Continue Forms Later -- Why doesn't it save my clients' data as advertised?

  • NinjaTemplates
    Asked on May 22, 2017 at 11:55 AM

    I have my forms set to Continue Forms Later: Enabled, but my clients repeatedly complain that their data is lost when they leave the form partially completed, then return at a later date to finish entering their data.

    Is there some trick that will make this feature work properly, or is this a broken feature? Since I find that these forms DO save my own data when I run tests, is it possible that I need to advise my clients to take certain actions to trigger this feature properly?

    This is a very frustrating matter for my clients, and I would like to come up with a solution, or at least tell them that JotForm doesn't offer the feature if it isn't functioning correctly.

    This issue affects all of my forms, so I am not bothering to link any particular example as it is a global issue.

    Jotform Thread 1151079 Screenshot
  • Kevin Support Team Lead
    Replied on May 22, 2017 at 1:22 PM

    Apologies for the inconveniences this may have caused to you. 

    I have checked the feature on my end and I can see it's working fine as well, here's a screen-cast about it: 

    Continue Forms Later    Why doesnt it save my clients data as advertised? Image 1 Screenshot 20

    Please, do note that the cookies option must be enabled on the browser, otherwise the feature will not work. The feature will also work as long as the form is opened in the same browser and if it was not started using incognito mode. If incognito mode is used then the data is not saved. 

    If you would like to allow your users to continue filling out the form from a different device, then you would need to use the Save and Continue Later feature, this is based on a session method and this is why the info loads each time the form's link is opened. 

    Here are more details about the feature: https://www.jotform.com/help/97-How-to-Save-Forms-and-Continue-Later 

     

  • NinjaTemplates
    Replied on May 22, 2017 at 2:12 PM

    I am going to test your workaround, but I'm not sure I want to put my clients through the added complication. It doesn't seem like a process that would inspire client confidence in our system.

    As I see this issue being discussed on the forums starting more than 6 years ago, should I assume that JotForm is never going to incorporate an intuitive, non-workaround means of saving incomplete form submissions to complete later, whether on the same or on a different device?

    It seems that there is a lot of demand for this feature, and that it is available on other platforms.

    I'll let you know how my test goes.

    Thanks.

  • Sven
    Replied on May 22, 2017 at 3:21 PM

    Hi, 

    Please do let us know how your tests go, as for the save and continue feature. We will let you know if we have any new features or updates added to our system. 

    Thank you!

  • NinjaTemplates
    Replied on May 22, 2017 at 3:46 PM

    In testing this process, I have discovered that if a user opens the link with their session tag, and closes it, field inputs are saved, and will transfer between devices to the point of the most recent Next or Back button.

    Let's call this first session ?session=Alpha

    However, if I create another session tag and try to open a 2nd (Let's call this second session ?session=Beta) and separate instance of the same root form on the same computer, the session for Beta is populated with the incomplete form submission from client using the Alpha tag.

    It does not seem that JotForm allows multiple concurrent sessions from a single computer or device. I can change the session tag to anything I want, and it won't allow me to create a second session until the first is submitted and the form is cleared.

    Is this a known bug, or is there a way to correct this?

  • David JotForm Support Manager
    Replied on May 22, 2017 at 5:51 PM

    The feature will allow you to have as many sessions as you want, and you can load them in the same browser without a problem, example:

    https://form.jotform.co/71196604788872?session=one 

    https://form.jotform.co/71196604788872?session=two 

    Continue Forms Later    Why doesnt it save my clients data as advertised? Image 1 Screenshot 20

    Please note that each session is a different submission, they can not be related. Let us know if you have more questions.

  • NinjaTemplates
    Replied on May 22, 2017 at 6:25 PM

    Thank you for that answer. I have verified it works on my end.

    For the time being, my last question is this:

    How long does this stored information remain available for a client to go back and complete before it is deleted? Is there a predetermined length, or is this based solely on the client's cookie settings.

    Thank you very much.

  • David JotForm Support Manager
    Replied on May 22, 2017 at 7:48 PM

    You are welcome. On regards of the time to live, there is not time, the session is closed until the form is submitted.