How To Create a Form in Google Docs

One of the top reasons I like Google Docs a lot is because it is super easy to setup a web form for quick data collection. In fact, this is the feature I use the most out of the entire suite of services Google Docs has to offer. Sure there are a lot of ways to setup a simple data collection form (like surveys etc) but where Google Docs shines is that it actually collects the data in the form of a spreadsheet so you can apply any sort of data processing which you please.
Setting up a form is very quick and easy. There are many controls available at our disposal, covering a broad range of input options. I’ll explain the process of creating a form with an example – a scenario where you’re making a registration form for an event, something that I do a lot on Google Docs.

Let’s Make a Form

First of all, you need to write down all the details (Fields) you need your guests to fill in. It would be helpful if you write down these details before actually getting started for a quick reference. In this example, we will be collecting the Full Name, a primary Email, a secondary Email, an optional Address, Sex, and a few random technical questions.
Log into your Google Docs account from docs.google.com.  Click the Create New button on the top left corner of the page and select Form. A new window with the Form Editor would open up. The editor will save your form as a Google Docs spreadsheet automatically.
To get started, enter a Title and Description for the form. In our example, I entered the details of our event. A good practice is to provide a brief information about the form, along with any links to external sites with further details.

Notice that two text fields have been added automatically. While we can delete them and start over, lets make use of one of them. This will give you an idea of how to edit a field after you have created it.  Double Click on the Sample Question 1 field, or click the Pencil icon you see when you hover your mouse over the field. What you see now is the field editor where you can set the details of your form fields.
Since the first logical question in our example should be the full name, we will fill in the form accordingly. Enter Full Name in the Question Title and prove a random Help Text if you want, which would show up as a description for the field. The Question Type determines what kind of controls should be used for the question. Text means that the user has to type the answer in a simple text box.

To make this a required field (marked with an *), check the Make this a required question checkbox. This won’t let the form be submitted until the user answers the particular question.  Click Done to finalize this question. Your form will be saved automatically.
Now lets add another question. Delete the Sample Question 2 field (for exemplary purpose only) by clicking the trashcan icon and click Add Item on the top and select Text. A new Text filed editor should appear.  Fill in this question asking for the Primary Email of the applicant, and also make this a required field.
Next, we need to ask for the Secondary Email. While we can add another Text question, lets make use of the Primary Email we already created because it would require less work. Click the Duplicate icon when you hover over the Primary Email question.  A new Text Question field will be created with the exact same information you provided for the first. Just modify this for the Secondary Email but uncheck this field as required because not everyone would have a secondary email.
What we have up till now are three simple text questions.

Now lets create a field for Sex. We can either have multiple choice or choose from a list dropdown menu. Lets stick with the dropdown. Add a new item called Choose from a list from the top toolbar.  Fill up the fields, enter Male and Females as options. Make this required if you wish.  What we have been playing with for now were basic control items available in Google Docs. There are a couple of advanced options too. Like the Grid control which I added to ask a couple of technical questions.

You can also change the basic design of the form with the help of theme button on the top. To view the live form at any time, just click on the link at the bottom. Once completed, you can share the form in a number of ways including direct web link, email or embed it in an existing page.
You can experiment with other controls and items as you like. Here is the published form which I created for this tutorial. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below.