Inkify for Google Forms

Setup guide

Start with the job your form is doing, then follow the matching setup path for the builder, Connected Forms, lookup Sheets, templates, licensing, and launch checks.

Choose a form role Troubleshooting Product page

Team Seats are purchased on the website and managed in Inkify Hub. Exact-email assignment works right away; domain controls can be verified later.

Current sectionQuick start

Fast path

Set up Inkify in the order customers usually need.

Install and open Inkify. In Google Forms, use the add-ons icon, then choose Inkify.
Choose the right form role. Pick Standalone signing, Requirement form, or Registration or intake form with requirements.
Complete the recommended next steps. Use the role-specific buttons at the top of Guided Form Builder to jump to the right drawers.
Check license and launch status. The License status drawer and sticky launch bar show whether anything blocks launch.
Save & Deploy. Use the Live Inkify Link from the sidebar after deployment. Do not use the Google Forms responder link for signers.

Open Inkify

Use the sidebar for quick edits or the larger setup window for focused work.

The add-ons menu has two setup choices. Settings opens the regular Google Forms sidebar. Open larger setup window opens the same Guided Form Builder in a modal with more room.

The sidebar also includes a Need more room? row. That button opens the larger setup window without saving settings, changing Connected Forms, or marking the launch state dirty.

Form role

Pick the job this form is doing.

Form role changes the guidance, next-step buttons, and setup emphasis. It does not change the document purpose, signer behavior, PDF/email behavior, or Connected Forms payloads by itself.

Standalone signing

Use this when one Google Form only needs signatures, copies, storage, and a live Inkify link.

Open Inkify from the Google Forms add-ons menu.
Choose Standalone signing as the form role.
Set the purpose, signature behavior, copy delivery, signed PDF template, and response storage.
Confirm license status, then use Save & Deploy to update the live Inkify link.

Requirement form

Use this for a waiver, consent, prerequisite, renewal, or other form another Inkify form can require.

Choose Requirement form as the form role.
Set the requirement label, subject, validity window, and clearance policy.
Create an invite for the registration or intake owner.
Add lookup Sheets only when existing private records should count as already on file.
Choose whether signed PDFs stay in the default folder or use source-context subfolders.
Choose whether signee confirmation emails should BCC the connected source owner after that source owner accepts the invite option.
Use the review queue only when the requirement needs owner approval before it clears.

Registration or intake form with requirements

Use this when the main form depends on one or more requirement forms.

Choose Registration or intake form with requirements as the form role.
Accept invites from requirement owners.
Accept or decline source-owner BCC when the requirement invite asks for it.
Set the source context so requirement owners know what this registration is for.
Configure dashboard mode, requirement groups, and optional handling.
Install managed questions, review the form, then Save & Deploy.

Core setup

Complete the settings every live Inkify form needs.

PurposeChoose Simple signing, Waiver, Agreement, or Contract for document-type guidance.

Signature and copiesDecide whether signers must draw/type signatures, whether signed copies are sent, and whether the form is response-only.

Custom templatesUse a selected Google Doc as the signed PDF layout, then review Template Fields so placeholders map to form answers or system fields.

Response storageConfirm where customer-owned responses, PDFs, and Drive files are stored.

License statusOpen the License status drawer to refresh license state, buy or manage licenses, redeem codes, and view purchased codes.

Save & DeployUse this only when you are ready to update the live Inkify link for signers.

Signature and copies

Signature vs response-only changes what Inkify creates.

In Signature & copies, Require signature pad controls whether Inkify collects a signature and creates signed PDFs. Choose Yes when the signer must draw or type a signature and receive a signed PDF copy.

Choose No only for response-only workflows. Response-only forms can send response receipts, but they do not create signed PDFs; this can make Create Preview PDF or a preview PDF unavailable until signature mode is changed.

Support

Version and support diagnostics show what code the form is using.

The sidebar Version row shows the Marketplace add-on version loaded in Google Forms. If it says Update available, reload Google Forms or close and reopen the form; already-open Google Forms sidebars can keep an older iframe for a short time.

Use Copy Support Info when support asks for diagnostics. The support block can include add-on build, latest Marketplace script version, Hub renderer, and form deployment state without exposing private form answers. If it says Form deployment: Save & Deploy recommended, click Save & Deploy after setup is ready so this form records the latest form-owned deployment metadata.

Repair

Recovery and repair tools help fix owner-owned setup issues.

Signed Copy RecoveryEnter a Transaction ID or Workflow ID, then choose Resend Existing Copy or Regenerate & Resend when a completed copy needs to be delivered again.

Audit storageUse Audit storage when Drive has duplicate Inkify folders or storage looks disconnected. Choose the correct owner-controlled folder, then Save & Deploy.

Copied-form setup reviewCopied Google Forms can inherit old IDs. Review the duplicate setup warning, use Export setup code or Import setup when moving setup intentionally, then Save & Deploy after the new form is confirmed.

Custom templates

Map Google Doc placeholders before using a custom signed PDF template.

Use Custom Google Doc template when you need a signed PDF to follow your own document layout. Inkify reads placeholders from the selected Doc and shows them in Template Fields so you can confirm what will be replaced.

Select the template Doc. In Copies & Storage, set Signed PDF Mode to Custom Google Doc template, then link the Google Doc.
Review Template Fields. Inkify scans placeholders like {{Full Name}}, {{Email}}, {{Timestamp}}, {{TXID}}, and {{Signature}}.
Fix anything marked Needs mapping. Choose a form question or system field from the dropdown, or check Ignore when the placeholder is intentional text.
Use stable placeholders for long-term templates. Copy {{q:<itemId>}} placeholders from Template Fields when question wording might change later.
Save and preview. Use Save Mappings, then Create Preview PDF before Save & Deploy.

Formatting checklist: keep placeholders as plain {{...}} text, avoid placing v1 placeholders only in drawings or comments, map or ignore every unresolved token, then preview the PDF before Save & Deploy.

System placeholders you can add even if they are not form questions{{Email}}{{Timestamp}}{{TXID}}{{Transaction ID}}{{IP Address}}{{Event ID}}{{Consent Version}}{{Consent Accepted At}}{{Consent Text Hash}}{{Signed Record Hash}}

Connected Forms

Use Connected Forms when one Inkify flow depends on another.

Requirement owner setup

Use this path when another form needs to verify a waiver, consent, prerequisite, or renewal. Configure the requirement, create an invite, connect lookup Sheets when existing records matter, and review linked submissions when approval is required.

Requirement owners also control Dashboard Intent options such as Default Signed PDFs folder, Create subfolders by dashboard source context, and Source owner copy on signee emails. These settings keep PDF storage and signee email delivery inside the requirement owner's Google account.

Registration or intake owner setup

Use this path when the current form depends on one or more requirement forms. Accept invites, describe the source context, configure dashboard behavior, then install the managed questions.

One registration or intake dashboard can connect several requirement forms. Accept each invite, group or mark requirements optional when needed, install managed questions, then Save & Deploy after launch status is clear.

Five-form flowsUse one registration or intake form as the dashboard, then accept invites from each requirement form before installing managed questions.

All optional formsA dashboard can show connected forms as optional when no one form must block completion. Optional forms may be skipped without appearing as remaining required work.

One-of-many requirement groupUse a one-of-many requirement group when only one connected form in a group must be completed, such as adult liability OR minor liability.

No registration formWhen the dashboard itself is only a launcher, use a source/dashboard form with no registration questions and connect the adult liability OR minor liability forms as the required one-of-many group.

Response SheetsEach form owner's Google Form response Sheet receives that form's submissions. The connected dashboard reflects requirement status instead of copying every private requirement answer into the source Sheet.

Signed PDFs / source contextWhen enabled by the requirement owner, connected requirement PDFs use Signed PDFs / <dashboard source context> under the requirement owner storage.

Source owner BCCWhen enabled by the requirement owner and accepted by the source owner, signee confirmation emails BCC the trusted connected source owner without showing that BCC to the signee.

Lookup Sheets

Connect private lookup Sheets one source at a time.

Pick a private Google Sheet. Use Picker when available, or paste the Sheet URL/ID manually.
Read columns and match identity. Required mapping is email plus either full name or first and last name.
Test and save. Saved Sheets appear in the source list. Add another source when records live in another file.

If Inkify finds more than one matching record, the result needs review. Signer dashboards do not receive private Sheet IDs or row data.

Answers

FAQ and troubleshooting

Where do I see my license status?

Open the License status drawer near the top of Guided Form Builder. It shows the current badge, Refresh license action, purchase or manage options, Redeem license code controls, and purchased license codes when available. Team Seat assignment lives in Inkify Hub on the website; refresh the sidebar after an assignment changes.

When should I use the larger setup window?

Use Open larger setup window when you are reviewing several drawers, mapping lookup Sheets, or configuring Connected Forms. It shows the same builder as the sidebar with more room. Opening it is not a settings change.

Does Inkify read private Google Sheets?

Only the requirement owner add-on reads a selected lookup Sheet. Signer dashboards receive only the lookup result they need, not Sheet IDs, tabs, rows, or private row data.

Where do signed PDFs, responses, emails, and templates live?

They stay in the form owner Google Workspace. The customer-owned add-on handles Google Form responses, response Sheets, Drive storage, signed PDFs, custom templates, signed-copy emails, private signing keys, and retention choices.

How should I format a custom Google Doc signed PDF template?

Use normal Google Doc text with placeholders in double braces, then review them in Template Fields after selecting the Doc. Form-answer placeholders can use question titles such as {{Full Name}} or stable question tokens such as {{q:123456789}}. System placeholders that do not need matching form questions include {{Email}}, {{Timestamp}}, {{TXID}}, {{Transaction ID}}, {{IP Address}}, {{Event ID}}, {{Consent Version}}, {{Consent Accepted At}}, {{Consent Text Hash}}, and {{Signed Record Hash}}. Use {{Signature}} for a captured signature field.

Why are my custom template placeholders not replacing?

Open Copies & Storage, confirm Signed PDF Mode is Custom Google Doc template, then use Template Fields > Review Template Fields. Tokens marked Matched are ready. Tokens marked Needs mapping need a dropdown selection or an Ignore checkmark. Keep placeholders as plain {{...}} text where possible, avoid relying on drawings or comments for v1 placeholders, Save Mappings after changes, then create a preview PDF before Save & Deploy.

Can Inkify Help guide me from install to a multi-form dashboard?

Yes. Setup Coach is optional and starts only when you ask Inkify Help to start it. It can track safe progress metadata, such as counts, setup steps, and blocker categories, for up to 90 days. Automatic add-on setup sync is separate and requires opt-in in both chat and the add-on.

Where do connected requirement PDFs go?

By default, requirement PDFs use the requirement owner storage folder named Signed PDFs. When the requirement owner enables Create subfolders by dashboard source context, connected requirement PDFs can be stored as Signed PDFs / <dashboard source context>. The requirement owner add-on still creates and owns the folder and PDF.

Can requirement PDFs be organized by source context?

Yes, when the requirement owner enables the Dashboard Intent option Create subfolders by dashboard source context. The source context comes from the connected registration or intake dashboard, but the source owner cannot control storage routing or provide source-owned storage details.

Can the source form owner receive a copy of signee confirmations?

Yes, when the requirement owner enables Source owner copy on signee emails and the connected source owner accepts that option while accepting the invite. The requirement owner Google account sends the signee confirmation or signed-copy email and BCCs the trusted connected source owner. BCC is not visible to the signee.

Why does lookup not show all completed forms?

Lookup checks only the connected requirement records and optional lookup Sheets that match the submitted identity. Make sure the registration or intake form has Source context and Dashboard Mode configured, each requirement invite is accepted, managed questions are installed, and each requirement form has received a matching completed submission.

Why are response sheets missing fields?

Each form owner keeps their own Google Form response Sheet. A connected dashboard can show status for linked requirements, but it does not centralize every private answer from every requirement form into the source form response Sheet.

Should I use the Google Forms responder link?

No. After Save & Deploy, use the Live Inkify Link shown in the Inkify sidebar. The Google Forms responder link bypasses the Inkify signing page.

Why is Save & Deploy disabled?

Check the launch status near the bottom of the builder. Common blockers include a missing signed-in admin email, incomplete signature/copy settings, missing required storage setup, or Connected Forms questions that still need installation.

What should I do when the sidebar says an update is available?

If the add-on Version row says Update available, reload Google Forms or close and reopen the form so the Marketplace iframe can load the newest add-on code. If Support Info says Form deployment: Save & Deploy recommended, the add-on is loaded but this form needs Save & Deploy to refresh its form-owned deployment metadata.

How do I recover a signed copy?

Open Recovery and repair, enter the Transaction ID or Workflow ID in Signed Copy Recovery, then choose Resend Existing Copy or Regenerate & Resend. Recovery runs from the customer-owned add-on context and uses the form owner storage and email path.

Inkify Help

Ask a product question.

Sign in with an Inkify-recognized email to ask setup, privacy, terms, sidebar, and workflow questions. Setup Coach can optionally remember safe setup progress for up to 90 days; automatic add-on setup sync is opt-in and metadata-only. Do not paste private form responses, signatures, PDFs, private keys, Sheet rows, Drive file contents, templates, member data, or raw form content.

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