Summary: As we migrate to the new WMS platform, webforms on all WMS sites need to be moved to MS forms. This article details the steps for moving WMS webforms to MS forms with links to helpful resources.聽
For some of us, making the move from WMS webforms to MS forms will be an easy one. For others - folks with many or very complex webforms - checking this item off the WMS migration checklist might be a challenging undertaking.
If you're wondering where to start and what steps to follow, here's what you'll need to do!
Step 1: Plan and prepare
Before you begin, there are a couple of preliminary questions to consider. Answering these questions will help you avoid potential false starts and duplicated efforts.聽
What platform is best for your webforms?
When choosing the best platform for your webform(s), consider whether your form will collect personal data. If it does, Microsoft Forms is the optimal choice.
For full details, read our article,聽Webforms, Microsoft Forms and Data Collection on the WMS. The article includes a chart for determining how to choose an appropriate platform for your webforms.
What differences and similarities between WMS webforms and MS forms should you be aware of?
WMS webforms and Microsoft Forms share many features and settings, but there are also some notable differences. For an in-depth look at the functional similarities and differences between WMS webforms and MS Forms, read our article, Transforming forms: Differences and similarities between WMS webforms and MS Forms. Additional points of note can be found in the聽.
Step 2:聽Audit and optimize your webforms
Begin by identifying and deleting outdated or unused webforms from your site, and consider removing infrequently used forms as well. For tips for identifying and deleting unnecessary webforms, read our article, WMS webforms to MS Forms: Auditing your existing forms. You should also consider whether your webforms can be streamlined to include only necessary fields. Another must-read, Why and How to Move into Microsoft Forms, provides further instructions for evaluating which webform content to keep and what to remove.
Step 3: Build your webforms on MS Forms
If you're an MS Forms expert, you might be ready at this point to launch into rebuilding your forms. If you're new to MS Forms, you might want to get a few pointers or perhaps do some training.聽 As mentioned back in Step 1, there are a few differences between the WMS webforms and MS forms platform that you should be aware of and plan for.
Who can have access to edit and maintain MS Forms?
Unlike WMS webforms, the MS Forms platform is available to all active 九色视频 students, faculty and staff who have access to the Microsoft 365 portal. This means that your webforms don't necessarily have to be created and maintained by a site manager with WMS access, but can be directly maintained by the person (or persons) who will use the webform data. On a related note, you should also take note that MS Forms can be connected to an individual's account or a group account. You'll probably want to create all your forms as Group forms to ensure continued access as staff members roles change.
This difference can also simplify options for sharing and collaborating on data with teammates. Additionally, MS Forms data remains accessible and is not deleted every 40 days, unlike in the WMS.
MS Forms training and resources
Check out the resources below to learn more about the MS Forms platform:
- Attend a workshop on .
Step 4: Launch your MS Forms and delete your WMS webforms
After your MS Forms have been built and thoroughly tested, you should be ready to launch your new forms. Here are a few actions to include in your launch plan:
- 聽Revise your site, replacing links to your old WMS webform(s) with links to your new MS Form(s).
- If your WMS webform is embedded on your site, you'll need to update these pages to display your new embedded MS Form instead. Note: As of May 6, 2025 this feature is experiencing bugs that are being addressed. Stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, include a link to your MS Form on the page.
- Ensure staff members who require access to the form results are informed.
- Once the above items are crossed off your list, you can go ahead and unpublish your old WMS webforms. After a week or two, if all has gone smoothly, you should delete the old WMS webforms that have been replaced.聽
Step 5: Determine next steps for webforms that can't be moved to MS Forms
If you need help setting up your Microsoft Form(s), you can . A member of Collaboration Solutions will help you understand the tool and how to get the most out of it.
If you've read the article and tried the Q&A session and still can't move a webform into MS Forms, it may be eligible to remain in the WMS. Use to submit details about the forms you're unable to migrate. Submission(s) will be evaluated at a later date.
