---
title: "User Controls"
slug: "user-controls"
description: "This document discusses the reusable form components in Decisions, known as User Controls. The document then demonstrates how create a form, and how to use and map these controls, to data sources. "
tags: ["Organization", "Templates", "Shortcuts"]
updated: 2024-08-21T18:31:17Z
published: 2024-08-21T18:31:17Z
---

> ## 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.

# User Controls

## Overview

**User Controls** are sets of controls that can be quickly added into a Form.

Compared to [Form Templates](https://documentation.decisions.com/v9/docs/create-a-form#:~:text=or%20Dashboard%20article.-,Form%20Templates,-The%20following%20Form) that alter a Form's format, think of User Controls as a reusable template of configured controls. Controls added via User Controls can be subjected to Flow and/or Form logic like Active Forms Flows similar to other controls.

Changes made to a User Control automatically updates all Forms using that User Control. Multiple User Controls can be added to a single Form; there is no limit.

An example use case may involve creating a User Control for collecting personal information such as a **Textbox** for Name, [**Masked Textboxes**](https://documentation.decisions.com/v9/docs/using-the-masked-textbox-control) for Email and Phone Number, and a [**Number Spinner**](/v9/docs/currency-box-and-number-box-number-spinner) for Age. Any future Forms needing to gather this information may instead drag the single User Control containing all of these features thus speeding up design time.

---

## Creating a User Control

1. In a Designer Project, click CREATE FORM at the top action bar then select CREATE.
2. In the **Create Form** window, click User Control, then select and name the User Defined Control. It will automatically open in the Form Designer.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-31_13h47_08.png)
3. In the Form Designer, drag any Form controls onto the Form. This example uses a **Textbox** and a **Checkbox** with**Labels** for both. Save and close the Form Designer.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-31_14h11_21.png)
4. Back in the Designer Folder, create a Form.
5. In the Form Designer, expand**USER CONTROLS > [Existing User Controls] > [Current Folder].**Drag the recently created**User Control** control into the Form. Add a **Button [Submit]**, then save and close the Form  
  
Notice the inputs of the User Control populates the Properties > Data section. Enter Data Names for the User Control's values here. If the user wishes to edit the User Control, they may select the EDIT SOURCE button.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-31_14h25_12.png)
6. Back in the Designer Folder, right-click the Form that contains the User Control, then click 'Run Form'. The User Control can be interacted with similar to any other control normally added via the Textbox.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-21_14h29_59.png)![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-21_14h30_49.png)

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For further information on Forms, visit the [Decisions Forum](https://community.decisions.com/categories/Forms).