Google form is a versatile tool and a part of Google’s online apps suite of tools. You can easily save data to a spreadsheet. A form comes in handy when you want to collect information for your spreadsheets.
Google form took its shape as it is today after many years. Initially, these were called Google Sheets, and then it was used to add a form to a spreadsheet, format in a different sheet. Also, responses can be seen in some other sheets. Google sheets were quite effective. It improved a lot with time and now Google Sheets are turned to a standalone app. Now you can not only create and manage forms with templates but also access to them quickly at a place. You can create your forms at docs.google.com/forms. It comes free of cost along with Google account. You can add questions in an order of our choice (by drag and drop), use color themes, etc. In brief, you can customize them as per your wish and either collect responses in forms or save them to spreadsheets (of Google Sheets).
Now we will discuss how Google forms can be created.
Well, the easiest way will be to access docs.google.com/forms and create a form for ourselves right away. There you need to choose between two options: template, blank form. You choose either of them as per your need.
As we know, Docs, Sheets, and Slides are also a part of Google’s online apps suite of tools along with Google Forms, so there is also a link available to Google Forms in all of these contents (docs, sheets, slides) as well. For this click on File, then on New and lastly to Form to start a new blank form. In Google Sheets, you need to click on Tools and then on Create a form to start a blank new form. In Google sheets, the form is automatically linked to the spreadsheet which makes it easier to collect data in a new or an existing spreadsheet. You must be thinking about how it is easier and how does it work? Let me tell you. First, you need to open the spreadsheet then start a form and automatically the responses will be saved. Isn’t it easy?
Now let me give a brief description of the form. The form fills the center of the screen. Also, it has a space reserved for title, description, form fields. You will find a drop-down box beside the field wherein you can choose the field type. A lot of setting options come in Google Form. For example, there is a floating toolbar that lets you add more form fields, the color of the form can be changed, responses can be previewed, etc.
You must be now wondering what options come in Fields. I will mention each option that comes in the form field to make it clear to you. So there are 12 field types and 9 question types. There is a +icon in the right sidebar which lets you add text, photo, media, etc. Also, each field comes with a copy button so that you can easily go about duplicating the field. The delete button is also present. I’m mentioning only the basic ones but many things make Google form easier and convenient.
I will name you each field type below:
- Title and description, which gets added automatically. The description is hidden by default.
- The short answer which lets you ask small questions such as name, email, etc.
- Paragraphs which is quite similar to the short answer field only the difference being you can add long-form text.
- Multiple choice which lets you list options. And the users will select only one.
- Check boxes which lets you list options. Users can select as many check boxes as they want.
- Drop down which keeps the form compact.
- The linear scale where people/users can select a number from 0 to 10.
- Multiple choice grid which lets you add questions and options in row and column respectively.
- Date
- Time
- An image where you can upload images, insert a link, take a photo from webcam, search for photos in Google images.
- Video where you can add YouTube videos.
In addition to all these features, you can also build a quiz, design your form, share your form (share your finished form as well as your pre-filled form), collaborate on forms, share paper or in PDF form, etc.
There are many features in Google Form which you must try it out. I hope you’ve learned about Google Forms from this article.
