Form Submission

Learn how form submissions work in Minivolve, including configuration options, validation, email notifications, and submission management.

How Form Submission Works

When users complete your form and click the submit button, Minivolve handles the entire submission process automatically:

  1. Validation - All required fields are checked and validated
  2. Data Processing - Form data is securely processed and stored
  3. Email Notification - Configured recipients receive the submission via email
  4. User Feedback - Success message is displayed to the user
  5. Analytics Recording - Submission is logged for your analytics

Automatic Processing

All form submissions are processed automatically. You don't need to write any code or configure servers - just set up your form and Minivolve handles the rest.

Submit Button Configuration

The Submit Button is a special field type that triggers form submission. It's required for all form apps and offers several configuration options:

Submit Button Properties

Basic Settings:

  • Button Text - Customize the text (default: "Submit")
  • Submit Type - Choose "Submit Form" for data collection
  • Alignment - Left, center, or right position
  • Width - Auto, full width, or custom size

Email Configuration:

  • Send To Email - Email address(es) to receive submissions
  • Email Subject - Custom subject line for notification emails
  • Success Message - Message shown after successful submission

Pro Tip: You can send submissions to multiple email addresses by separating them with commas in the "Send To Email" field.

Form Validation

Minivolve provides comprehensive validation to ensure data quality and completeness before submission:

Field-Level Validation

  • Required Fields - Must be filled before submission
  • Email Format - Validates proper email structure
  • Phone Format - Checks for valid phone number patterns
  • URL Format - Ensures valid web addresses
  • Number Ranges - Min/max value enforcement
  • Text Length - Character count limits
  • File Requirements - Size and type restrictions

Validation Behavior

  • Validation runs when submit button is clicked
  • First invalid field receives focus automatically
  • Clear error messages guide users to fix issues
  • Real-time validation for email and URL fields
  • Visual indicators for required fields
  • Inline error messages below invalid fields

Email Notifications

Every form submission can trigger email notifications with all submitted data:

Email Features

Notification emails are professionally formatted and include all form data in an easy-to-read layout.

Email Contents:

  • All submitted field values
  • Submission date and time
  • Form name and description
  • File attachments (if any)
  • Submission reference ID

Email Settings:

  • Custom subject lines with dynamic values
  • Multiple recipient support
  • Professional HTML formatting
  • Automatic attachment inclusion

Example Email:

Subject: New Contact Form Submission
Name: John Doe
Email: john@example.com
Message: I'm interested in...
Submitted on: March 6, 2024 at 3:45 PM

Email Delivery

  • • Emails are sent from noreply@minivolve.com
  • • Check spam folders if you don't receive notifications
  • • Add minivolve.com to your email whitelist for best delivery
  • • Email delivery typically occurs within 1-2 minutes

Spam Protection

All forms include built-in spam protection to ensure you only receive legitimate submissions:

reCAPTCHA v3 Integration

Minivolve uses Google's reCAPTCHA v3 to protect your forms from spam and abuse without interrupting legitimate users.

How it Works:

  • Invisible to users - no challenges or puzzles
  • Analyzes user behavior to detect bots
  • Blocks automated spam submissions
  • Allows legitimate users to submit seamlessly

Additional Protection:

  • • Rate limiting (5 submissions/minute)
  • • Honeypot fields
  • • Server-side validation
  • • IP tracking

Managing Submissions

All form submissions are stored and can be managed through your Analytics dashboard:

Analytics Dashboard Features

View & Filter:

  • See all submissions in one place
  • Filter by date range
  • Filter by submission status
  • Search by field values
  • View detailed submission data

Status Management:

  • NEW - Unread submissions
  • PENDING - Under review
  • COMPLETED - Processed
  • FOLLOWED_UP - Contacted
  • DO_NOT_CONTACT - Marked

Data Storage

  • • All submissions are stored securely in the database
  • • File attachments are stored as base64 encoded data
  • • Submissions are retained indefinitely unless manually deleted
  • • Export functionality available for data backup

User Experience

Minivolve provides a smooth submission experience for your form users:

During Submission

  • Loading indicator shows progress
  • Submit button is disabled to prevent duplicates
  • Form remains visible during processing
  • Clear error messages if validation fails
  • Smooth transitions and animations

After Submission

  • Custom success message displays
  • Form can be configured to reset or remain filled
  • Users receive confirmation of submission
  • Option to submit another response
  • No page refresh required

Best Practices

Follow these guidelines to create effective form submission experiences:

Email Configuration

  • Always test email delivery before going live
  • Use descriptive email subjects for easy identification
  • Include form name in subject line for multiple forms
  • Set up email filters to organize submissions

User Communication

  • Write clear, friendly success messages
  • Set expectations about response time
  • Consider adding a confirmation email to users
  • Provide alternative contact methods if needed

Data Management

  • Review submissions regularly
  • Update submission status to track progress
  • Export important data for backup
  • Follow up promptly on time-sensitive submissions

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions for form submissions:

Not Receiving Email Notifications?

  • • Check spam/junk folders
  • • Verify email address is correct in submit button settings
  • • Add noreply@minivolve.com to your email whitelist
  • • Test with a different email address

Form Not Submitting?

  • • Check that all required fields are filled
  • • Ensure submit button type is set to "Submit Form"
  • • Verify internet connection is stable
  • • Clear browser cache and try again

Ready to Collect Submissions?

Now that you understand form submissions, you're ready to start collecting data from your users. Create professional forms with confidence knowing that Minivolve handles all the technical details.