Sometimes you need users to choose from a long list – for example:
Selecting a city from a custom list of hundreds,
Choosing an option, a product, or a team from a large catalog.
The Dropdown field in Formaloo can hold up to 150 options, but you can use a simple workaround with a Lookup field to create a dropdown that connects to a separate database – giving you unlimited flexibility.
Step 1: Create a secondary database to store your options
Start by creating a new form in your project to serve as your options database.
1. On any page of your project, switch to Edit mode, and click + (or type /form) to create a New Form,
2. Add one Short Text field – name it something clear (e.g., Option), and Publish the form:
This form will store each available option as an individual record.
Step 2: Import your full list of options
Go back to your project page, switch to Edit mode, and:
1. Add a Responses table for the new form (your Dropdown options database):
2. Click the Options menu above the table and choose Import & Export → Import Responses. Download the import template:
3. Fill out the template by adding all your items in the Options column:
4. Save the file as .xlsx, return to your table, and upload it via Choose file → Import data:
Each row will now represent one selectable option, ready to be linked to your main form.
Step 3: Link your main form to the options database
Open your main form (the one where users will make a selection) in the Form Editor, and:
1. Add a Lookup field, and rename it as you'd name your dropdown,
2. In the field settings, choose your Dropdown options form as the data source, and the Option field as the field to display, and hit Publish:
Now your respondents will see a Lookup field that behaves just like a standard dropdown – but can contain hundreds of items:
Step 4: Manage and update your options list
You can always:
Update any option by editing a row,
Add options by creating +New rows,
Remove outdated ones by deleting the rows,
Import new options in bulk using the same Import option:
Your Lookup field in the main form will automatically reflect these changes.
Bottom line
This Lookup field lets you build dropdowns that go beyond the default 150-option limit – ideal for custom location directories, product catalogs, or large reference lists.
💡 To learn more advanced ways of linking data between multiple forms, check the detailed guides on using Lookup fields and Linked rows in Formaloo with many more use case examples!