Publish a form version
Publishing makes a form version available to applicants. A published form is open to applicants only between the start and end dates in the scheme settings. Whether applicants can create submissions depends on whether the scheme is an open listing or a closed invite scheme.
Who this applies to
- Audience: Configurators.
- Access required: The Publish permission on the scheme.
- Assumed knowledge: The configuration is complete. Refer to Pre-publish checklist.
Choose where to publish
| Environment | Publish when |
|---|---|
| Staging | You validate the end-to-end submission flow, including APIs, webhooks and document generation. You run user acceptance testing (UAT) with stakeholders. You simulate real submissions or check integrations with downstream systems. |
| Production | The fields, logic and content are fully configured. Internal testing is complete. You are ready to accept submissions. A new version needs to replace, or run alongside, a previous version. |
Test in staging first. You can find and fix issues there without affecting real applicants.
Steps
- On the scheme overview page, select the Versions card.
- Find the parent form version, select More, then select Publish.
- Review the form version details, then select Publish.
What happens after publishing
After you publish:
- The form and its child forms are available to applicants according to the listing type.
- Applicants can start submissions on this version.
- Active APIs, webhooks, automations and integrated components work as configured.
- The version status changes to Active, and the Publish Date is set.
Constraints and limitations
| Constraint | Detail |
|---|---|
| Changes to a published version | After a published version has submissions in production, most configuration cannot be changed directly. Create a new version instead. Refer to Change a scheme after go-live. |
| Automations | Set automations to Active before you publish. The publish flow warns you if relevant automations are inactive. |
| Availability window | Applicants can use the form only between the scheme’s start and end dates. |
Related features
- Pre-publish checklist: confirm that the scheme is ready.
- Unpublish a form version: return a version to draft.
- Set up an open listing: control how applicants find the scheme.
