A smart form is like an HTML form, except it is used in the Ektron work area to facilitate entering content in a consistent manner and tags that content to allow a more flexible display of the information. Usually a smart form is used in conjunction with a list summary or collection for display purposes, so it automates content creation and display.

You may wish to use a smart for the following reasons:

• You have content that needs to be entered in a consistent manner. Since smart forms are attached to a folder, you can force any new content added to that folder to use the smart form. This is particularly useful if you have more than one content editor in your department.
• You have content that needs to be displayed in a very specific format. Smart forms create tags around information that can then be used to display the information in a specific format (custom sort, show content that meets a certain criteria, placement on the page, formatting of text, etc.)

• On North Georgia News the editors in University Relations use a smart form to create the Campus Spotlight. They go to the Campus Spotlight folder in the Ektron work area and choose the form to create a new piece of content. The form opens up. In the form they simply click an icon to upload the picture and fill in the blanks. When the content is displayed on the web site via a list summary, we used the tags to format everything and put it where it should be.
• In Admissions they have a page for Additional Country Requirements. They complete a smart form for each country in the appropriate folder in the Ektron work area. Then in conjunction with a directory control and taxonomy, we can display the listing of countries alphabetically when you click on the letters for the directory control.

1. In the Ektron work area go to the folder where you want to add content.
2. Mouse over "New" at the top of the work area window.
3. If we set it up to force the user to use the form, you won't see "New HTML content." You'll only see the form name listed.
4. Click on the form name.
5. A new content window opens up, except you'll have a fill-in-the-blank form.
6. Add a title as you always do.
7. Fill in the blanks in the form (there is usually text above or next to the blanks to tell you what they are for).
8. Publish your content.

It will then be displayed according to how we've set up the formatting on your web page.  Yes, it really is that simple.