Categorization of forms to aid in form search

In a computer network environment, a method for facilitating searching for a form by associating forms with categories using a training model, the method comprising:

• creating a training model using form features for non-text field characteristics or field-specific text characteristics of forms in a collection of forms, wherein the non-text field characteristics indicate a relation between multiple field locations, and the field-specific text characteristics indicate an association between a form field and a label of the form field;
• determining category feature vectors based on the training model, each category feature vector indicating form features associated with a category in a quantity of categories;
• determining form feature vectors based on the training model, each form feature vector indicating form features associated with a respective received form;
• automatically associating, by a processor of a computing device, a set of forms with respective categories in the quantity of categories, using the training model and based on a similarity between the category feature vectors and form features associated with the set of forms;
• automatically determining, based on form features of a particular form of the set of more forms, a combination of at least two categories to which the particular form belongs;
• automatically adjusting the quantity of categories to include a combined category based on the combination of the at least two categories;
• storing the forms and respective categories at an electronic form search server;
• providing search results from the electronic form search server based on the combined category of the forms, wherein the search results include an identified form based on the form being associated with at least two categories;
• and
• automatically modifying the training model to associate forms with respective categories in the adjusted quantity of categories.

A system comprising:

• a processing device;
• and
• a memory device communicatively coupled to the processing device,
• wherein the processing device is configured to execute instructions included in the memory device to perform operations comprising:
• receiving a quantity of categories, each category indicating a form feature, wherein the form features include (i) non-text field characteristics indicating a relation between multiple field locations, and (ii) field-specific text characteristics indicating an association between a form field and a label of the form field;
• determining a category feature vector for each of the categories, each respective category feature vector indicating form features associated with the respective category;
• determining a form feature vector for a set of forms, each respective form feature vector indicating form features associated with the respective form;
• automatically associating, by the processing device, the set of forms with respective categories of the quantity of categories, the association based on a similarity between the category feature vectors of the respective categories and the form feature vectors of the set of forms;
• automatically determining, based on form features of a particular form of the set of forms, a combination of at least two categories to which the particular form belongs;
• automatically adjusting the quantity of categories to include a combined category based on the combination of the at least two categories;
• storing the forms and the respective categories associated with the forms at an electronic form search server;
• and
• providing search results from the electronic form search server based on input identifying the combined category, a form identified as a search result based on the form being associated with the at least two categories.