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Populate a Dropdown Field

Dropdown fields are a versatile element in your forms. Whether you're offering simple multiple-choice options or powering workflows through form logic, dropdowns can save time and streamline your data collection.

Updated over 3 months ago

In this guide, we'll cover:

  • Manually populating dropdowns

  • Uploading a list to populate dropdowns

  • Reordering or removing dropdown items

What Are Dropdown Fields Used For?

Dropdowns can be used for a wide range of purposes:

  • As a simple selection tool

  • To trigger form logic

  • To drive workflow automation

  • To reduce user input errors

  • To ensure consistent data formatting

Want to learn more about Field Logic? Check out our Field Logic article ➜

Manually Populating a Dropdown

  1. Open the Form Builder

  2. Drag and drop a Dropdown field onto your form

  3. Click on the field to open the settings on the right-hand side

  4. Click the ➕ icon to add a new option

  5. Repeat to add as many options as needed

  6. Reorder options by dragging them up or down

This is ideal for short lists or when you want full control over each entry.

Importing a List to Populate a Dropdown

If you have a large set of options (like names, products, or departments), uploading a list is much faster than manual entry.

Step-by-Step:

  1. In the Form Builder, select your Dropdown field

  2. In the top-right of the field box, click the Upload icon (a cloud with an arrow)
    ​

  3. A popup will appear prompting you to:

    • Choose your file (CSV or Excel)

    • Select the import method:

      • Add to existing list

      • Overwrite existing list

    • Choose the column number from which to pull data (e.g. Column 1 = A, Column 2 = B, etc.)

  4. After uploading, you’ll see a green checkmark confirming success

  5. Click Import, and the data will populate into your dropdown

Reordering or Removing Dropdown Options

Once your list is uploaded:

  • Reorder options by dragging and dropping them

  • Delete individual options by hovering over the item and clicking the small on the right

This gives you complete control even after importing a list.

Best Practices

  • Use concise labels for dropdown items

  • Avoid extremely long lists unless necessary—consider using searchable dropdowns for large datasets

  • Always preview your form to make sure the dropdown behaves as expected

Use Dropdowns with Logic

Dropdowns pair perfectly with Field Logic to:

  • Show/hide fields based on selections

  • Trigger workflows

  • Filter what the user sees next

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