# Configuring Form Components

Form components are configurable units that can be added to a form screen. In this chapter, the functionality and configuration options of the form components dialog are discussed. The underlying concepts are discussed in a [different help topic](../concepts/formScreens.md).

Form elements are added by clicking the ![](../images/add.svg) `Add` button.

![](../images/ui/beans_form_component_add.png)

In the popup window you can select whether to add

- a form component. Form components are made available by install4j or are contributed by an [installed extension](../api/extensions.md). A registry dialog will be shown where you can select the desired form component.
- a form component that is contained in your custom code. New types of reusable form components can be developed with the [install4j API](../api/installer.md). In your [custom code configuration](customCode.md) you can specify code locations that are scanned for suitable classes. A class selector will be shown where you can select the desired class.
- a [layout group](layoutGroups.md), either a vertical group or a horizontal group. The new layout group is initially empty. You can also create layout groups directly from a selection in the tree of installer elements.

You can preview a form screen with the ![](../images/form_preview.svg) `Preview` button which is also available on the property page of a screen. For screens that embed forms, the preview may not show the actual screen. However, the layout of the form itself will be the same at runtime.

### Properties of form components

Common properties of form components are:

_See `reference/beans/` for the bean catalog._

### Available form components

The following standard form components are available in install4j:

_See `reference/beans/` for the bean catalog._
