---
title: "Enable a Dynamic Lookup on a Form"
slug: "enable-a-dynamic-lookup-on-a-form"
description: "This article will show you how to enable a dynamic lookup on a form."
updated: 2026-10-16T19:19:20Z
published: 2026-10-16T19:19:20Z
canonical: "www.civicplus.help/enable-a-dynamic-lookup-on-a-form"
---

> ## 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.

# Enable a Dynamic Lookup on a Form

This article will show you how to enable a dynamic lookup on a form. Enabling a Data or Element Lookup will place a button adjacent to the element on the form and call the configured API when clicked to return form data.

## Instructions

[Embedded content](https://www.iorad.com/player/1720999/Productivity--How-to-Enable-a-Lookup-Practice-Tutorial)

1. [Sign in to your site](/process-automation/docs/sign-in-to-your-site)
2. Navigate to **Forms** and select the form you wish to add the lookup to![The Forms tab in the left navigation menu with a form selected on the page.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Select Form - PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T16%3A56%3A34Z&se=2026-11-12T17%3A56%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=7cbPGGta0YkLKsOnjV3FvsCDIEoQy9wuNk73iI0QmHY%3D)
3. Go to the **Builder** tab ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Builder Tab - PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T16%3A56%3A34Z&se=2026-11-12T17%3A56%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=7cbPGGta0YkLKsOnjV3FvsCDIEoQy9wuNk73iI0QmHY%3D)
4. Select an element![Select element.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/12666972346775.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T16%3A56%3A34Z&se=2026-11-12T17%3A56%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=7cbPGGta0YkLKsOnjV3FvsCDIEoQy9wuNk73iI0QmHY%3D)
5. Under the Advanced section of the element, toggle on **Enable Data Lookup** or **Enable Element Lookup**![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=2026-11-12T16%3A56%3A34Z&se=2026-11-12T17%3A56%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=7cbPGGta0YkLKsOnjV3FvsCDIEoQy9wuNk73iI0QmHY%3D)
6. Select one of your configured Lookups from the list ![Options for broken link and form data lookup.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Select%20Data%20Lookup%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T16%3A56%3A34Z&se=2026-11-12T17%3A56%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=7cbPGGta0YkLKsOnjV3FvsCDIEoQy9wuNk73iI0QmHY%3D)
7. If needed, customize the **Lookup Button**![Settings panel showing options for data and element lookup customization.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Customize Lookup Button - PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T16%3A56%3A34Z&se=2026-11-12T17%3A56%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=7cbPGGta0YkLKsOnjV3FvsCDIEoQy9wuNk73iI0QmHY%3D)
8. Click **Save**![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Save Form Builder - PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T16%3A56%3A34Z&se=2026-11-12T17%3A56%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=7cbPGGta0YkLKsOnjV3FvsCDIEoQy9wuNk73iI0QmHY%3D)
9. Click **Preview** to view the updated form ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Preview Form - PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T16%3A56%3A34Z&se=2026-11-12T17%3A56%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=7cbPGGta0YkLKsOnjV3FvsCDIEoQy9wuNk73iI0QmHY%3D)
10. The element will now include a lookup button ![Pet license renewal form highlighting the license number input field.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Dynamic%20Lookup%20Preview%20on%20Form%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T16%3A56%3A34Z&se=2026-11-12T17%3A56%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=7cbPGGta0YkLKsOnjV3FvsCDIEoQy9wuNk73iI0QmHY%3D)

> [!WARNING]
> **Note**:
> 
> This will be disabled until the input contains a value.

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.