Definition of Forms and Templates - We are having a debate about the differences

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Sam Sorbello

#1
I am consulting at a major IT services company and we are having a debate about the differences between forms and templates. In my experience, a paper form has a fixed layout and may not be modified; a template has a fixed format that provides the minimum shell for user input/customization. Does anyone know where I can find a reference for form/template definitions that I can quote to my collegues and put an end to this debate?
 
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Al Rosen

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#2
Sam Sorbello said:
I am consulting at a major IT services company and we are having a debate about the differences between forms and templates. In my experience, a paper form has a fixed layout and may not be modified; a template has a fixed format that provides the minimum shell for user input/customization. Does anyone know where I can find a reference for form/template definitions that I can quote to my collegues and put an end to this debate?
What difference would it make as long as they are appropriately controlled?
 

CarolX

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
#3
Hi Sam and Welcome to the Cove,

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for links to the this topic. Looks like several threads have this same theme.

Hope this helps a bit.

:bigwave:
 

Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#4
Al Rosen's view is one adopted by many people I have met over the years. Sort of like "a rose by any other name . . ."

In my own practice, I tend to think of a "form" as being a specialized "template."

To elaborate: many organizations try to have a "look and feel" to all the documents in the organization (same letterhead, same margins, same font, same color ink, etc. to the point of nausea.)

Such organizations create a "template" upon which ALL documents are based (further divided into text templates, drawing templates, flow chart templates, etc.)

Using the "template," an organization may create a "form" with spaces for data to be added to make a record of activity.

Just because I use this delineation in my practice does NOT make it the World Standard - it's just something I find "convenient." To the best of my knowledge and experience, there is no specific World Standard which forces an organization to call the document with spaces for entering data a "Form."

In fact, over the years, I have seen the document called
  • "template"
  • "data chart"
  • "inspection record blank"
  • "shipper"
  • "packer"
  • "inspection slip"
  • "tally sheet"
As long as the organization (or somebody senior enough to make his word stick) gives it a name, and uses the name consistently, no auditor on earth can issue a valid finding against the use of the term.

Short answer - Organization has power to choose term it will use.
 
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