Info Request 2: Building an Info Request | SideDrawer

This Article is for: SideDrawer Console Users

In our first article, we looked at the basics of Info Requests.
Here, we're going to cover how to build your Info Request in the SideDrawer Console, and some of the elements that you can include.

Creating the Info Request

1. Navigate to Console (bottom left hand side).

2. From the left-hand menu, select Productivity.

3. Click on Info Requests.

4. Select Create New Info Request.

5. Click on Select Brand Code.
The brand code will be the name of your company, unless you have multiple brands.
A Brand Code is only used when certain companies have multiple advisors, each with different brands, e.g. Remax agents.

Remax, as a client might have their own brand, and individual agents might have separate brands for themselves and for their specific clients.

Select which Brand will have access to this Information Request.

6. Click on Select a SideDrawer Type.

Since the SideDrawer Type determines the Tiles for that SideDrawer, the Info Request should match the client's SideDrawer Type, so that the Tile destinations in the Info Request line up with the Tiles in the client's SideDrawer.
You can send Info Requests of one Type to a SideDrawer of another Type - users may be asked where they want to save documents, if the Tiles don't match.
You can set up the Info Request to invite clients to upload a variety of documents, and select the destination Tile and Record for each file in the design of the Info Request.

7. Click on Info Request Name:

This is the Name of the Information Request that your clients will see when it is sent to their SideDrawer.

Choose an easy name to make it simple for the person to understand what the type of information is required.

Example: Yearly Tax Forms or New Client Onboarding Information.

8. Click on Enter a Description.
This description is internal, visible only to you and other users of your SideDrawer Console.
Provide a short description that will tell your other Console users what this Info Request is for.

9. Lastly, click on Save & Manage Form Items to confirm.

Optional: Translate the Info Request

When creating the Info Request, you have the option of providing a translation of the Info Request Name and Description in the languages that SideDrawer has available (currently, Canadian English, US English, South American Spanish, and Canadian French).

The translations you enter here will appear if the client has one of the other languages selected in their account settings.

If you leave the translations blank and select Skip this Step, the English values will be presented to all clients, regardless of their language setting.

See below for details on adding translations to Info Request blocks as you build.

Adding Items to your Info Request

Each section of the Info Request is an Item
Items can be:

Text blocks or descriptions (including embedded video!)
Requests for a document or file
Requests for clients' information
This group includes 2 advanced items - Tables and Surveys - which we'll get to later

Each Item is a building block in your Info Request - a simple Info Request might only have a handful of times, while a comprehensive onboarding package could have many more.
Info Requests can be reused and adapted over and over, so the time you spend building is an investment that will pay off over and over!

The basic steps for building items are the same for all item types, but we'll treat them separately here, because of some key differences.

Content, Descriptions, & Instructions

These items are spaces where you will enter your own text for your user - the client doesn't need to enter any information here, they'll just read your text or watch your video.
Use these blocks to give your client a description of the overall Info Request and its purpose, to provide additional context, or set out instructions for how to fill out the Info Request

To create the block, select Content, Descriptions, & Instructions from the Items menu
Click Next
On the next screen, enter your text in the text field
Use the toolbar to edit and adjust your text with font, spacing, and colour effects
To include a clickable link, use the link button in the toolbar, paste the link URL, and click the checkmark - this URL will appear as a hyperlink in the Info Request
To add video, click on the 'play' icon in the toolbar, add the video URL, then click the checkmark
Click here for more details on embedding video in an Info Request
When complete, click Submit

Records, Documents, & Files

Use this function to request documents from your clients
In this step, you'll inform the client what documents you want, and also create guidelines for where the document should be stored in the SideDrawer
When the client uploads the file to the Info Request, it will automatically save to the Tile and Record you've determined

To create an upload request, select Records, Documents, & Files
Click Next

To build your document upload request:

Select the Tile that you want the file to be uploaded to
Enter a Record Type - this will be used to name the Record that the file will be stored in
Enter a description of the file - "Life Insurance Policy" or "Driver's License," for example
To name the Record for the upload, select Define a Record name, and enter the Custom Record name in the line that appears
Select "Preset a unique Record for this item" if you want all files to be uploaded to one new Record in the SideDrawer.
You can also use Preset a unique Record to set the document(s) to save to an existing Record in the drawer.
When you select Preset a unique Record and Define a Record name, you'll enter the Record Name and Record Type.
When the client uploads a file, the system will search to see if a Record with that name and type already exists.
If it does, the file will be uploaded there.
If it doesn't exist, the Record will be created, and the file will be uploaded to it.
You can combine this option with a Content Package, to populate Records in the client SideDrawer, and then define those Records as the destination for file uploads in the Info Request.
Select "Optional item" if you don't want this item to count toward the Info Request's completion percentage - this is a useful option for items that not all clients will have, such as Auto Insurance or Renter's Insurance
Select Submit to finish this item and go back to the build menu

Tips: Preset Unique Record + Define Record Name

For document uploads, combining Preset Unique Record with Define Record Name can give you the best of both worlds: a structured, step-by-step upload experience for your clients, with a single destination folder to keep things simple for your advisors.

As in the steps above, you'll need to create a block for each document or document type that you want the client to upload.

In each block, select Define a Record Name and Preset Unique Record.

Use the same Record Name and Record Type for each item, so the files will all be saved to the same destination.

For each block, enter the instructions to the client, identifying which documents you're asking for in each step.

In this example, we're collecting documents for a client's tax return.

In our first block, we're asking the client to upload their T4s for this tax year.
The Record Name is 2026 Tax Return, the Record Type is Taxes, and the instructions let the client know what documents to upload:

In our second block, we're asking the client to upload any relevant donation receipts for this tax year.
All other settings stay the same, only the instructions to the client are different from the previous block:

When the client fills out the Info Request, they're guided to upload each document or set of documents in a separate step, and each step will be checked off as they complete it, and count toward their completion percentage:

When the advisor logs in, they can look at the Info Request to confirm that all steps have been completed:

And they can go to the 2026 Tax Return Record, to view all the required files in one folder:

Requests for clients' information

In these items, you'll ask your client for a response, usually some kind of demographic information such as their name, age, date of birth, etc.

The block you select defines what kind of data the client can respond with - e.g. text, numerals, website link, address, etc.
Each item can be mandatory or optional - mandatory items will count toward the Info Request's completion percentage, and optional items will not

To create an item, choose an option for the format of your client's response
In this case, the question will ask for the client's name, so we'll select Text:

In the next screen, you'll create your question, describing the information you're asking the client to provide:

(Optional) - You can also enter a unique code for this question - this code is metadata for the answer field in the Info Request, letting you map it with integrations such as Salesforce or Zapier.

Question Block Options

You have a lot of options for question blocks - the option you pick will determine the format of your client's response, what kinds of characters they're able to enter in their answer.

Text - client can enter any combination of letters, numbers, or symbols, up to 255 characters.
Useful for most basic questions where you want a typed response: name, country of origin, employer, etc.
Long Text - client can enter any combination of letters, numbers, or symbols, with no character limit.
Useful for open-ended background questions, or longer lists: all carried citizenships, plans for retirement, financial goals.
Survey Table - described in Advanced Options, below, this lets you build survey questions for your clients.
Email - response needs to be formatted as an email address, e.g. name@email.com
Link URL - response needs to be formatted as a URL.
Useful for asking clients to list a website, e.g. for their business, or for their employer.
Monetary - response needs to be a whole number, and will appear with a $ in front of it.
Use when asking for income information, or for costs such as monthly rent, utility bills, etc.
Percentage - response needs to be a number, and will appear with a % after it.
Use for collecting percentage values, such as "what percentage of your income do you put into savings?"
Decimal - response needs to be a number, and can have decimals.
Integer - response needs to be a number, and can't have decimals - whole numbers only.
Drop Down - multiple choice question where the client will choose 1 option from the list.
Presented as a drop-down, so the options display when the client clicks on the arrow
When building the question, you will enter all the possible responses, using the + button to add more lines if needed:

In the Info Request, the client will see the drop-down list, and will click on the option they want to choose:
Single Option - presents client with multiple options, letting them choose one.
Similar to Drop Down, except that here, the options are all displayed
When building the question, you will enter all possible responses, using the + button on the right to add more lines if needed.
You can also enable a custom answer, letting your client enter their own response:

In the Info Request, the client will choose their response from the provided options, or enter a custom response if you've enabled that option:
Multiple Option - presents clients with multiple options, letting them choose one or more.
Just like Single Option, you set all possible responses when building the question, and the client will be able to choose multiple items from the list:
To Do - creates a toggle with a text description, letting your client click the toggle to complete the item.
Useful for attestations and agreements - you can also use this feature to direct your client away from the Info Request and then back, for example if you need them to read disclosures or terms of service.

When designing the item, you create the text statement that accompanies the toggle:
In the Info Request, the client will click the toggle to confirm that they agree, or have taken the necessary steps, and the item will count as completed:
Table - discussed below, this item lets you build a set of columns, where the user can add rows as needed.
Useful when you have to collect the same details about every member of the household, or about every investment for a client, etc.
Date - presents the client with a calendar widget, letting them select a date.
Useful for date of birth, start/end dates on policies, etc.
Address - presents the client with an address plugin, which will auto-fill address details by checking Google.
The client can manually enter details as well.

Advanced Options - Tables

Tables let you build a set of fillable columns, where the client can add rows as necessary - for example, you can request information about insurance policies, and the client can add a row for each policy they have
Click here for more information on building Tables in Info Requests

ables are ideal when you need to collect the same kind of information about a number of different objects or people.
For example, if you want to ask for amounts and descriptions for all of a client's investment accounts, or need names and dates of birth for all members of a household.

With a table, you set out each field you need as a column - when the client fills out the Info Request, they can keep adding rows until they've provided all the information.

In the Info Request builder, select the Table item, then click Next:

Each Table needs a Question - this is more often a description of the information being collected

For each column, you'll provide a Heading and a Format - the heading will display in the table, telling the client what information is being requested, and the format determines what their answer will look like, just like in the general Info Request build.

Text - client can enter any combination of letters, numbers, or symbols, up to 255 characters.
Useful for most basic questions where you want a typed response: name, country of origin, employer, etc.

Long Text - client can enter any combination of letters, numbers, or symbols, with no character limit.
Useful for open-ended background questions, or longer lists: all carried citizenships, plans for retirement, financial goals.
Email - response needs to be formatted as an email address, e.g. name@email.com
Link URL - response needs to be formatted as a URL.
Useful for asking clients to list a website, e.g. for their business, or for their employer.
Monetary - response needs to be a whole number, and will appear with a $ in front of it.
Use when asking for income information, or for costs such as monthly rent, utility bills, etc.
Percentage - response needs to be a number, and will appear with a % after it.
Use for collecting percentage values, such as "what percentage of your income do you put into savings?"
Decimal - response needs to be a number, and can have decimals.
Integer - response needs to be a number, and can't have decimals - whole numbers only.
Date - presents the client with a calendar widget, letting them select a date.
Useful for date of birth, start/end dates on policies, etc.
Address - presents the client with an address plugin, which will auto-fill address details by checking Google.
The client can manually enter details as well.
Private-Sensitive - answers will be partially masked once the client enters them.
Useful for sensitive data like SIN/SSN and similar ID numbers.
Drop Down - multiple choice question where the client will choose 1 option from the list.
Presented as a drop-down, so the options display when the client clicks on the arrow
When you select this option, you will see a pencil icon appear on the right.
Click this icon to open the editing screen:

In the editing screen, create rows and enter descriptions for all the items you want to appear in your drop-down.
Use the + icon at the upper right to add more rows.
When you have entered all the required values, click Submit to return to the main Table page.

In the Table builder, click on the + icon in the upper right to add more columns.

There is no limit to the number of columns you can add, but if you create a Table with very long rows, your client will need to keep scrolling the screen in order to see all the fields.

In this simple Table for collecting phone numbers, the client can keep adding rows, until they have entered all the relevant phone numbers for their household:

Tables with pre-filled blocks

You can also build a Table with a number of rows already in place, if you want to pre-fill some fields and have the client fill in the rest.

Advanced Options - Survey Tables

Adding Translations to Info Request Blocks

When you add any block to an Info Request, it will initially appear in your default language.

You can add translations to any Info Request block, either during the creation process or later on, as long as the Info Request has not been sent yet.

To add translations, first go to the Manage Info Request menu, click on the 3 dots at the right of a block, and select Translate this item.

Click on the language you want to add, then enter your translation text.
When you have finished entering the translations, click Submit.

Info Request Templates

Your SideDrawer Console is pre-loaded with 5 Info Request templates - these are sample Info Requests designed by our team, that you can use as is, or customize for your needs!

The templates are also useful for building your own Info Requests - you can use the Preview function to see how they look from the client's side, then use the Manage function to see how each block is set up, to give you ideas for your own Info Request designs.

Article: Info Request Templates

After you complete an Item, you'll be taken back to the Manage menu.
From here, you can Create a New Item to keep building your Info Request, Preview the Info Request to see what it will look like for a client, or Send the Info Request once it's complete
You can also Close to go back to the Console - all your Items will be saved in the Info Request

In the next article, we'll go over the options for sending your Info Requests to clients:

Info Requests 3: Send your Info Request