---
name: build-form-template
description: Create or edit a Penbox form template end to end. Use when the user wants a new form, or wants to add, change or remove questions, elements, signatures, translations, loops or document generation in an existing one.
---

# Build a form template

Read `penbox-getting-started` first if this is the first Penbox action of the conversation.

## Before touching anything

1. `get_skill("form_template")`. Once per conversation. It is the reference for what a form can contain and the exact element shapes.
2. `list_form_templates` to check whether a similar template already exists.

## Create

`create_form_template` with a `name` and a `locale` (`fr`, `nl`, `en`). The locale is the language of the content. It returns the template and its `url`.

The template is created published. You cannot unpublish it later. Build it right, one patch at a time.

## Edit

1. `get_form_template` with the `form_template_id`. Work from that document.
2. Load the guide for the feature you are about to use, before writing it:
   - `form_template_automations` for what happens on completion.
   - `signatures` for electronic signature.
   - `looping` for repeated sections.
   - `translations` for multilingual forms.
   - `options` for choice lists.
   - `invitations` for how the form is sent.
   - `access_security` for who can open it.
   - `document_generation` for generated documents.
   - `ai_extract` for AI extraction from uploaded files.
   - `advanced_operations` for the rare operations.
3. `update_form_template` with a JSON Patch. Small patches, one concern each.
4. Read the returned document and its validation errors. Fix them before moving on.

## Finish

Call `get_form_template` one last time and walk through the elements in order. Check them against what the user asked. Then hand the user the `url`.

## Do not

- Do not write an element from memory. Load the guide.
- Do not guess the id. Use the id or slug that `list_form_templates` returned.
- Do not bisect a patch that failed. Read the validation errors, they say what is wrong.