A system updates a portable processing device with the latest version of customized data collection forms and associated data for use in acquisition of particular types of data for communication to a remote clinical information database. A system for providing forms for use in data collection by a portable processing device includes a form creator for creating an electronic form for use in collecting data, in response to user command. The system includes a repository of created electronic forms and a form version detector for detecting whether a newer version of a form currently stored in a portable processing device is available. A communication processor initiates communication of data representing a newer version form derived from the repository to the portable processing device in response to detection of availability of the newer version. The form creator generates data associated with an individual created form for use in providing a button displayed in an image on a portable processing device and includes a preview generator for initiating generation of a preview image of a form under construction based on user entered form configuration information.