Build forms templates
Forms templates are the master copies of your company's forms. Build them on the Setup > Templates > Forms tab, then publish copies for your teams to use. Depending on the options you choose, the copies will either appear in the Forms library in the Compliance module, or in the Forms library in the Onboard module. For Onboard forms, you can also display them in selected asset work spaces in Logs, organized by when they should be completed.
This article will show you how to build a forms template.
Configure the template header
When you build a new form template, you start at the top, with the header information. This is where you configure the settings for your template, including which divisions and assets will use it, whether it's for use on shore or on your assets, and when it should be due.
Name
Start by giving your template a name. This is the name your crew or teams on shore will see when they use copies of this template.
Division
Use the Division list to control which divisions use this template. If you don't select a division, it will be assigned to all your divisions. Some useful things to remember:
- You can't assign a template to any divisions you don't have access to.
- You can't edit a template that is assigned to a division you don't have access to.
- Users can't use any copies assigned to a division they don't have access to. If they're logged into a local asset installation, they can't use any copies the asset doesn't have access to.
Shore only
A form template can either be used on shore or by your assets, not both. The Shore only check box allows you to indicate who the template is for:
- If you select the Shore only check box, copies of this template will be available only on the Compliance > Forms > Library tab and can be completed as needed.
- If you leave the Shore only check box clear, you must assign the template to one or more of your assets. If you don't select an asset, it will apply to all of them. Copies of this template will be available only on the Onboard > Forms > Library tab, as well as in the To Do list of any assigned work spaces.
Require Corrective Actions
If this template includes a shore approval category, you can require users to add a corrective action before they can approve it. To do so, select the Require Corrective Action check box.
Note You won't be able to select the Require Corrective Action check box until you've added a shore approval category.
Assets
If you leave the Shore only check box empty, you must link the template to one or more of your assets. These are the assets that will use copies of this template. If you don't select an asset, it will apply to all of them.
Schedule or Event Type
If you leave the Shore only check box empty, you have three options to control when copies of this template are due:
- You can schedule this template by clicking the Schedule field and entering the schedule details. With this option, you must also select a work space.
- You can link this template to a specific event type by clicking the Event Type field and selecting an event type from the list. With this option, you must also select a work space.
Note Using event-based forms is an add-on feature available to customers who subscribe to both Event Logs and Compliance. For more information, please contact your Account Manager.
- You can publish copies of this template directly to the Forms library on the selected assets by leaving both the Schedule field and the Event Type fields empty. With this option, you won't be able to select a work space.
Crew Change Type
You can trigger this form to be triggered on a crew change event. To do this, select Planned Crew Change in this field. Forms can use only one type of trigger, so if you select this one, then the Schedule and Event Types fields will be disabled. For more about this feature, check out this article.
Spaces
If you scheduled this template or linked it to an event type, you must select at least one asset work space that will see copies of this template, by clicking the Spaces field and selecting one or more spaces from the list.
Tags
If you like, you can add tags to this template by clicking the Tags field and either selecting an existing one or adding a new one. Tags are useful for filtering and reporting.
Responsible Parties
You can use the Responsible Parties list to select who will receive email notifications when that form has been finished on an asset and submitted for shore approval.
Note To receive email notifications for Helm CONNECT, you must be an active employee and have a valid email address in the system. For any notifications that contain a link to more information, you must also be able to log in to Helm CONNECT.
Linked Documents
If you subscribe Helm CONNECT Compliance, you can use this field to link to an existing document in Helm CONNECT. This feature also lets you link to specific document versions and pages within a document. For more about this feature, check out this article.
Build the template body
The body of your template contains the instructions and other items you want your crew to perform. The list on the left is all the possible types of items you could add to your template. To build your template, just drag something from the list and drop it onto your template. For more about the different types of template items, check out this article.
A few things to keep in mind when building a form template:
- Every template must have at least one category. A category is a way to group items on your forms. Just drag one from the list on the left and drop it onto your template.
- Add the items you want by dragging them from the list and dropping them onto a category.
- You can add as many categories and items as you need. To move something, just grab it by the little handle icon and drag it up or down to a new location.
- By default, none of the items you add will be required, but you can easily change that setting on any item by selecting the Required icon to the right of each item.
- If you add an approval category, you can select an approval area and approval roles. Make sure you select an approval role that can access the approval area you select. For Shore Only forms, only Shore will be available in the approval area, and only shore or admin roles will be available in the approval roles list.
Manage your templates
Once you have a few templates in your list, check out this article for some tips to help you organize them.