In previous versions of Microsoft Dynamics NAV, and in the Classic client in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 forms have been the basis for the user interface. Customers use forms for tasks like creating sales invoices and purchase orders, tracking the general ledger balance, and working with warehouse items. XML-based pages have replaced forms in the RoleTailored client.

Deciding Between Forms and Pages

There are two reasons to use Form Designer to create forms in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009:

To support businesses that use the Classic client, which works with forms instead of pages.
To prepare custom forms to be transformed into pages, which are then deployed in the RoleTailored client.

You can use the form transformation tool to transform existing forms to pages. If you have some forms that cannot be successfully transformed, you may need to manually revise them to meet new criteria for pages and then transform them.

The following tables link to topics that help you create and modify pages, create and modify forms, and revise and transform forms.

Creating and Modifying Pages for the RoleTailored Client

I used to	Now I will	More information
Create a new form by clicking New in the Form Designer.	Create a new page by using the Page Designer.	How to: Create a Page
Create a list form by selecting List in the Form Wizard.	Create a list page by selecting List in the Page Designer.	How to: Create a Page and Touring the RoleTailored Client Pages
Modify a form by using the Form Designer.	Modify a page by using the Page Designer.	Adding Actions to Pages

Form Fundamentals

To	See
Learn the purpose and function of forms in Microsoft Dynamics NAV applications.	Forms Overview
Learn the types of controls and how they are used on forms.	Controls Overview
Learn the definition of bound and unbound, and how these terms apply to forms and controls.	Bound and Unbound Forms and Controls
Learn about controlling the behavior of forms and controls.	Form and Control Properties
Learn about activating a function when designated events occur.	Triggers Overview

Creating Forms

To	See
Create a new form by clicking New in Form Designer.	How to: Create a Form with a Form Wizard
Create a card form by selecting Card in Form Designer.	How to: Create a Card Form
Create a tabular form by selecting Tabular-type Form in Form Designer.	How to: Create a Tabular Form
Create a form without using the Form Designer wizard.	How to: Create a Form Without a Wizard
Save a form, compile it, and run it.	Saving, Compiling, and Running Forms

Designing Forms

To	See
Learn about using controls to design forms, including types of controls, how to create controls, and how to customize controls.	Working with Controls
Learn about form properties, including how to change properties, properties that influence the look and feel of the form, and properties that control input.	Working with Properties
Learn about using controls in applications, including managing text and value display, adding shapes and pictures, and creating controls like buttons, check boxes, and options.	Using Controls in Applications

Extending Forms

To	See
Learn about designing main forms and the subforms within those forms.	Main Forms and Subforms
Read about adding look-up functionality to a form.	Looking Up Values and Validating Entries
Learn about viewing underlying transactions from FlowFields.	Drilling Down to Underlying Transactions
Learn about launching one form from another form.	Opening Another Form

Transforming Forms

To	See
Learn about transforming forms to pages, including when forms have to be transformed, and the transformation process.	Transforming Forms to Pages
Prepare forms for transformation and prepare the transformation tool input.	Preparing to Transform Forms to Pages
Run the transformation tool.	Transforming Forms
Follow step-by-step procedures that show how to perform a transformation of a standard application form.	Walkthrough: Transforming a Standard Application Form
Learn about form transformation mapping rules, code rules, redesigned forms in the standard application, and other references.	Form Transformation Reference