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When Should I Use This?
Use this FORWARD Direct glossary when you need to:
Confirm what a status, setting, or role means before making a change
Understand program setup labels like “Basic Settings” and “Program Type”
Look up form-building terms like “Edit Mode,” “Preview,” and “Publish”
Review what “Delete Programs” is used for and who can recover deleted programs
Step-by-Step Instructions
Open this glossary in a separate tab while you work in FORWARD Direct.
When you see a label in the product you don’t recognize, search this page for the exact term (for example: “PAUSE,” “Publish,” or “Delete Programs”).
Use the definition to confirm what will happen before you change a setting or status (especially for items that affect whether a program can be edited).
If you are editing a form, use the “FORM Editor Top Bar Controls” terms to confirm whether changes are saved or live for applicants.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Confusing Save Changes with Publish. Saving does not make changes visible to applicants; publishing applies saved updates and makes them live on the form.
Trying to edit a program while it is ACTIVE. The documentation states that an ACTIVE program “cannot be edited.”
Trying to recover a deleted program with the wrong role. Process-Admins cannot recover deleted programs; only Portal-Admins can recover deleted programs for their organization.
Skipping publishing before activation. The documentation warns that activating a program with a form that is not complete can expose sections and fields that are not configured for your program.
Best Practices for FORWARD Direct Users
Use the status definitions to choose the right time to test or make changes (for example, use TEST to check functionality and collect test applications).
Before activating a program, ensure the form is complete and published so applicants only see what is configured for your program.
If you need to make changes after a program is live, use PAUSE as described (it “can only be applied to programs with Active status”).
FAQ
What does “ACTIVE” mean in FORWARD Direct?
An ACTIVE program is live. The documentation states that an ACTIVE program cannot be edited.
What is the difference between “Save Changes” and “Publish” in the form editor?
Save Changes saves updates without making them visible to applicants. Publish applies saved updates and makes them live on the form.
Who can recover a deleted program?
Only Portal-Admins (Organization Administrators) can recover deleted programs for their entire organization.
What is “Delete Programs” in Portal Settings?
Delete Programs is a section to view and manage programs that have been deleted from your portal. It provides access to previously removed programs that may need to be restored or permanently deleted.
What does “TEST” mean for a program?
TEST is used to check the program’s functionality, including collecting test applications.
Glossary of Common FORWARD Direct Terms
Program status terms
DRAFT: Program is being defined and not yet ready for testing.
TEST: Check program functionality, including collecting test applications.
ACTIVE: Program is live and cannot be edited.
PAUSE: Pause the program to make changes; can only be applied to programs with Active status.
COMPLETE: The program is complete and has been deactivated.
Confirm (button): Used to finalize a status change after selecting a new status in the dropdown.
Program setup terms (Basic Settings)
Basic Settings: Used to configure general settings for the program.
Program Name: Appears on the Applicant Dashboard after an applicant successfully logs into the Portal.
Program Description: Displays beneath the Program Name on the Applicant Dashboard; should give applicants a clear overview of the program.
Funding Source: A field listed under Basic Settings (additional details not shown in the documentation excerpt).
Budget: A field listed under Basic Settings (additional details not shown in the documentation excerpt).
Program Type: A Basic Settings field with options including: Grant, Loan, Deferment, Credit, Offer, Other, Licenes, Rental Assistance.
Portal settings and access terms
Portal Settings: Organization-level settings where you can find “Deleted Programs.”
Deleted Programs: Menu item used to view and manage programs that have been deleted (including reviewing deletion details and managing recovery).
Process-Admins (Program Managers): Can delete programs they manage; cannot recover deleted programs.
Portal-Admins (Organization Administrators): Cannot delete programs; can recover deleted programs for their entire organization.
Program deletion and recovery terms
Manage Program: A program navigation item used as part of the deletion steps (click “Manage Program,” then “Basic Settings”).
Delete Program (button): Located in Basic Settings (scroll to find it). Deletion hides the program from lists, makes applications inaccessible to applicants, releases the program phone number back to the system, and preserves program data (not permanently deleted).
Recover (button): Used in Portal Settings > Deleted Programs to restore a deleted program (Portal-Admins only).
Applicant account and submission terms
Two-Factor Authentication: Adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification method (such as a code sent to phone or email) in addition to a password.
Self Sign-up: Enables applicants to create their own account directly through the portal without an invitation or manual account creation by an administrator.
Allow Multiple Applications: Permits applicants to submit more than one application under the same email address, if applicable to the program’s guidelines.
Form editor terms
FORM Editor Top Bar Controls: Buttons for Edit Mode, Save, and Publish to manage form deployment and review progress.
Edit Mode (Toggle): Enables team members to make changes and updates to the form.
Preview (Toggle): Lets team members view and test form changes to ensure proper layout and flow; while in Preview, you can switch languages by clicking the English dropdown and selecting from available options.
Save Changes: Saves updates to the form without making them visible to applicants.
Publish (Blue button): Applies all saved updates, making them live on the form.
Form section terms
Section Title: The displayed name of a section; you can edit it by clicking the Section Title and using the icon on the right-hand side, then entering the name to display in the form.
Section Group: Dropdown that controls where a section should be visible (examples listed: Applicant, Business, Review, No Group).
Section ID: Auto-populated identifier that does not update if the Section Title changes; described as helpful for referencing data.
Eligibility terms
Eligibility Section (toggle): Turns on/off eligibility behavior for an application, allowing a pop-up when answers do not meet eligibility criteria; the toggle can stop the applicant completely or allow them to move forward without meeting criteria.
Eligibility Title: The title applicants see when they answer a question with an ineligible answer.
Eligibility Message: Message displayed under the title (example text is included in the documentation).
Field-Level Eligibility Rules: Within eligibility sections, individual custom fields can be configured with expected values that determine eligibility.