Form Design & Project Implementation

Welcome to the Implementer section! Whether you're a form designer, project manager, or NGO leader, this guide covers everything you need to design forms, manage projects, and deploy ODE in your organization.

Who This Guide Is For

This section is designed for users who:

• Are designing data collection forms
• Are planning and managing ODE projects
• Want to customize forms for specific workflows
• Need guidance on deployment and data management
• Are responsible for project outcomes

If you're collecting data with Formulus, see the Data Collector Guide.
If you're developing or extending ODE, see the Developer Guide.

Quick Start

Get your first form running in 30 minutes:

1. Understand the Basics - Learn how forms and projects work
2. Design Your First Form - Create a form using JSON schema
3. Deploy Your Form - Get it to field workers

What You'll Learn

Implementer Overview

Understand your role and project planning basics.

Get Started →

Form Design Guide

Master JSON schema and UI design patterns.

Learn More →

JSON Forms Reference

Complete reference for form controls and validation.

Reference →

Deployment Guide

Steps to deploy forms to field teams.

Deploy →

Data Management

Collect, review, and export data securely.

Learn More →

Troubleshooting

Fix issues with forms, sync, or deployment.

Get Help →

Documentation Roadmap

🎓 Learn the Concepts

• Implementer Role Overview
• How ODE Works
• Project Planning Checklist

Design Forms

• Form Design Principles
• JSON Schema Basics
• UI Schema for User Experience
• Form Controls Reference
• Validation Rules

Advanced Form Features

• Conditional Fields
• Dynamic Choice Lists
• Media Capture (Photos, Audio)
• Calculated Fields

Deployment & Operations

• Deployment Planning
• Creating App Bundles
• User Management
• Monitoring Form Submissions

Data Management

• Understanding Data Structure
• Exporting Data
• Data Quality & Validation
• Archiving Old Data

🔧 Configuration

• Server Configuration
• Client Configuration
• App Bundle Format

Key Concepts

The ODE Workflow

1. Design Forms (You)
   ↓
2. Create Project (Server Setup)
   ↓
3. Distribute App (Field Teams)
   ↓
4. Collect Data (Workers)
   ↓
5. Sync to Server (Automatic)
   ↓
6. Review & Export (You)
   ↓
7. Analyze Data (Your Tools)

Form Design Philosophy

ODE forms are JSON-based, which means:

• ✅ Forms are portable (no proprietary format)
• ✅ Forms are version-controlled (git-friendly)
• ✅ Forms are human-readable
• ✅ Forms support complex validation
• ✅ Forms work offline seamlessly

Your Responsibilities

As an Implementer, you typically:

Task	When	Tool
Design forms	Project planning phase	JSON editor + ODE reference
Create app bundle	Before deployment	Synkronus CLI or portal
Distribute to workers	Pre-launch	Formulus app or direct installation
Monitor submissions	During collection	Synkronus portal
Export data	After collection	Synkronus CLI or custom scripts
Review quality	Ongoing	Your analysis tools

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Health Survey

You're conducting a community health survey with 50 field workers across a region with limited connectivity.

→ See the Health Survey Template Guide

Scenario 2: Multi-Form Campaign

You're managing a 3-form workflow where later forms depend on earlier responses.

→ See Forms with Conditional Logic

Scenario 3: Offline Deployment

You need workers to collect data with zero internet connectivity for extended periods.

→ See Offline Deployment Guide

Scenario 4: Large-Scale Rollout

You're deploying to 1000+ workers across multiple countries.

→ See Scaling & Infrastructure

Terminology

Term	Meaning
Form	A survey/questionnaire defined in JSON
Project	A collection of forms and workers under one management
App Bundle	A packaged set of forms distributed to workers
Submission	One completed form response
Sync	Sending submissions from device to server
Formular	The mobile app workers use
Synkronus	The server storing data
UI Schema	Instructions for how to display a form
Validation	Rules that check if data is correct

Before You Start

You should have:

• ✅ Understanding of your data collection workflow
• ✅ List of form fields needed
• ✅ Access to ODE server (or instructions for setup)
• ✅ Basic familiarity with JSON (or willingness to learn)
• ✅ Access to your field team for testing

Getting Help

If you need assistance:

1. Check the form design guide → Form Design Guide
2. Look up a control type → Form Controls Reference
3. Review deployment steps → Deployment Guide
4. Contact the community → Get Help
5. Report an issue → GitHub Issues

Next Steps

Ready to start designing? Let's begin!

→ Implementer Overview

Or jump straight to form design:

→ Form Design Guide

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• Start with a simple form to test your workflow
• Involve your field team in form design (they know what works)
• Plan for data quality checks from the beginning
• Test in offline mode before large-scale rollout