Opening the Add-on Sidebar

While the Extensions menu is the standard way to access add-ons, Google Forms also provides a quick-access shortcut. As demonstrated in our Video Quick-Start Guide:

• Look for the Puzzle Piece icon in the top-right toolbar of your Google Form (next to the Palette and Preview icons).
• Click the icon to see a list of all installed add-ons.
• Select Smart Form Publisher and click Get Started.

What to Expect: The Sidebar Interface

Once the sidebar slides open on the right side of your screen, you’ll see several key sections designed to guide you through a successful setup:

• Project Dashboard: Your home screen where you can view an active configuration or start a new one.
• Template Selection: A dedicated option to browse Google Drive and select your Docs, Slides, or Sheets template.
• Merge Mapping Area: Displays all {{tags}} found in your template and lets you map them to form questions.
• Email & Delivery Settings: Define recipients and customize the email message using simple toggles.
• Automation Controls: Enable On Form Submit automation or run manual Bulk Generations.

The very first time you open the sidebar for a new form, Smart Form Publisher performs a brief setup process behind the scenes:

• Authorization Check: You may see a permission prompt to “Run as an Add-on.” This allows the sidebar to read your form questions for mapping.
• Working… Indicator: A small loading message may appear. Keep the sidebar open until initialization completes.

• Multiple Account Warning: If you are logged into multiple Google accounts in the same browser, the sidebar may load as a blank screen.
• Incognito Mode: Opening the form in a Chrome Incognito window can bypass conflicting extensions or cached data.
• Browser Zoom: Set zoom to 100%.
• Third-Party Cookies: Ensure third-party cookies are enabled or *.google.com is whitelisted.

If you’re having trouble locating the menu or sidebar icons, refer to the first video in our playlist: “Navigating the Smart Form Publisher UI”. 🎥