I want to create a unique ID for each submission with different data sets without submitting the entire form

  • imccauley
    Asked on March 24, 2017 at 11:31 AM
    I'm still having trouble with my second request. 

     

    I have users who will be using the same email address to edit different forms at the same time. I want to create a unique ID for each submission of form one so that users can enter different sets of data in form two without submitting the entire form. 

     

    I've created a hidden "userID" field in my form one and I see the same name in my form two, but I'm not sure if I'm carrying over the correct data I want because the value for both forms seems to be just the form number, not differentiated from one entry to the next. 

     

    Can you help me with this issue? I need to A) determine if the userID I've added to form one is the right type to distinguish one entry from another (despite being sent to the same email address) and B) pass the information through from form one to form two. 

  • Ashwin JotForm Support
    Replied on March 24, 2017 at 2:22 PM

    Hello imccauley,

    I am not sure if I have understood your question correctly. 

    I've created a hidden "userID" field in my form one and I see the same name in my form two, but I'm not sure if I'm carrying over the correct data I want because the value for both forms seems to be just the form number, not differentiated from one entry to the next. 

    I did check your account to understand your requirement but you only have one form in your account. I am unable to locate the second form. 

    I would suggest you to please explain your requirement a bit more in detail and we will surely help you.

    We will wait for your response.

    Thank you!

  • imccauley
    Replied on March 27, 2017 at 8:19 AM

    Hi, both forms were listed in my original question. The second form is a shared file so it isn't immediately visible under my user account. 

     

    Both forms are now linked below. Thank you. 

    Form #1: https://form.jotform.com/70745590136155

    Form #2: https://form.jotform.com/62084372430147

  • Ashwin JotForm Support
    Replied on March 27, 2017 at 9:49 AM

    Hello imccauley,

    I did test both the form you have mentioned and found that the "Save form and Continue later' features seems to work as expected. I did submit first form which gave me session URL of second form. I went to second form with given URL, input value in page 1 & 2 and the input data was saved correctly. Please check the screenshot below:

    I want to create a unique ID for each submission with different data sets without submitting the entire form Image 1 Screenshot 20

    Here is the session URL of second form: https://form.jotform.com/62084372430147?session=ashwin.dhundale.in@gmail.com&email272=ashwin.dhundale.in@gmail.com 

    I checked your previous question:

    Can you help me with this issue? I need to A) determine if the userID I've added to form one is the right type to distinguish one entry from another (despite being sent to the same email address) and B) pass the information through from form one to form two. 

    A) Do you mean to say that you are trying to create session URL using same email address? Please note that if you create multiple sessions with same email address and the second form is not yet submitted, it will always display previously saved input data in form fields.

    B). As displayed in the screenshot above, the email address form form one is passed to form two successfully.

    Thank you!

  • imccauley
    Replied on March 28, 2017 at 4:30 PM

    Hi Ashwin, 

     

    Yes, I'm trying to create a session URL that enables multiple sessions with the same email address prior to submission. 

     

    Why is it not possible to enable this function? I'm effectively trying to create a custom session dependent upon two pieces of core information rather than one (the email address). 

     

    I'm hesitant to create more forms than I already have just to enable to the save function for my users. Many of my users have multiple parishes and enter data simultaneously, checking several forms at the same time to verify accurate information. I bypassed this issue using autosave on different web browsers last year, but it was extremely inefficient and did not save information in fields such as pdf uploads and signatures. 

     

    If you can think of an alternative solution, please let me know. 

     

    Thanks, 

     

    Irene

  • jonathan
    Replied on March 28, 2017 at 7:48 PM

     I'm trying to create a session URL that enables multiple sessions with the same email address prior to submission. 

    I also can confirm that this is not possible if you were only going to use the same email address as the session ID. The session ID (email field) is the index key used in generating the session. So if it is just the same ID, the data that will be pulled from the session will be base on the session ID.

    If you want to create multiple custom session URLs, you will need to use multiple/different email addresses as the session ID.

    What you may want to try is to just use different email addresses to create multiple session but add a hidden field in the 2nd form that will function as the index key of that session.

    So even if the multiple different session had been submitted, the hidden index key can be same for each submissions.

    Hope this help. Let us know how we can be of further assistance.

  • imccauley
    Replied on March 29, 2017 at 8:12 AM

    This needs to be a feature considered in Jotform development. If I was able to create custom session URLs that enabled multiple "draft" sessions prior to submission, it would dramatically increase the quantity of data storage I would purchase from Jotform. I am extremely disappointed to learn that this is not already a feature. 

    The hidden index key is not useful to my purposes--the intent was to create a form that allowed different update emails to the same email address. 

    In addition, the "save" functionality on Jotform seems to be cripplingly limited. I don't mind doing a little more work on the back end to feed information from one form to another, but when the user experience is compromised by the save limitations, that's when I really have a problem. We will be looking into other options as this problem remains unresolved. 

  • Ashwin JotForm Support
    Replied on March 29, 2017 at 11:17 AM

    Hello imccauley,

    We can create a feature request and forward it to our backend team but I do not believe this is something possible as you would need a unique identifier to save the session. I would like to propose a different solution.

    Please note that you do not need to use email address to create session URL. I would suggest you to use some other field to generate session URL but only condition is that it should be unique. For example, you can use "Random Value Generator" widget to generate a unique ID for every submission which can be used to create session ID. 

    Please take a look at the following cloned form of your first form and see if this works as expected:  https://form.jotform.com/70874528880973 

    Here is the URL of second form where I created one session using random value:  https://form.jotform.com/62084372430147?session=9U0WQ74CX2&email272=ash@ashwin.com

    Thank you!

  • Ashwin JotForm Support
    Replied on March 29, 2017 at 11:20 AM

    Hello imccauley,

    We can create a feature request and forward it to our backend team but I do not believe this is something possible as you would need a unique identifier to save the session. I would like to propose a different solution.

    Please note that you do not need to use email address to create session URL. I would suggest you to use some other field to generate session URL but only condition is that it should be unique. For example, you can use "Random Value Generator" widget to generate a unique ID for every submission which can be used to create session ID. 

    Please take a look at the following cloned form of your first form and see if this works as expected:  https://form.jotform.com/70874528880973 

    Here is the URL of second form where I created one session using random value:  https://form.jotform.com/62084372430147?session=9U0WQ74CX2&email272=ash@ashwin.com

    Thank you!

  • imccauley
    Replied on March 29, 2017 at 11:32 AM

    Thank you for thinking about this critically and offering this solution. I think the random value generator could work for my purposes, but I would still like to enable autoresponder emails at each "save" of the unique sessions. 

     

    Could I do that using an email address field in either of the forms? Would I need to set up individual autoresponder emails at each page break?

     

    I think I could set up an autoresponder email to send users their original session URL, but I was under the impression that to save data, users would need to receive a new link at each page break, otherwise they would be relying on the autosave function in their browser. 

     

    Please let me know how you would respond to this problem. 

     

    Thank you also for your thoughtful responses throughout this thread. 

  • Ashwin JotForm Support
    Replied on March 29, 2017 at 1:33 PM

    Hello imccauley,

    You can still use your email address field to send auto-responder email alert. If you want to send the session URL in the auto-responder email as well, you need to configure the random value generator widget in the URL as configured in thank you message:

    https://form.jotform.com/62084372430147?session={clickTo}&email272={email} 

    Where {clickTo} is the name of the random value generator widget.

    No you do not need to send auto-responder email at each page break. You just need to send the auto-responder email with the session URL from your first form only and not from the second form.

    Hope this helps.

    Do get back to us if you have any questions.

    Thank you!

  • imccauley
    Replied on March 29, 2017 at 2:35 PM

    I guess I'm a little confused, now. 

     

    How can I set up the "save" auto-responder email on my form 2 with the session URL from my first form? Do you mean the general widget ID from the first form, AKA "clickTo"? Would I have to set up a different specific URL in the auto-responder for the second form to correspond with the session from the first form? 

     

    How would this work? 

     

     

  • jonathan
    Replied on March 29, 2017 at 4:25 PM

    Do you mean the general widget ID from the first form, AKA "clickTo"? Would I have to set up a different specific URL in the auto-responder for the second form to correspond with the session from the first form? 

    I think what my colleague meant was to use at least 2 randomly generated widget on the form.

    I want to create a unique ID for each submission with different data sets without submitting the entire form Image 1 Screenshot 30

     

    And then use 1 of each in the Autoresponder to generate 2 distinct session URL. Example, use Random1 value in session URL in Autoresponder 1 and the Random2 value in session URL in Autoresponder 2.

    Take note that in the Autoresponder you can assign different forms in the session URL. So basically you can have multiple forms with random value + the same email.

    You can also  send the Autoresponder base on condition rules to send email with different URL and form used. 

    I want to create a unique ID for each submission with different data sets without submitting the entire form Image 2 Screenshot 41

     

    Let us know if this is not clearer.

  • imccauley
    Replied on March 30, 2017 at 8:24 AM

    Can you please assist me with a sample URL of what you mean? I think I need to see a cloned version to determine how to form this to my needs.

  • Ashwin JotForm Support
    Replied on March 30, 2017 at 9:55 AM

    Hello imccauley,

    Let me first clarify your previous question: "How can I set up the "save" auto-responder email on my form 2 with the session URL from my first form?"

    Please note that session URL is always created in the first form only. You will be using second form URL with the random value generated id and email address if you want. If you refer this guide, you will understand how the URL is generated. 

    Now lets discuss on your latest request on how generate two separate session URL from the same form. Please take a look at the following cloned form (first form) where I have added two widgets and two different auto-responder email will be sent: https://form.jotform.com/70874528880973 

    Thank you!

  • imccauley
    Replied on March 31, 2017 at 11:00 AM

    It worked! I was able to set up four different URLs for the maximum number of unique forms a single user/email address would need. 

    I'm still stumped on the "save" portion of the process, though. Is the custom link the one I'll need to enable the "save at next page" feature? 

    For example, my session ID link #1 is linked below. Is this enabled to save at each page break? I realize I'll still need to set up an autoresponder on the second form to email the link back to the user, but I want to make sure I've set the URL up correctly so that my users can save at each break. 

    https://form.jotform.com/62084372430147?session={sessionId6}&email272={email}

    I'd appreciate it if you could help me with this last problem--then I should be all set! Thanks

  • Kevin Support Team Lead
    Replied on March 31, 2017 at 1:34 PM

    I've inspected your form and I can see it works fine, you do not need to add any additional setting either to your second or first form. Since you already provided the custom link with the session and the email pre-populated once the first form was submitted your user will only need to save that link and go back to it when he/she wants to continue filling out the form. 

    To save the data in the second form it's only required to have page breaks in your form (you already have them) and the data will be saved while your users navigate through the pages, so if your users click on the back/next button, the already entered info will be automatically saved. 

    I would suggest you to test your forms to make sure this happens, submit the first one and start filling out the second one, navigate through its pages and then reload the custom link with the session in it, you should all your previous info pre-loaded. 

    If you have any question, let us know. 

  • imccauley
    Replied on April 4, 2017 at 9:19 AM

    I had to make some changes to my forms and ended up cloning and using different links in my setup. I then made sure that my settings were the same as before and tested my forms to make sure data was saved correctly. It isn't!! Every time I open the same generated link that it supposedly unique, the second form opens up without my saved entries. Please help--what am I doing wrong?!?!

     

    Form 1 and Form 2 linked below: 

     

    https://form.jotform.us/70894951100152

     

    https://form.jotform.com/70823832387159

  • Kevin Support Team Lead
    Replied on April 4, 2017 at 10:45 AM

    I've checked your forms and I can see one of the IDs is not correct: 

    I want to create a unique ID for each submission with different data sets without submitting the entire form Image 1 Screenshot 30

    For example, the "{sessionId6}" does not exist in your form, what I would suggest you is to make sure you've used the correct fields names, this guide will help you to get the correct ID of your field: How-to-find-field-IDs-and-names

    I would also suggest you to set the clear hidden fields to do not clear, go to the settings tab, click on the form settings section and show more button, scroll down a bit to find this option: 

    I want to create a unique ID for each submission with different data sets without submitting the entire form Image 2 Screenshot 41

    Hope this helps. 

  • imccauley
    Replied on April 5, 2017 at 10:43 AM

    I've tried many different versions of the "field ID" names with no success. :(

     

    Can you please identify the "field ID" names I need for my URL if it's not {sessionID6}??? 

     

     

  • David JotForm Support Manager
    Replied on April 5, 2017 at 1:44 PM

    Those are the correct unique names for the Random Value Genarator widgets, however, this particular widget appears to be hard coded, because it is not passing the data through URL parameters.

    However, you can implement the following workaround:

    1) Add a Form Calculation widget to get each Session ID values, example:

    I want to create a unique ID for each submission with different data sets without submitting the entire form Image 1 Screenshot 50

    2) Update the URLs in the Thank You pages and Autoresponders, with the unique names of the Form Calculation widgets, in my case the IDs are:

    {Session1}

    {Session2}

    {Session3}

    {Session4}

    So this would be the correct URLS:

    https://form.jotform.com/70823832387159?session={session1}&email272={email} 

    https://form.jotform.com/70823832387159?session={session2}&email272={email}

    https://form.jotform.com/70823832387159?session={session3}&email272={email}

    https://form.jotform.com/70823832387159?session={session4}&email272={email}

    3) Also, disable the following conditions(I don't really see the need for those):

    I want to create a unique ID for each submission with different data sets without submitting the entire form Image 2 Screenshot 61

    4) Do not hide the field through their properties. Hide them with custom CSS instead. This is the code I have used: https://www.jotform.com/help/117-How-to-Inject-Custom-CSS-Codes 

    #id_5,#id_6,#id_8,#id_9,#id_10,#id_11,#id_12,#id_13 {

        display: none;

    }

    5) See the result:

    I want to create a unique ID for each submission with different data sets without submitting the entire form Image 3 Screenshot 72

    You can try with the following already generated sessions from that test:

    Parish Financial Annual Report ID 1: 

    https://form.jotform.com/70823832387159?session=DBA853KU71&email272=test5@test.com

    Parish Financial Annual Report ID 2: 

    https://form.jotform.com/70823832387159?session=FPC866AQ2H&email272=test5@test.com

    Parish Financial Annual Report ID 3: 

    https://form.jotform.com/70823832387159?session=SPGIGM50X3&email272=test5@test.com

    Parish Financial Annual Report ID 4: 

    https://form.jotform.com/70823832387159?session=XYXUZAHMGO&email272=test5@test.com 

     

    I have cloned my version of your form into your account, so you can start testing with: https://form.jotform.com/70945474988981

    I want to create a unique ID for each submission with different data sets without submitting the entire form Image 4 Screenshot 83

    Hope this helps, let us know if you have more questions.