--- title: "Create and Manage Dynamic Lookups" slug: "create-and-manage-dynamic-lookups" description: "Learn to create Dynamic Lookups in CivicOptimize, including Data and Element Lookups, to enhance form functionality with external content." updated: 2026-04-09T15:42:38Z published: 2026-04-09T15:42:38Z canonical: "www.civicplus.help/create-and-manage-dynamic-lookups" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.civicplus.help/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Create and Manage Dynamic Lookups This article will show you how to create a Dynamic Lookup to query external content. There are two types of dynamic lookups, **Data Lookup** and **Element Lookup**. Data Lookups are used to dynamically populate existing form elements with data. Element Lookups are used to dynamically generate form elements. You can also create and store a table of contents in Process Automation and Digital Services that can be looked up against in a form. Learn more on the [Lookups article](/process-automation/docs/create-and-manage-lookups). ## Create a Dynamic Lookup 1. [Sign in to your site](/process-automation/docs/sign-in-to-your-site) 2. Navigate to **Developer Tools** and select **Dynamic** **Lookups** ![Developer tools navigation highlighting dynamic lookups.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Dynamic%20Lookups%20Menu%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D) 3. Click the **+** button in the bottom right of the screen ![Button to create a new dynamic lookup.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Create%20Dynamic%20Lookup%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D) 4. Choose either the **Element Lookup** or **Data Lookup** type ![New Dynamic Lookup options for Element and Data Lookup.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/New%20Dynamic%20Lookup,%20Element%20or%20Data%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D) 5. Select a **Lookup Source** ![Dynamic Lookup options including Custom URL, Hosted API, and Built In features.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/New%20Lookup%20Custom%20URL,%20Hosted%20API,%20Built%20In%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D) - **Custom URL:** Provide the URL for the specific API endpoint that you want the form data to be pushed to - **Hosted API:** Use our [API Hosting service](/process-automation/docs/api-hosting) to create your own custom hosted APIs for your Lookups to point to - **Built In:** Use Built-in data as the source of your lookup 6. Add a **Lookup Label![Input field for Lookup Label with an option to exclude form definition from lookup.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Dynamic%20Lookup%20Label%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D)** 7. If applicable, toggle on **Exclude Form Definition from Lookup** to reduce the size of the lookup payload and ensure that only the form submission data is passed through to your lookup endpoint ![Settings panel showing option to exclude form definition from lookup.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Exclude%20Form%20Definition%20from%20Lookup%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D) 8. Choose the appropriate **Environment** ![Various environments available for the dynamic lookup.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Dynamic%20Lookup%20Environment%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D) 9. Enter the **URL** or **API** for the Lookup ![Blake test section with a lookup URL highlighted for user input.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Dynamic%20Lookup%20URL%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D) > [!WARNING] > **Note**: > > This field will differ depending on the Lookup Source you chose 10. Toggle on **Run Lookup on Clear** if you wish to run the lookup when the user clears the input or deselect the option(s) ![Interface showing 'Run Lookup On Clear' option in Knowledge Management settings.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Run%20Lookup%20on%20Clear%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D) 11. Select **Save![The Save button on the dynamic lookup screen.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Save%20Dynamic%20Lookup%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D)** 12. You can now [Enable a Lookup on a Form](/process-automation/docs/enable-a-dynamic-lookup-on-a-form) ![Settings for License Number with options for data and element lookup enabled.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Enable%20Data%20or%20Element%20Lookup%20on%20Form%20Element%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D) --- ## Delete a Dynamic Lookup > [!NOTE] > Important Note > > Lookups that are in use cannot be deleted 1. [Sign in to your site](/process-automation/docs/sign-in-to-your-site) 2. Navigate to **Developer Tools** and then **Dynamic** **Lookups![Developer tools navigation highlighting dynamic lookups.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Dynamic%20Lookups%20Menu%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D)** 3. Click **Delete** next to the Lookup you wish to remove ![The Delete button on a dynamic lookup card.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Delete%20Dynamic%20Lookup%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D) 4. Click **Delete** on the pop-up that says "Are you sure you want to delete [Name of Lookup]?" ![Confirmation dialog asking to delete 'Playgrounds' with options to cancel or delete.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Delete%20Dynamic%20Lookup%20Confirmation%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A21%3A16Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A21%3A16Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=osJoQhWXUhvKP%2BKjqeYp2bsOfJudIVab5a%2BNCC9mgRY%3D) Uniform Resource Locator Application Programming Interface. A set of rules that allows programmers to develop software for a particular operating system without having to be completely familiar with that operating system. ## Related - [Enable a Dynamic Lookup on a Form](/enable-a-dynamic-lookup-on-a-form.md)