself the link each time I work on the form?
A: Yes, if you fill out the form more, be sure you save and send yourself the updated URL link to the partially completed form, as this new link will contain the most recent changes.
If my form is embedded, will the Save & Resume link redirect them back to the embedded form?
A: At this time the Save & Resume function must send returning Users to a Formstack-hosted link where they can access their previously filled in form data.
Can I change the Sender's Email or Name on my save and resume link?
A: No, Currently we do not provide a feature that will allow you to change the name or email address of the sender. This information is pulled from the account.
Example:
If the Form Creator is James Gold, the save and resume link will state that the email is from James Gold.
Can I customize my save and resume link?
A: No, links are not customizable.
Is it possible to extend the 30 day limitation for save and resume links?
A: Not at this time, but the current work around for someone taking the form is to go back into the form, make one change and then hit save and resume again; effectively giving a fresh new 30 days link.
How do event fields work with save & resume?
A: Event fields do not retain the quantity value while the submission is saved. This is so that your inventory is not locked for 30 days in the case that the submitter does not return or chooses not to complete the submission.
Can I use a save & resume link associated with a disabled form?
A: No, a disabled form will prevent the link from working.