Sharing and Embedding Forms

Once your form is published, TimelyChurch provides several ways to share it with your congregation and visitors.

Sharing via Direct URL

Every published form gets a unique public URL. To access and share it:

1. Navigate to the form's detail page (click on the form from the Forms list).
2. The public URL is displayed in a highlighted card below the stats, showing the full link.
3. Click Copy Link to copy the URL to your clipboard.
4. Click Open Form to view the form in a new browser tab.

The URL format is: https://your-domain.com/c/your-church/forms/form-slug

If your church has a custom domain configured, the form is also accessible through that domain (where the path is simply /forms/form-slug).

Sharing via the Share Modal

For more sharing options, click the Share button (available on published forms) to open the Share modal. It gives you several ways to hand the form out:

Short Link and Full Link

The Share modal shows two link fields, each with its own copy button:

• Short link -- a compact tmlyc.io link, best for SMS, social posts, and anywhere space is tight. It is generated automatically the first time you open the modal.
• Full link -- the complete public URL to the form.

Note: The short link stays tied to this form. If you later delete or archive the form, the short link shows recipients a "no longer available" page; restoring the form re-activates it.

View

In the quick-actions row, click View to open the live form in a new browser tab.

QR Code

In the quick-actions row, click QR Code to reveal an auto-generated QR code for your form. This is ideal for:

• Printing on bulletins or flyers
• Displaying on screens during services
• Adding to posters or signage

The QR code is generated dynamically and always points to your form's current link. Use Download QR Code to save it as an SVG for high-quality printing.

Share on Social Media

The bottom of the modal includes quick-share buttons for Facebook, X (Twitter), WhatsApp, and Email. The Email button opens your default email client with the form name as the subject and a short message containing the link.

Sharing on Event and Group Pages

When a form is linked to an event or group, it is automatically displayed on that event's or group's public page. Visitors to the event page will see the form embedded inline and can submit it directly.

Linked forms do not appear in the main public forms listing -- they are only shown on their parent event or group page.

Embedding on an External Website

To embed a TimelyChurch form on your church website or any external page, you can use an iframe:

<iframe
  src="https://your-domain.com/c/your-church/forms/form-slug"
  width="100%"
  height="800"
  frameborder="0"
  style="border: none;">
</iframe>

Tips for embedding:

• Adjust the height attribute to fit your form's length.
• The form handles responsiveness automatically and will adapt to the iframe width.
• When submitted, the form supports a redirect_back query parameter that returns the user to the previous page with a success message instead of TimelyChurch's confirmation page. To use it, append ?redirect_back=1 to the form URL inside the iframe src. On a successful submit, the visitor is sent back to the embedding page, which can display a success message.

<iframe
  src="https://your-domain.com/c/your-church/forms/form-slug?redirect_back=1"
  width="100%"
  height="800"
  frameborder="0"
  style="border: none;">
</iframe>

Note: The redirect_back behavior depends on the browser's Referer header reaching the form submission. Some embed scenarios (cross-origin iframes with strict referrer policies) will not have a referrer to redirect back to -- in that case the standard confirmation page is shown.

Public Forms Listing

If your church has form visibility set to "Public" in portal settings, all published standalone forms (not linked to events or groups) are listed on a public forms page. Members and visitors can browse and fill out any available form.

Visibility Settings

Form accessibility is controlled by your church's portal visibility settings:

Note: These visibility settings apply to the public forms listing and public form pages. Admins can always access forms through the admin dashboard regardless of visibility settings.

Form Open/Closed Status

A published form will automatically stop accepting submissions if:

• The Closes On date has passed
• The Submission Limit has been reached
• An admin has manually Closed the form

When a form is closed, visitors who navigate to the form URL will see a "Form Closed" page instead of the form.

Custom Domain Support

If your church has a custom domain configured, forms are accessible through both:

• The standard TimelyChurch URL
• Your custom domain URL

Both URLs lead to the same form and function identically.

Tips for Effective Form Sharing

• Service announcements: Display the QR code on your projector screen during announcements and ask people to scan it with their phones.
• Bulletins: Print the QR code in your weekly bulletin next to a brief description of the form.
• Email campaigns: Include the direct URL in your church newsletter or email blast.
• Social media: Share the direct link on your church's social media pages.
• Website integration: Embed the form directly on a relevant page of your church website using an iframe.