What child forms are
A child form is a full Filla form scoped to a linked table. It opens inside the main form (as a modal overlay) when a respondent wants to create a new linked record or edit an existing one. Child forms let respondents manage related records without navigating away. For example, on a project intake form, a respondent could create a new client record on the spot and immediately link it, all within a single form session.Setting up child forms
Child forms are configured on the linked record field. Open the field settings and look for the Create linked records and Edit linked records sections.For creating new records
Open the child form editor
Click Form to open for creating. A full form editor opens, scoped to the linked table.
Build the child form
Add fields to the child form the same way you would a regular form. Configure labels, required fields, and validation.
For editing existing records
Open the child form editor
Click Form to open for editing. A form editor opens for the linked table.
Child form capabilities
Child forms support the same features as any other Filla form:- All field types
- Widgets (text blocks, sections, signatures, location capture)
- Multi-page layouts
- Conditional visibility on fields
Only allowing creation (no searching)
Enable Only allow creating new records (no searching) to remove the search input from the linked record picker entirely. Respondents can only create new records and cannot search for or select existing ones. Use this when the linked table is entirely managed through the form and you don’t want respondents browsing existing records.Session-scoped record visibility
Enable Only show records created in this form submission to limit the picker to records created during the current session. If a respondent creates a new record through the child form, that record immediately appears in the picker, but records from previous submissions are not shown. This is useful in multi-step flows where one field creates a set of records that a later field links back to.Common questions
Can a child form have its own child forms?
Can a child form have its own child forms?
Not currently. Child forms cannot nest. A child form cannot itself contain a linked record field with a child form.
Is the child form's data saved before the main form is submitted?
Is the child form's data saved before the main form is submitted?
Yes. When a respondent creates a record through a child form, that record is saved to Airtable immediately. If the respondent abandons the main form without submitting, the linked record still exists in Airtable.
Can I use the same child form for both create and edit?
Can I use the same child form for both create and edit?
You can configure separate child forms for creating and editing. They don’t have to be the same. The edit form might show more fields than the create form.