Tables, columns, and relationships describe how data is structured behind the scenes. A form is what finally makes that structure visible — the actual screen a user looks at and types into. Two tables can hold the exact same columns yet present them completely differently, depending on how their forms are laid out.
- A form is the on-screen layout a user reads and edits a record through
- Sections group related fields; tabs split a form into separate pages
- Main form = the full editing experience for a record
- Quick view form = a read-only mini-view of a related record, embedded inline
- Quick create form = a popup for adding a related record without navigating away
A form is a printed intake form, laid out on purpose
Think of a doctor's office intake form. It isn't a random scatter of blank lines — it's deliberately grouped, with a "Contact Info" block near the top and a separate "Billing Info" block further down. The grouping helps you find what you need, even though every blank is ultimately just one more field on the same record.
A Dynamics 365 CE form works the same way. Columns don't just get dumped onto the screen in creation order. A customizer arranges them into:
- Sections — a labeled grouping of related fields, like "Contact Info"
- Tabs — separate pages within the same form, so someone can click over to "Billing Info" without scrolling past everything else
The underlying record doesn't change based on layout — only how conveniently a person can read and edit it does.
| Form element | What it does |
|---|---|
| Section | Groups related fields under one heading, like "Contact Info" |
| Tab | A separate page within the same form, switched between without leaving the record |
Beyond the main form: quick view and quick create
The full-page form is called the main form — what opens when you click into a record. Two smaller, purpose-built form types show up in specific situations instead:
A quick view form is a read-only mini-view of a related record, embedded directly inside another form. Instead of clicking away from a Contact to check its Account, a quick view form shows a handful of that Account's key fields right there, no navigation needed.
A quick create form is the opposite shortcut: a lightweight popup for creating a new related record without leaving the page. On an Account, need a new Contact right now? Quick create pops open with just the essentials, saves it, and links it automatically.