Create an eCRF form Open

GoalCopy Anchor Link

Create a new electronic case report form (eCRF) in Clinical Study Manager: open the Visit Form Builder, add and configure fields, save a draft, and publish it so visit workflows can attach it.

This guide starts in Clinical Study Manager — that is where eCRFs are authored.

Before you startCopy Anchor Link

• You need access to Clinical Study Manager for your organization (active license).
• Use a desktop-width browser. On small screens the builder shows a mobile notice and does not open the canvas.
• eCRFs are license-scoped and study-independent. You do not need an open research study to author one.

StepsCopy Anchor Link

1. Open the Visit Form Builder
   From Research Studies (/), open Visit Form Builder in the app sidebar, or go directly to /visit-form-builder.
   You land on the Visit Form Builder.
   Permission: Design eCRFs — without it you are redirected away from this route.

2. Start a blank form or a template
   If your license has no saved forms yet, a Welcome dialog appears. Choose Start with a blank form, or pick a Quick Start template (for example Patient Registration or Medical History Form).
   If you already have saved forms, the dialog does not appear — use File → New for a blank canvas, or File → Open Template for a template.

3. Add fields to the canvas
   From the left Fields palette, click or drag field types onto the canvas. Group labels in the palette organize the available components.
   Add at least one respondent field (an input or choice staff will fill during visit capture). Layout-only pieces are not enough to publish later.

4. Configure each field
   Select a field on the canvas. In the right Properties panel, set labels, options, appearance, and validation as needed.
   Under Input in the Properties panel, set a unique Key for every respondent field. Keys identify captured data later; duplicates and empty keys block publish. Do not use reserved prescribed-medication keys.

5. (Optional) Preview the form
   Click Preview in the app bar (or View → Preview) to see the form as a respondent would. Exit preview from the header when finished.

6. Save a draft
   Choose File → Save. On the first save, the Save dialog asks for a Name — enter a form name, then click Save. Later saves update the same draft without renaming.
   Save requires at least one field on the canvas.
   Permission: still Design eCRFs (same as opening the builder).

7. Publish the eCRF
   When the draft is ready, click Publish in the app bar (or File → Publish).
   Permission: Publish eCRFs — required in addition to Design eCRFs. Without it, Publish stays disabled with a permissions tooltip.
   Publish also stays disabled until readiness checks pass (form name set, at least one respondent field, unique non-empty Keys, no reserved Keys). Hover the control for the readiness message when something is missing.
   In the Publish form confirmation, type the form name exactly, then confirm Publish. Publishing is final: the form becomes read-only and cannot be edited or saved again from the builder.

8. Exit when finished
   Use Exit Form Builder (or File → Exit) to return to Clinical Study Manager home.

What’s nextCopy Anchor Link

Published eCRFs can be attached to visits when you create a visit flow. That work uses Configure Visit Structure and is a separate task from authoring the form.

RelatedCopy Anchor Link

• Visit Form Builder — page overview for this route
• Create a visit flow — attach published eCRFs to visit workflows
• Visit Flow Builder — builder page overview
• Research Studies — Clinical Study Manager home