After adding and authenticating an SQL Server Connection, you can add Data Source Connectors to pull data from a database or push data on form submissions using Form Connectors, which is what this article is about.
Our platform lets you quickly and easily connect your Form entries to an SQL Server database, enabling one-way synchronization: Form entries are pushed to tables in the database.
Adding the Connector
Follow these steps to add the connector to your specific form:
- Navigate to App Workshop > Forms.
- Hover over your desired form and click the Connect icon.
- Click the Add Connector button (top-right).
- Select SQL Server from the options.
Note: The page will refresh with the connector added. Changes are not live until you click Save.
Quick Access Tip
If you are already inside the Form Builder or Settings view, you don’t need to go back to the main menu. Simply click the Connectors tab located directly under the form title at the top of the screen.
Configuring the Connector
After adding the form connector, the following configuration options are available.
Schema
Enter the optional SQL Server database schema where the table is stored. If kept empty, the default schema will be used.
Data Columns
Define which form fields to populate as row values in your target dataset.
Upon your first Form entry, each selected Form field will auto-create a column of the same name if it does not already exist.
Table Name
Specify the database table that will receive entry data for this Form.
If left blank, a default table name will be generated using the Form External ID.
Auto Maintain Table
When enabled, our platform will create and maintain the target database table, and automatically add _lastupdated and _deleted columns.
This is a recommended setting, as columns will be automatically added/altered as the Form design changes between versions.
When not enabled, you’ll be able to enter your own Custom SQL to maintain table columns.
User URL Media Fields
If enabled, media filenames will be converted to their full URL.
Replace Placeholders with Display Text
By default, placeholders will be replaced with the raw answer value from the form entry.
For example, Date values are stored as UTC in ISO 8601 raw format, e.g., 2015-10-23T15:05:07Z.
Select this option if you wish to replace it with user-visible text, e.g., 23-Oct-2015 05:05:07, assuming your time zone is UTC-10.
Fill Repeat Rows
Repeated data (e.g., repeatable pages and table rows) will be exported as separate rows.
When this option is selected, all non-repeat answer values are copied into each repeat row.
This can be useful in cases where other systems are importing these rows and need to process all answer values for each repeated row.
If you wish to have NULL values for non-repeat answers in repeat rows instead, deselect this option.
The following are NOT affected by this option:
- ENTRYGUID, ENTRYGUIDFULL, ITEMNO, and UTCNOW
- Fields that appear within a table or repeating page
- Formulae that reference a repeating field
Anonymize Personal Data
If enabled, data from fields marked as Personal Data will be converted to a non-human-readable format to aid privacy.
At this stage, you’re ready to go. Hit Save in the top-right corner to save your changes and activate the Connector.
Connector Logs #
After devices are synced and a user uploads a form, form-captured data should be pushed to your SQL Server database, which can be confirmed in the external system or by viewing the form’s connector logs on the platform’s Data Feed views.
