# Populating an object creation form with existing values

**URL:** <https://community.hubspot.com/t/populating-an-object-creation-form-with-existing-values/125908>\
**Category:** CRM\
**Tags:** enterprise\
**Created:** [February 12, 2025, 12:56am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/populating-an-object-creation-form-with-existing-values/125908 "2025-02-12T00:56:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AlanGrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9bcb4/32.png) [@AlanGrace](https://community.hubspot.com/u/AlanGrace)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 12:56am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/populating-an-object-creation-form-with-existing-values/125908/1 "2025-02-12T00:56:58Z")

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I have a custom object and a form for creating this object but I want to populate some of the fields on the form with existing data when the user is filling out the form - for example say my object is a change request form and I want to submit a request to a manager to update a contacts information.

In my form I have a field - Change Requested By where I want to autopopulate this with the HubSpot User, then I have for example Prior Contact Name and New Contact Name as 2 fields - I want the Prior Contact Name to populate with the Contact Name the user is on when they triggered the Chnage Form.

Does this require a workflow (and if so what process to use to auto populate) or is there a way to autopopulate a field with the value from another existing property?

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**Author:** ![karstenkoehler](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/karstenkoehler/32/68554_2.png) [@karstenkoehler](https://community.hubspot.com/u/karstenkoehler)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 5:08am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/populating-an-object-creation-form-with-existing-values/125908/2 "2025-02-12T05:08:44Z")

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Hi @AlanGrace,

There currently aren’t any features that allow for auto-populating right in that moment – but yes, you can use workflows to copy values from one field to another, from the same object or a different one.

To do so. you would use the ‘Edit record’ workflow action which lets you choose a target field and a field where the source value is coming from. See below (click ‘Edit data variable’ to pull in information from associated objects).

 ![karstenkoehler_0-1739336909733.png](https://d2qpr2jzcazej7.cloudfront.net/original/2X/c/cb12d573d993f32bd6fdf4760de887540c2e3dad.png)

In the case of your create form, it would take a few moments **after** submitting the form before HubSpot performs this copy action. While filling out, it would not be apparent that a workflow would fill it shortly.

Alternatively, you can also look into sync properties: [Create sync properties that copy data to associated records](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/properties/create-sync-properties)

Let me know if you have any follow-up questions!

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**Author:** ![LSchmidt63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@LSchmidt63](https://community.hubspot.com/u/LSchmidt63)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/populating-an-object-creation-form-with-existing-values/125908/3 "2025-02-12T15:05:27Z")

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Thanks @karstenkoehler!

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**Author:** ![AlanGrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9bcb4/32.png) [@AlanGrace](https://community.hubspot.com/u/AlanGrace)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 12:00am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/populating-an-object-creation-form-with-existing-values/125908/4 "2025-02-14T00:00:46Z")

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Hi Karsten,

Thanks for the reply - so the workflow wont solve my issue as that will only trigger after filling in the form.

In my case lets say I have 2 fields that says Old Company and New Company - the idea being the user is putting in a request to change the company assigned to a deal lets say.

I want to have a dropdown for each of those values but I wanted it to be prepoluated with the list of Companies in the CRM so that they can choose one from the list.

So I need it pre populated when they go to fill out the form not afterwards, I was hoping maybe a workflow could run every time a new company is added and make sure to copy its name over to these dropdown lists.

Property Sync does not seem to be a solution either - when I create a sync property firstly it cant be added to my form, secondly it appears it doesnt sync a dropdown to a dropdown but rather just an individual value.