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Phase 1: Setting Up Form Data Model

Step 1: Create Form Data Model

1. Log in to your AEM Forms as a Cloud Service instance

2. Navigate to �۶���Ƶ Experience Manager > Forms > Data Integrations

3. Select Create > Form Data Model

4. Choose your Data Source Configuration and select the configured Data Source

   

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   TIP
   For detailed instructions on creating Form Data Models, see Create Form Data Model.

Step 2: Configure FDM Services

1. Go to �۶���Ƶ Experience Manager > Forms > Data Integrations

2. Open your Form Data Model in edit mode

3. Select a data model object and click Edit Properties

4. Configure Read and Write services for the selected data model objects

   

5. Configure service arguments:

   • Click the edit icon for the read service argument
   • Bind the argument to a User Profile Attribute, Request Attribute, or Literal value
   • Specify the binding value (e.g., petid for a pet registration form)

   

6. Click Done to save the argument and Save to save the FDM

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   NOTE
   Learn more about configuring FDM services in Work with Form Data Model (FDM).

Phase 2: Creating and Configuring the Adaptive Form

Step 3: Create an Adaptive Form

1. Navigate to �۶���Ƶ Experience Manager > Forms > Forms & Documents

2. Select Create > Adaptive Forms

3. In the Source tab, select an Edge Delivery Services template:

   

4. Click Create to open the Create Form wizard

5. Specify the form details:

   • Name: Enter a descriptive name for your form
   • Title: Provide a user-friendly title
   • GitHub URL: Enter your repository URL (e.g., https://github.com/wkndforms/edsforms)

6. Click Create

   

The form opens in the Universal Editor for authoring.

Step 4: Configure Form Data Source

1. Select your form and click Properties

   

2. Open the Form Model tab

3. From the Select From dropdown, choose Form Data Model (FDM)

4. Select your created Form Data Model (e.g., PetFDM) from the dropdown

   

5. Click Save & Close

6. Open the form for editing in Universal Editor

The form elements from your FDM appear in the Datasource tab of the Content Browser.

Step 5: Add Data Binding to Form Fields

1. Select data elements from the Datasource tab

2. Click Add or drag-and-drop elements to build your form

   

3. Add data binding to form fields:

   • Select a form field

   • In the Properties panel, find the Bind Reference property

   • Select the appropriate data binding reference

     

Phase 3: Configuring Prefill Service

Step 6: Enable Required Extensions

Ensure these extensions are enabled in Universal Editor:

1. AEM Form Properties Extension

   • Open Extension Manager in Universal Editor
   • Enable the AEM Form Properties extension

   

2. Data Source Extension

   • Enable the Data source extension if you don’t see the Data Sources icon

   

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   For detailed instructions on managing extensions, see .

Step 7: Configure Prefill Service

1. Open your Adaptive Form in Universal Editor

2. Click the AEM Form Properties extension icon

   

3. Click the Prefill tab

4. Select Form Data Model Prefill Service

   

5. Click Save & Close

Phase 4: Testing Your Prefill Configuration

Step 8: Preview and Test

1. Go to Forms > Forms and Documents

2. Select your Adaptive Form

3. Choose Preview as HTML

4. Test prefilling by appending parameters to the URL:

   https://your-preview-url.com?<bindreferencefield>=<value>

   Example:

   https://your-preview-url.com?petid=12345

   

The form should automatically populate with data based on the provided parameter.

Common Issues and Solutions

table 0-row-3 1-row-3 2-row-3 3-row-3 4-row-3 5-row-3
Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
Form fields not prefilling	Incorrect bindRef values	Verify bindRef matches FDM field names exactly
Data format errors	Mismatched data structure	Ensure prefill data matches form model schema
Service not found	FDM configuration issues	Check FDM services are properly configured and saved
Authentication errors	Data source connectivity	Verify data source credentials and connectivity
Partial data loading	Missing field mappings	Ensure all required fields have proper data bindings

Debugging Steps

1. Verify FDM Configuration:

   • Check if services are configured correctly
   • Test FDM services independently
   • Validate data source connectivity

2. Check Form Configuration:

   • Confirm form is associated with correct FDM
   • Verify field bindRef values
   • Test form without prefill first

3. Test Data Flow:

   • Use browser developer tools to inspect network requests
   • Check console for JavaScript errors
   • Validate response data format

4. Common Error Messages:

   • “Prefill service not found”: Check service configuration
   • “Data binding failed”: Verify bindRef accuracy
   • “Invalid data format”: Ensure data matches schema

Configuration Best Practices

• Use descriptive naming: Name your FDMs and services clearly
• Validate data schemas: Ensure data structure matches form requirements
• Test incrementally: Configure and test one field at a time
• Document mappings: Keep track of field-to-data mappings

Performance Optimization

• Minimize data volume: Only prefill necessary fields
• Use caching: Configure appropriate caching for frequently accessed data
• Optimize queries: Ensure database queries are efficient
• Monitor performance: Track form load times with prefill enabled

Security Considerations

• Validate input parameters: Always validate URL parameters
• Sanitize data: Clean data before prefilling forms
• Implement access controls: Ensure users can only access their own data
• Use HTTPS: Always use secure connections for data transmission

User Experience Guidelines

• Provide feedback: Show loading indicators during data fetch
• Handle errors gracefully: Display helpful error messages
• Allow overrides: Let users modify prefilled data
• Maintain consistency: Use consistent prefill behavior across forms

How do I test if prefilling is working correctly?

Preview your form and append prefill parameters to the URL using this format: ?<bindreferencefield>=<value>. Ensure the field has a valid bindRef that matches your data structure. Use browser developer tools to inspect network requests and verify data is being fetched correctly.

What data formats are supported for prefilling Adaptive Forms?

Adaptive Forms support multiple formats depending on your form model:

• XFA forms: XML matching the XFA schema
• JSON schema forms: JSON data compliant with the schema
• FDM forms: JSON that maps to the data model structure
• XML schema forms: XML matching the schema structure

Can I prefill both bound and unbound fields?

Yes, you can prefill both types of fields. Bound fields use the afBoundData section and must match your form model schema. Unbound fields use the afUnBoundData section and can contain any additional data.

What should I do if only some fields are prefilling?

Check that all fields have correct bindRef values that match your FDM exactly. Verify that your data source contains all the required fields and that the data structure matches your form model schema.

Can I use multiple prefill services in one form?

You can configure one primary prefill service per form. However, you can combine different data sources within a single Form Data Model to achieve similar functionality.

How do I handle authentication for prefill services?

Authentication depends on your data source configuration. For FDM-based prefilling, configure authentication in your data source settings. For draft prefilling, users typically need to be logged in to access their saved drafts.