In this article, we cover advanced Google Forms features to help you maximize the functionality and effectiveness of this powerful tool. Read on to learn more.
Use the "Go to section based on answer" feature to create customized paths through the form based on user responses.
In the form, click on a multiple-choice or dropdown question and select the three-dot menu to find "Go to section based on answer."
You can read a detailed guide here.
Generate a pre-filled form link to share with users where certain answers are already provided.
After creating your form, click on the three-dot menu and choose "Get pre-filled link." Fill out the form as desired, then click "Get Link" to generate a URL that can be shared.
You can find an in-depth guide here.
Turn your form into a self-grading quiz with immediate feedback for correct or incorrect answers.
Select the "Settings" tab and toggle "Make this a quiz." Set correct answers and point values for each question to enable automatic grading.
Use data validation rules to ensure that the information you receive meets certain criteria (like a specific format).
Click on a question, hit the three-dot menu on the bottom right, and select "Response validation." Specify the criteria (like text length or number range) and an error message for non-compliant responses.
You can read a detailed guide here.
Reuse questions from other forms by importing them directly into a new form.
While editing your form, click on the import questions icon on the right sidebar. Choose an existing form and select the questions you want to import.
Use Google Forms' Script Editor to write custom Google Apps Script code. This allows for advanced automation, like sending custom emails, managing responses, or integrating with other services.
To access the Script editor, click on the three-dot menu in the top right corner, then select "Script editor."
Share your form with collaborators to work on it together in real-time.
In the form, click on the three-dot menu and choose "Add collaborators." Enter the email addresses of your collaborators and set their permissions.
Organize long forms with section headers and page breaks to make them more user-friendly.
Select "Add section" (looks like two stacked rectangles) from the right sidebar. This can help you organize your questions into logical groupings.
Allow users to upload files with their form submission, which is particularly useful for job applications or assignments.
Add a new question by clicking the "+" button, then select "File upload" from the dropdown menu next to the question.
Set up email notifications for new responses to stay updated without having to check the form manually.
In the "Responses" tab, click on the three-dot menu, and select "Get email notifications for new responses". This will enable automatic updates to your email whenever there's a new submission.
Personalize the look of your form with custom themes, colors, and fonts.
Click on the palette icon in the top right to access theme options. Choose from various color schemes, background images, and font styles.
Utilize add-ons for advanced features like form approvals, workflows, and integration with other tools.
Click on the three-dot menu and select "Get add-ons." Browse the Google Workspace Marketplace and install the one that fits your needs, like form approval workflows or advanced analytics.
Embed your Google Form on a website to make it easily accessible while maintaining the style of your site.
To embed a form, go to the "Send" button, select the "< >" icon, and copy the HTML code provided. Paste this code into your website's HTML where you want the form to appear.
You can read our detailed guide here.
Randomize the order of questions to prevent bias or pattern recognition in responses.
Navigate to the "Settings" tab. Expand the "Presentation" section and toggle "Shuffle question order." This ensures each respondent receives questions in a different order.
Create custom feedback for quiz questions based on whether the response was correct.
First, make sure the form is in quiz mode. Set up individual feedback for correct or incorrect answers by selecting a question and choosing "Answer key." Add your feedback for respondents to view after submission. You can find an in-depth guide here.
Customize the message respondents see after submission based on their answers.
Go to the "Settings" tab. Expand the "Presentation" section and modify the confirmation message by clicking on "Edit" next to it.
Allow for anonymous responses by not collecting email addresses.
To ensure anonymity, go to the "Settings" tab, expand "Responses" and select "Do not collect" from the dropdown menu next to "Collect email addresses." Make sure you also uncheck any options that may require sign-in.
Automatically export responses to a Google Sheet for easy analysis and visualization.
After receiving responses, click on the "Responses" tab and select the green Sheets icon to create a new spreadsheet. All current and future responses will be automatically recorded there.
You can find a detailed guide of this here.
We hope this article has helped you and given you a better understanding of the advanced Google Forms features you can use to optimize your form creation process and streamline your data collection better. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our article on 'Does Google Forms Save Progress' or our article on how to add skip logic in Google Forms. If you are trying to set up an email notification for Google Forms, we also suggest checking out our detailed guide.
