Page 5: Internal vs. External Forms | Conroe ISD Knowledge Base

Laserfiche Forms operates across two distinct web environments: Internal Forms and External Forms. Understanding the differences between these environments ensures that your forms are built, published, and accessed securely by the appropriate audience.

📊 Environment Comparison Summary

Feature	Internal Forms	External Forms
Primary URL	`https://forms.conroeisd.net/Forms`	`https://lfweb.conroeisd.net/Forms`
Authentication Type	Windows Authentication	SSO (Single Sign-On)
Username Format	Windows Authentication	Must include prefix: `EMPLOYEES\username`
Target Audience	Internal staff connected to the internal network	Public users, external partners, or staff accessing form without a laserfiche license
Network Access	Internal Network / VPN required	Publicly accessible / Internet-facing

🏢 1. Internal Forms

The Internal Forms environment is designed strictly for internal staff workflows that operate within the organization's network perimeter.

Access URL:	`https://forms.conroeisd.net/Forms`
Authentication Method:	Uses native Windows Authentication. In most cases, users already logged into a domain-connected computer will be authenticated automatically without needing to re-enter credentials.
When to Use:	Forms containing sensitive internal data intended only for internal staff. (ideally, sometimes that is not always an option) Inter-departmental approval workflows (e.g., internal IT requests, internal HR requisitions). Tasks assigned strictly to internal district employees. Requires that anyone that starts the process through laserfiche to have at minimum a participant license.

🌐 2. External Forms

The External Forms environment is configured to handle public-facing form submissions, vendor interactions, and employee access outside the internal network perimeter.

Access URL:	`https://lfweb.conroeisd.net/Forms`
Authentication Method:	Uses SSO Credentials for designer/employee login.

⚠️ CRITICAL LOGIN REQUIREMENT:

When signing into the External Forms environment as an employee, you must prepend your username with the domain prefix:

EMPLOYEES\username (e.g., EMPLOYEES\jdoe). Failing to include EMPLOYEES\ will result in an authentication error.

❓ When to Use External Forms

Scenario	Details
Public-facing forms	Public-facing forms accessible by parents, students, vendors, or community members (e.g., public registration, vendor intake, community inquiries).
Remote employee access	Forms that must be filled out by employees working remotely or on non-domain devices without VPN access.

🔑 Summary of Key Considerations

Topic	Guidance
Building & Designing	Ensure you log into the correct URL depending on whether you are designing an internal workflow or a public-facing submission process.
User Guidance	When sharing form links with team members or publishing links on the intranet/website, double-check that you are supplying the correct URL (`forms.conroeisd.net` for internal vs. `lfweb.conroeisd.net` for external).