Connect controls to fields
This topic describes how to connect form controls to fields and update controls after changes.
You can connect or “bind” form controls to fields for reading and storing submitted information. The binding (or lack of binding) determines where the submitted information is saved. When a control is bound, the connected field saves the submitted information. When a control is not bound, the form saves the submitted information. To view submitted information for an unbound control, open the form in view mode.
Fields available for binding depend on the type of form. Controls in list forms can be bound to list columns and content type columns only; controls in task forms can also be bound to workflow variables and task columns. Pre-configured controls are available for configured fields; for more information, see Forms controls toolbox.
Caution: Make sure your form only has one control per field. If multiple controls are connected to a single field, then the value of the field is determined by the bottom-most connected control; values entered for other connected controls are lost.
If you change connected fields, then make sure you update associated form controls in previously saved forms. For example, if you save a form containing a Choice control that is connected to a list column of type Choice and then later you change the options in the list column, then make sure you update the associated Choice control in the form, either manually or by re-adding the pre-configured control.
To connect (bind) a control to a field
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In the control configuration settings, select the field from the drop-down list for the connected field: Connected to, ID connected to, or Text connected to.
The control reads the configuration of the selected field.
For instructions on opening control configuration settings, see Configure controls.
To update a control after changing a field, do one of the following
- Manually update control settings.
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Remove the outdated control from the form and re-add the pre-configured control using the Forms controls toolbox.
For more information, see Forms controls toolbox.