Beginner Tutorial

Owned by Jeremy W.
Last updated: Jun 11, 2024 by Gillian Javetski
2 min read

This tutorial will introduce how to begin to build a CommCare application through the CommCareHQ application builder. 

We are going to start with a simple application in which there is one form: a form to screen a pregnant woman.

Have you reviewed CommCare Fundamentals?

Before starting this tutorial, please make sure you have reviewed CommCare Fundamentals, the first tutorial about CommCare. It contains important basic information about CommCare that will help you in completing this tutorial.

Learning Objectives for the CommCare Beginner Tutorial

In this tutorial you will learn the following:

  • Creating a new CommCare project space

  • Use of the CommCare Form Builder

  • Building and testing CommCare applications

The specific skills you will learn are:

  • Setting up a new project space

  • Changing form, module, and application names

  • Creating a new form

  • Adding, deleting, and changing the order of questions in a form

  • Adding Question IDs and Display Text to a question

  • Adding a display condition using the Expression Builder

  • Adding a validation condition using the Expression Builder

  • Testing forms in Web Apps

  • Making a new version of an application

  • Testing a form in CommCare

Do you have everything you need?

  • A good Internet connection

  • Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox Web Browser (CommCareHQ DOES NOT work well on Internet Explorer; you can download Chrome for free here). See also: Internet Browsers for CommCare HQ

  • Email access (if it’s your first time working on CommCareHQ)

Any Questions before we start?

  • Help! My English is not good or I want to send this to someone who doesn't read English!

    • Don't worry! We have beginner resources in French (WARNING:not all materials are up-to-date), Spanish, and Indonesian. Recommended:You can now choose the language of the help site using the Google widget on the top left hand side of this page. This will help in reading the Help Site materials but may be difficult when building the application.

  • I already know how to do this!

    • Great, no need to waste time here! Go ahead to another tutorial.

 

What do I do?

Throughout this tutorial, instructions on what to do are indicated in bold italics. Other text is for your information or clarification. Click on "Setting up a new CommCare Workspace" below to get started.

 

Get Started with the different sections of this tutorial:

  1. Setting up a new CommCare Workspace (you can skip this if you already have a CommCareHQ workspace and account)

  2. Setting up your Application - learn how to navigate in the CommCare Application Builder

  3. Using the Form Designer - make your first CommCare form

  4. Testing a Form in Web Apps - a simple way to test your form and application before downloading to a mobile device

  5. Adding Form Logic - the next step in making your form usable!

  6. Releasing and Testing your First Application

Ready for more? Go to our Application Building Tutorial Series for more advanced tutorials!