Introducing the New Comments Control
Modern SharePoint has transformed the way organizations interact with their data. From cleaner interfaces to improved performance and tighter integration with Microsoft 365 experiences, the modern platform offers a more intuitive environment for both end users and administrators. Within this ecosystem, Ultimate Forms has continued to evolve to match the expectations of modern workplaces. Our goal has always been to enhance SharePoint with flexible tools that help businesses build complete, enterprise-grade solutions without relying on code or external systems.
Today we are excited to announce the addition of the new Comments control for Ultimate Forms' Modern Forms. This feature brings a familiar and highly requested capability directly into your custom forms. It mirrors the native SharePoint comments pane, using the same underlying mechanism for storing and displaying comments. It natively supports mentions and email notifications. The result is a seamless and fully integrated way for teams to collaborate on list items without leaving the form experience.
This article explores what the new Comments control does, how it benefits your business processes, and why it plays an important role in the next generation of modern SharePoint forms.
The Evolution of Modern Forms in Ultimate Forms
Ultimate Forms has long been known for extending SharePoint beyond its limitations. With tools for building dynamic forms, rule-driven logic, business processes, document generation, permissions, and automation, thousands of organizations rely on the platform to deliver solutions for HR, finance, compliance, operations, and more.
The release of Modern Forms took these capabilities even further. Modern Forms introduced:
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A responsive architecture that runs fluently on desktop and mobile
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A clean design aligned with Microsoft’s Fluent aesthetic
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Full compatibility with SharePoint Online and Microsoft 365, while preserving the same features on premises
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Faster loading and improved performance
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A new layout system for flexible arrangements and advanced customization
As customers built increasingly complex forms for approvals, onboarding, inspections, and asset management, many asked for better ways to discuss items directly within the form. Teams needed a structured way to communicate about a specific record without switching tools or sending separate emails. While SharePoint’s built-in comments pane offered part of this functionality, it lived outside the form and could not easily be integrated with custom layouts.
The new Comments control addresses this need completely.
What the New Comments Control Does
The new control adds an interactive comment feed directly inside your modern form. It behaves much like the built-in SharePoint comments panel but is now available as an actual control you can place anywhere in your form layout.
Key features include:
Native SharePoint Integration
The control uses the same mechanism that SharePoint uses for comments. This ensures storage, retrieval, and display of comments follow Microsoft’s framework. You maintain full compatibility with the SharePoint ecosystem and avoid storing data in custom fields or external systems.
Mentions
Users can mention colleagues by typing the familiar @ symbol. SharePoint resolves the mentioned user and sends them email notifications. This feature encourages targeted communication and reduces delays when feedback or action is needed.
Email Notifications
When someone is mentioned or when a comment is added, SharePoint generates a notification. Teams stay informed without manually checking the form or list.
Inline Placement
Unlike the standard SharePoint comments panel, you can position the Comments control anywhere in the modern form. This gives you more control over design and improves usability. For example, you can place comments next to review sections or under approval details.
Readable and Engaging Interface
The control presents comments in a chronological feed with clear author names, timestamps, and threaded replies. Users can scroll through history, add new comments, or respond to existing ones.
Full Support for List Items and Document Libraries
Whether your solution tracks support tickets, policy documents, expense reports, or safety inspections, you can enhance collaboration by embedding comments directly where decisions happen.
Why Comments Matter in Business Processes
Comments may look simple on the surface, but they deliver significant value. Modern organizations rely heavily on collaboration, transparency, and fast communication. When conversations happen outside the system, teams risk lost context, inconsistent decisions, and duplicated work.
Here are several advantages the Comments control brings to your SharePoint solutions:
Centralized Communication
All discussion about an item stays tied to the item itself. Users no longer need to search through emails, chat messages, or meeting notes. Everything is visible to anyone with access to the form, at any time.
Better Accountability
Comments create an informal but traceable record of decisions, clarifications, and questions. When multiple employees participate in a workflow, comments help document reasoning and ensure everyone understands the history of the item.
Improved Responsiveness
Mentions allow teams to notify individuals instantly when action is required. Replacing long email threads with targeted notifications shortens response times and reduces noise.
Reduced Training Overhead
Because the control uses the same mechanism and UI patterns as SharePoint’s existing comments, users can work with it immediately. There is nothing new to learn.
Enhanced Collaboration in Complex Processes
Approvals, compliance reviews, financial audits, and multi-step workflows often require back-and-forth communication. Comments provide a structured and visible place for this dialogue.
Real-World Scenarios Where Comments Add Value
1. Help Desk and IT Support
A technician opens a ticket requesting additional information from the user. Instead of sending an email, the technician posts a comment directly in the form and mentions the requester. The requester receives a notification, replies in the same feed, and the conversation remains attached to the ticket for future audits.
2. Employee Onboarding
HR specialists and hiring managers often need to coordinate details such as start dates, equipment requirements, and access needs. Comments allow them to discuss specifics directly in the onboarding form. If IT needs to be looped in, they can be mentioned and notified automatically.
3. Expense Reimbursement
Approvers may need clarification on receipts or travel dates. By placing comments directly in the expense form, employees can provide explanations and upload missing documents without starting a separate email chain.
4. Policy and Document Review
Legal and compliance teams often collaborate on documents stored in SharePoint libraries. Comments allow reviewers to flag concerns, ask questions, and record decisions directly with the document, creating an internal audit trail.
5. Project Management
Task owners and stakeholders can use comments to provide progress updates, share context, and record decisions related to tasks, risks, or milestones. Every conversation remains tied to the project record.
6. Inspections and Audit Processes
Inspectors in the field can request clarification from supervisors by adding a comment and tagging them. This reduces delays and keeps the workflow moving without requiring separate communication channels.
How Comments Strengthen the Ultimate Forms Ecosystem
The Comments control becomes even more powerful when paired with other Ultimate Forms capabilities.
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Dynamic Rules allow you to show or hide the control based on status, user role, or workflow stage
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Permissions ensure sensitive processes restrict who can read or add comments
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Versioning and Audit History combine with comments to give a complete picture of an item’s lifecycle
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Tabs and Panels let you position comments in structured layouts that support clarity and user experience
These integrations turn the Comments control into a strategic tool for building collaborative, context-rich solutions that operate entirely inside SharePoint and Microsoft 365.
Conclusion
The new Comments control represents a significant enhancement to Ultimate Forms Modern Forms. It delivers familiar, intuitive communication features right where teams need them, integrated seamlessly into the SharePoint experience. By supporting mentions, email notifications, threaded discussions, and full compatibility with Microsoft’s native comment storage, this feature helps organizations strengthen collaboration, streamline workflows, and maintain clear communication trails.
Whether your team handles support tickets, HR processes, financial approvals, or operational tasks, the ability to hold meaningful discussions directly within the form creates a smoother and more transparent workflow. Comments bring people together around the data that matters, reducing delays and ensuring that important conversations never get lost.
Ultimate Forms continues to evolve modern forms with tools that empower organizations to deliver complete business solutions entirely inside SharePoint, without relying on external systems or custom code. The addition of the Comments control is another major step toward building more collaborative, efficient, and user-friendly processes for every team.
