Getting Started with reBB

This guide will walk you through the basics of creating your first form with reBB, helping you understand the core concepts and get up and running quickly.

What is reBB?

reBB is a powerful yet user-friendly tool that allows you to create customizable forms that convert user input into formatted BBCode, HTML, or plain text output. Whether you're creating templates for forum posts, structured content for websites, or standardized formats for repeated content, reBB makes the process intuitive and code-free.

Creating Your First Form

Step 1: Choose Your Editor

From the reBB homepage, you'll see two options:

• Standard Builder: The full-featured editor with all capabilities
• Basic Builder: A simplified editor perfect for beginners

For your first form, either option works well. The Basic Builder has fewer options and is easier to navigate, while the Standard Builder offers more features.

Step 2: Add Form Components

Form components are the building blocks of your form:

1. In the Basic Builder:

   • Click on component buttons on the left to add them to your form
   • Components include text fields, text areas, checkboxes, and more

2. In the Standard Builder:

   • Drag components from the left panel onto your form canvas
   • Or simply click a component to add it to the bottom of your form

Start with a few simple components like:

• A text field for a name or title
• A text area for longer content
• A select dropdown for options

Step 3: Configure Your Components

After adding components:

1. Click on a component to edit it
2. Set a clear Label that tells users what to enter
3. Give each component a unique Key (or accept the default)
4. Set any other properties you need (placeholder text, default values, etc.)
5. Mark important fields as Required if needed

Step 4: Create Your Template

Scroll down to the template section. This is where you define how your form's output will be formatted:

1. Note the Available Wildcards section showing all your form fields
2. In the Form Template box, create your desired output format
3. Insert wildcards where you want user input to appear

For example, a simple template might look like:

[b]Name:[/b] {name}
[b]Title:[/b] {title}

[b]Description:[/b]
{description}

Step 5: Final Settings

Before saving:

1. Give your form a descriptive Form Name
2. Choose a Form Style that matches your needs
3. Adjust the Form Width slider if desired
4. Enable optional features like Dynamic Title Field if needed

Step 6: Save and Share

1. Click the Save Form button at the bottom
2. You'll receive a unique URL for your form
3. Share this link with anyone who needs to use your form

Understanding Wildcards

Wildcards are the core of how templates work in reBB:

• Each component generates a wildcard based on its Key
• Wildcards appear as {key} in your template
• When a user fills out your form, wildcards are replaced with their input

For example, if you have a text field with the key "username", the wildcard will be {username}. When you include {username} in your template and a user enters "JohnDoe", the output will replace {username} with "JohnDoe".

Next Steps

Now that you've created your first basic form, you might want to explore:

• Adding more complex components like datagrids
• Using JavaScript for conditional logic or calculations
• Exploring different form styles and layouts

Each of these topics has its own detailed guide in our documentation.

Tips for Beginners

• Start with simple forms and gradually add complexity
• Use clear labels and help text to guide users
• Use the preview feature to see how your form will look to users

With these basics, you're ready to start creating useful forms with reBB!