Form generated from database populates fields in a random order

💬 App Building
1
  1. My goal: Generate a form from a database maintaining the column order
  2. Issue: The form populates the fields in a random order, and I have 55 fields so it takes a very long time to reorder correctly
    Also I have updated some of my field types in the database (from boolean to text), but this is not then updated in the form without generating a new one (which is then not in the correct order)
  3. Steps I've taken to troubleshoot: looked at the forum to see if this problem has occurred before, tried to play around with settings but no luck.

Please could you help, thanks!

3

Hey @G_Box Welcome to the retool community ,

For your issue follow the steps :

Click on generate form from table in form component:

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Click on the table you want or data base you want
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Select the table you want from the database
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Now in this you can change the index of the field you want using that 6 dot drag where ever you want
And you can also change the input type whatever you want to use in it. It will give you fields in order that you set in this table.
If you need any other thing in it ask me.

4

Thanks so much for this step-by-step guide :slight_smile: The view I see is slightly different, and I'm not sure enables that last step? Is this due to being on the free version?

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5

@G_Box

The above solution is for the app form that is in component

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Use this format to rearrange the fields in your solution.
FormEditor_Retool-GoogleChrome2025-06-0217-30-04-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter

6

I see, thank you.

So is it correct that in either way of generating a form you cannot ask for the inputs to be generated in the same order as this columns? You have to manually drag them into the correct order?

For me, I have lots of inputs >60, so having to drag them manually is time consuming and error prone.

7

@G_Box
Yes you have to reassemble the fields position.

1 Like
8

Thanks for reaching out, @G_Box. :slightly_smiling_face: Postgres tables typically store their columns in the order they are created, so I'm not sure why the schema output in the Form setup UI is so seemingly random.

I can do some additional digging and reach out internally, but it looks like your only option currently is to re-order the elements manually. As soon as I have any updates, though, I'll reach out here.