Editing Forms with the Editable Text Format
Learn how to export a form as editable text, update it outside PracticeRunner, and import it back into Documents & Forms.
Use the editable text format when you want to revise a questionnaire outside PracticeRunner. It is easier to work with than JSON because it uses headings, short labels, and bullet lists.
Use Backup JSON when you need an exact backup or restore. Use Editable text when you want to edit wording by hand for documents and non-scored questionnaires.
Scored assessments cannot be exported or imported as editable text. Use Backup JSON for those templates so PracticeRunner can preserve scoring, cutoffs, and alert behavior.
Export editable text
- Go to Settings > Documents & Forms.
- Open the form you want to edit.
- Click Export.
- Choose Editable text (.txt).
You can open the downloaded file in a plain text editor.
Import editable text
- Open the form you want to replace.
- Click Import.
- Choose Editable text (.txt).
- Select your edited file.
- Confirm the import.
- Review the form in PracticeRunner.
- Click Save when you are ready to keep the changes.
Importing replaces the content in the open editor. It does not save the changes until you click Save.
Header fields
Start the file with the form settings:
PracticeRunner Editable Text
Name: Adult Intake
Title: Adult Intake Form
Type: Questionnaire
Category: INTAKE
Include in intake: Yes
Share with practice staff: Yes
Can be shared with client: Yes
Customize before sending: No
Questions:
Use Name for the staff-facing internal name. Use Title for the title clients see.
Sections
Use ## for section headings:
## Presenting Concerns
Description: Tell us what brings you in and what you hope to get from counseling.
The description line is optional.
Questions
Put the question type in brackets, then put the question text on the next line.
[Long text, required]
What brings you to counseling at this time?
Supported question types:
[Short text][Long text][Date][Radio][Checkbox][Scale]
Add required inside the brackets when the client must answer the question.
Choices
For radio buttons, checkboxes, and scales, put choices under Options: as bullets.
[Checkbox]
Please check any symptoms you have experienced recently:
Options:
- Trouble concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Low motivation
- Anxiety
- Other
For radio buttons:
[Radio, required]
Have you seen a mental health professional before?
Options:
- Yes
- No
For scale questions, each option can include the label clients see, the stored value, and the score used for assessment scoring:
[Scale, required]
I have felt hopeful this week.
Options:
- Not at all | value: 1 | score: 1
- Sometimes | value: 2 | score: 2
- Often | value: 3 | score: 3
- Very often | value: 4 | score: 4
If you leave out value or score, PracticeRunner will fill in simple numbered defaults when importing.
Complete example
PracticeRunner Editable Text
Name: Adult Intake
Title: Adult Intake Form
Type: Questionnaire
Category: INTAKE
Include in intake: Yes
Share with practice staff: Yes
Can be shared with client: Yes
Customize before sending: No
Questions:
## Presenting Concerns
Description: Tell us what brings you in and what you hope to get from counseling.
[Long text, required]
What brings you to counseling at this time?
[Long text]
What are your goals for counseling?
## Recent Symptoms
Description: Please check any symptoms you have experienced in the past six months.
[Checkbox]
Please check any of the following that apply:
Options:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Fatigue or low energy
- Anxiety
- Panic
- Other
[Long text]
If Other, please describe
Documents
Documents can also be exported as editable text. Document files use the same header, then a content section:
PracticeRunner Editable Text
Name: Practice Policies
Title: Practice Policies
Type: Document
Category: INTAKE
Include in intake: Yes
Share with practice staff: Yes
Can be shared with client: Yes
Content:
---
# Practice Policies
Write the document content here.
Everything after the --- line is treated as the document content.