---
title: "Creating Help Text Messages"
slug: "creating-help-text-messages-for-form-fields"
description: "This document shows users how to create Help Messages in the form of Text Messages, for Form Fields. To begin this process,create a Help Key by navigating under the System>System Data>Help folder, and right-clicking the folder and selecting Add Help Key. "
tags: ["User Experience", "Look and Feel"]
updated: 2026-07-01T19:19:34Z
published: 2026-07-01T19:19:34Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/creating-help-text-messages-for-form-fields"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating Help Text Messages

## Overview

Help Messages provide tooltips that guide users during runtime. When configured, a tooltip will appear when a user hovers over a control or report column header that has an associated Help Message key.

Help Messages can be applied in the following contexts:

- Form Controls
- Page Controls
- Report Column Headers

Help Messages are managed at the System level and must be defined before they can be referenced in the Designers.

---

## Creating a Help Message Key

1. Navigate to **System** **> System Data >** **Help** and then select **Add Help Key** at the top left of the folder.
2. In the **Add Help Key** window, provide a **Key** which names the **Help Message**. For this example, enter **Type** **Your Name** into the **Key** text box and then select **ADD HELP KEY.**![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1782933120325.png)
3. Right click the newly created message and select **Set Help Text** from the **Action Menu**. When the **Help Text** window appears, enter the desired message shown in the tooltip on the applied Form Control and then select **SAVE.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1782933142324.png)![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1782933169429.png)**

---

## Applying Help Messages in the Designer

### Form or Page Controls

1. Open a Form or Page in the Designer.
2. Add a control (e.g., a Text Box) and name it as desired.
3. In the **Properties** panel, expand the Help section.
4. Check **Pick Help Message Key**.
5. Select your **Help Key** from the dropdown.
6. Save the Form or Page.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1780505527689.png)
7. Run the Form by adding it to a Flow with the **Show Form** step. Hover over the Text Box and notice the Help Text Message will display.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1780505598214.png)

---

### Report Columns

1. Open a Report in the Report Designer.
2. Select a column from the Data Fields section.
3. In the **Properties** panel, locate the Help section.
4. Enable **Pick Help Message Key**.
5. Select the **Help Key** configured earlier.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1782933566208.png)
6. Save and run the Report. Hover over the Report Column and notice the Help Message will display.

---

## Feature Changes

| Description | Version | Release Date | Developer Task |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Help Text for Report Columns | [9.11](https://documentation.decisions.com/v99/docs/version-911x-release-notes) | May 2025 | [DT-044159] |