diff --git a/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormOptionalText.test.js b/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormOptionalText.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ab859e305bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormOptionalText.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { mount } from "@vue/test-utils";
+import { getLocalVue } from "tests/jest/helpers";
+import FormOptionalText from "./FormOptionalText";
+
+const localVue = getLocalVue();
+
+describe("FormOptionalText", () => {
+    const mountFormOptionalText = async (props) =>
+        await mount(FormOptionalText, {
+            propsData: props,
+            localVue,
+        });
+
+    it("should display existing values", async () => {
+        const v = "somevalue";
+        const wrapper = await mountFormOptionalText({ value: v });
+        const el = wrapper.find("input");
+        expect(el.element.checked).toEqual(true);
+        const elText = wrapper.find("input[type='text']");
+        expect(elText.element.value).toEqual(v);
+        await el.setChecked(false);
+        expect(wrapper.emitted().input[0][0]).toEqual(null);
+        await el.setChecked(true);
+        expect(wrapper.emitted().input[1][0]).toEqual("");
+    });
+
+    it("should initialize with null if value does not exist", async () => {
+        const v = null;
+        const wrapper = await mountFormOptionalText({ value: v });
+        const el = wrapper.find("input");
+        expect(el.element.checked).toEqual(false);
+        await wrapper.setProps({ value: "" });
+        expect(el.element.checked).toEqual(true);
+    });
+});
diff --git a/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormOptionalText.vue b/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormOptionalText.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d399d48af58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormOptionalText.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+<template>
+    <div>
+        <b-form-checkbox v-model="currentStatus" class="ui-switch" switch>
+            Set value for this optional select field?
+        </b-form-checkbox>
+        <FormText
+            v-if="currentStatus"
+            :id="id"
+            v-model="currentValue"
+            :readonly="readonly"
+            :value="value"
+            :area="area"
+            :placeholder="placeholder"
+            :multiple="multiple"
+            :datalist="datalist"
+            :type="type" />
+    </div>
+</template>
+
+<script>
+import FormText from "./FormText";
+export default {
+    components: {
+        FormText,
+    },
+    props: {
+        value: {
+            default: "",
+        },
+        id: {
+            type: String,
+            default: null,
+        },
+        type: {
+            type: String,
+            default: "text",
+        },
+        area: {
+            // <textarea> instead of <input> element
+            type: Boolean,
+            default: false,
+        },
+        multiple: {
+            // Allow multiple entries to be created
+            type: Boolean,
+            default: false,
+        },
+        readonly: {
+            type: Boolean,
+            default: false,
+        },
+        placeholder: {
+            type: String,
+            default: null,
+        },
+        datalist: {
+            // Display list of suggestions in autocomplete dialog
+            type: Array,
+            default: null,
+        },
+    },
+    data() {
+        return {
+            status: false,
+        };
+    },
+    computed: {
+        currentValue: {
+            get() {
+                return this.value;
+            },
+            set(val) {
+                this.$emit("input", val);
+            },
+        },
+        currentStatus: {
+            get() {
+                return this.status || this.value !== null;
+            },
+            set(val) {
+                this.status = Boolean(val);
+                if (this.status) {
+                    this.currentValue = "";
+                } else {
+                    this.currentValue = null;
+                }
+            },
+        },
+    },
+};
+</script>
diff --git a/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormText.test.js b/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormText.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0a4c2953b06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormText.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import { mount } from "@vue/test-utils";
+import { getLocalVue } from "tests/jest/helpers";
+import FormText from "./FormText";
+
+const localVue = getLocalVue();
+
+describe("FormText", () => {
+    const mountFormText = async (props) =>
+        await mount(FormText, {
+            propsData: props,
+            localVue,
+        });
+
+    it("should render the appropriate input type", async () => {
+        const wrapper = await mountFormText({});
+        const el = wrapper.find("input[type='text']");
+        expect(el.exists()).toBe(true);
+        await wrapper.setProps({ type: "password" });
+        const elPassword = wrapper.find("input[type='password']");
+        expect(elPassword.exists()).toBe(true);
+        await wrapper.setProps({ type: "anyothertype" });
+        const elOtherType = wrapper.find("input[type='text']");
+        expect(elOtherType.exists()).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it("should render the appropriate component", async () => {
+        const wrapper = await mountFormText({ area: true });
+        const el = wrapper.find("textarea");
+        expect(el.exists()).toBe(true);
+        await wrapper.setProps({ area: false, multiple: true });
+        const elMultiple = wrapper.find("textarea");
+        expect(elMultiple.exists()).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it("should be able to render a datalist", async () => {
+        const wrapper = await mountFormText({ id: "text-input", datalist: ["one", "two", "three"] });
+        let el = wrapper.find("datalist");
+        expect(el.exists()).toBe(true);
+        el = wrapper.find("option");
+        expect(el.exists()).toBe(true);
+        el = wrapper.find("[list='text-input-datalist']");
+        expect(el.exists()).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it("should be able to render border and text color from props", async () => {
+        const wrapper = await mountFormText({});
+        const el = wrapper.find("input");
+        expect(el.element.style).toMatchObject({});
+        await wrapper.setProps({ color: "green" });
+        expect(el.element.style).toMatchObject({ color: "green", "border-color": "green" });
+        await wrapper.setProps({ cls: "my-custom-class" });
+        expect(el.element.classList).toContain("my-custom-class");
+    });
+
+    it("should be able to accept a default value", async () => {
+        const v = "something";
+        const wrapper = await mountFormText({ value: v });
+        const el = wrapper.find("input");
+        expect(el.props("value")).toEqual(v);
+    });
+
+    it("should be able to accept an array as value", async () => {
+        const v = ["field_1", "field_2", "field_3"];
+        const wrapper = await mountFormText({ value: v });
+        const el = wrapper.find("input");
+        expect(el.props("value")).toEqual("field_1");
+        await wrapper.setProps({ multiple: true });
+        const elMultiple = wrapper.find("textarea");
+        expect(elMultiple.props("value")).toEqual("field_1\nfield_2\nfield_3\n");
+    });
+
+    it("should be able to accept an empty array as value", async () => {
+        const v = [];
+        const wrapper = await mountFormText({ value: v });
+        const el = wrapper.find("input");
+        expect(el.props("value")).toEqual("");
+    });
+});
diff --git a/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormText.vue b/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormText.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8a07155ae4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/components/Form/Elements/FormText.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+<template>
+    <b-row align-v="center">
+        <b-col>
+            <b-form-textarea
+                v-if="inputArea"
+                :id="id"
+                v-model="currentValue"
+                :class="['ui-text-area', cls]"
+                :readonly="readonly"
+                :placeholder="placeholder"
+                :style="style" />
+            <b-form-input
+                v-else
+                :id="id"
+                v-model="currentValue"
+                :class="['ui-input', cls]"
+                :readonly="readonly"
+                :placeholder="placeholder"
+                :style="style"
+                :type="acceptedTypes"
+                :list="`${id}-datalist`" />
+            <datalist v-if="datalist && !inputArea" :id="`${id}-datalist`">
+                <option v-for="data in datalist" :key="data.value" :label="data.label" :value="data.value" />
+            </datalist>
+        </b-col>
+    </b-row>
+</template>
+
+<script>
+export default {
+    props: {
+        value: {
+            // String; Array for multiple
+            default: "",
+        },
+        id: {
+            type: String,
+            default: "",
+        },
+        type: {
+            type: String,
+            default: "text",
+        },
+        area: {
+            // <textarea> instead of <input> element
+            type: Boolean,
+            default: false,
+        },
+        multiple: {
+            // Allow multiple entries to be created
+            type: Boolean,
+            default: false,
+        },
+        readonly: {
+            type: Boolean,
+            default: false,
+        },
+        placeholder: {
+            type: String,
+            default: "",
+        },
+        color: {
+            type: String,
+            default: null,
+        },
+        cls: {
+            // Refers to an optional custom css class name
+            type: String,
+            default: null,
+        },
+        datalist: {
+            // Display list of suggestions in autocomplete dialog
+            type: Array,
+            default: null,
+        },
+    },
+    computed: {
+        acceptedTypes() {
+            return ["text", "password"].includes(this.type) ? this.type : "text";
+        },
+        currentValue: {
+            get() {
+                const v = this.value ?? "";
+                if (Array.isArray(v)) {
+                    if (v.length === 0) {
+                        return "";
+                    }
+                    return this.multiple
+                        ? this.value.reduce((str_value, v) => str_value + String(v) + "\n", "")
+                        : String(this.value[0]);
+                }
+                return String(v);
+            },
+            set(newVal, oldVal) {
+                if (newVal !== oldVal) {
+                    this.$emit("input", newVal);
+                }
+            },
+        },
+        inputArea() {
+            return this.area || this.multiple;
+        },
+        style() {
+            return this.color
+                ? {
+                      color: this.color,
+                      "border-color": this.color,
+                  }
+                : null;
+        },
+    },
+};
+</script>
+<style scoped>
+.ui-input-linked {
+    border-left-width: 0.5rem;
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/client/src/components/Form/FormElement.test.js b/client/src/components/Form/FormElement.test.js
index ef20e91452d..79a7770442f 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Form/FormElement.test.js
+++ b/client/src/components/Form/FormElement.test.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { mount } from "@vue/test-utils";
 import { getLocalVue } from "tests/jest/helpers";
 import FormElement from "./FormElement";
 import FormHidden from "./Elements/FormHidden";
-import FormInput from "./Elements/FormInput";
+import FormText from "./Elements/FormText";
 
 const localVue = getLocalVue();
 
@@ -70,12 +70,17 @@ describe("FormElement", () => {
 
     it("check type matching", async () => {
         await wrapper.setProps({ type: "text" });
-        expect(wrapper.findComponent(FormInput).exists()).toBe(true);
+        expect(wrapper.findComponent(FormText).exists()).toBe(true);
         expect(wrapper.findComponent(FormHidden).exists()).toBe(false);
 
         await wrapper.setProps({ attributes: { titleonly: true } });
         expect(wrapper.findComponent(FormHidden).exists()).toBe(true);
-        expect(wrapper.findComponent(FormInput).exists()).toBe(false);
+        expect(wrapper.findComponent(FormText).exists()).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it("displays as the correct type if is_workflow is true", async () => {
+        await wrapper.setProps({ type: "data_column", attributes: { is_workflow: true } });
+        expect(wrapper.findComponent(FormText).exists()).toBe(true);
     });
 
     it("marks required values", async () => {
diff --git a/client/src/components/Form/FormElement.vue b/client/src/components/Form/FormElement.vue
index 3906594e94a..9df07595047 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Form/FormElement.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/Form/FormElement.vue
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import FormSelection from "./Elements/FormSelection.vue";
 import FormColor from "./Elements/FormColor.vue";
 import FormDirectory from "./Elements/FormDirectory.vue";
 import FormNumber from "./Elements/FormNumber.vue";
+import FormText from "./Elements/FormText.vue";
+import FormOptionalText from "./Elements/FormOptionalText.vue";
 import FormRulesEdit from "./Elements/FormRulesEdit.vue";
 import { FontAwesomeIcon } from "@fortawesome/vue-fontawesome";
 import { ref, computed, useAttrs } from "vue";
@@ -214,7 +216,6 @@ const isOptional = computed(() => !isRequired.value && attrs.value["optional"] !
                 - optional
             </span>
         </div>
-
         <div v-if="showField" class="ui-form-field" :data-label="props.title">
             <FormBoolean v-if="props.type === 'boolean'" :id="props.id" v-model="currentValue" />
             <FormHidden v-else-if="isHiddenType" :id="props.id" v-model="currentValue" :info="attrs['info']" />
@@ -226,6 +227,33 @@ const isOptional = computed(() => !isRequired.value && attrs.value["optional"] !
                 :min="attrs.min"
                 :type="props.type ?? 'float'"
                 :workflow-building-mode="workflowBuildingMode" />
+            <FormOptionalText
+                v-else-if="props.type === 'select' && attrs.is_workflow && attrs.optional"
+                :id="id"
+                v-model="currentValue"
+                :readonly="attrs.readonly"
+                :value="attrs.value"
+                :area="attrs.area"
+                :placeholder="attrs.placeholder"
+                :multiple="attrs.multiple"
+                :datalist="attrs.datalist"
+                :type="props.type" />
+            <FormText
+                v-else-if="
+                    ['text', 'password'].includes(props.type) ||
+                    (attrs.is_workflow && ['select', 'genomebuild', 'data_column', 'group_tag'].includes(props.type))
+                "
+                :id="id"
+                v-model="currentValue"
+                :readonly="attrs.readonly"
+                :value="attrs.value"
+                :area="attrs.area"
+                :placeholder="attrs.placeholder"
+                :color="attrs.color"
+                :multiple="attrs.multiple"
+                :cls="attrs.cls"
+                :datalist="attrs.datalist"
+                :type="props.type" />
             <FormSelection
                 v-else-if="props.type === 'select' && ['radio', 'checkboxes'].includes(attrs.display)"
                 :id="id"
@@ -237,7 +265,7 @@ const isOptional = computed(() => !isRequired.value && attrs.value["optional"] !
                 :multiple="attrs.multiple" />
             <FormColor v-else-if="props.type === 'color'" :id="props.id" v-model="currentValue" />
             <FormDirectory v-else-if="props.type === 'directory_uri'" v-model="currentValue" />
-            <FormRulesEdit v-else-if="type == 'rules'" v-model="currentValue" :target="attrs.target" />
+            <FormRulesEdit v-else-if="props.type == 'rules'" v-model="currentValue" :target="attrs.target" />
             <FormParameter
                 v-else-if="backbonejs"
                 :id="props.id"
diff --git a/client/src/components/Workflow/Editor/Forms/FormDefault.vue b/client/src/components/Workflow/Editor/Forms/FormDefault.vue
index 2dba36a8b7b..a247948d5f4 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Workflow/Editor/Forms/FormDefault.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/Workflow/Editor/Forms/FormDefault.vue
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export default {
         },
         nodeContentId: {
             type: String,
-            required: true,
+            default: null,
         },
         nodeAnnotation: {
             type: String,
diff --git a/client/src/components/Workflow/Editor/Forms/FormTool.vue b/client/src/components/Workflow/Editor/Forms/FormTool.vue
index 0a6d4399522..40ab90861fc 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Workflow/Editor/Forms/FormTool.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/Workflow/Editor/Forms/FormTool.vue
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export default {
         },
         nodeLabel: {
             type: String,
-            required: true,
+            default: null,
         },
         nodeInputs: {
             type: Array,
diff --git a/client/src/components/Workflow/Run/model.js b/client/src/components/Workflow/Run/model.js
index 9be78546cff..bea7ef083b5 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Workflow/Run/model.js
+++ b/client/src/components/Workflow/Run/model.js
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ export class WorkflowRunModel {
                 name: wp_name,
                 type: "text",
                 color: `hsl( ${++wp_count * 100}, 70%, 30% )`,
-                style: "ui-form-wp-source",
+                cls: "ui-input-linked",
                 links: [],
                 optional: true,
             });
@@ -122,8 +122,7 @@ export class WorkflowRunModel {
                     wp_input.links.push(step);
                     input.wp_linked = true;
                     input.type = "text";
-                    input.backdrop = true;
-                    input.style = "ui-form-wp-target";
+                    input.cls = "ui-input-linked";
                 });
             });
             _.each(step.replacement_parameters, (wp_name) => {
diff --git a/client/src/utils/navigation/navigation.yml b/client/src/utils/navigation/navigation.yml
index 1167759fe3a..869da96d6ae 100644
--- a/client/src/utils/navigation/navigation.yml
+++ b/client/src/utils/navigation/navigation.yml
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ tool_form:
     options: '.tool-dropdown'
     execute: 'button#execute'
     parameter_div: 'div.ui-form-element[id="form-element-${parameter}"]'
-    parameter_checkbox: 'div.ui-form-element[id="form-element-${parameter}"] .ui-switch div'
+    parameter_checkbox: 'div.ui-form-element[id="form-element-${parameter}"] .ui-switch'
     parameter_input: 'div.ui-form-element[id="form-element-${parameter}"] .ui-input'
     parameter_textarea: 'div.ui-form-element[id="form-element-${parameter}"] textarea'
     reference: '.formatted-reference'
diff --git a/lib/galaxy_test/selenium/test_personal_information.py b/lib/galaxy_test/selenium/test_personal_information.py
index 4e5985814fc..74fdcb7e99b 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy_test/selenium/test_personal_information.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy_test/selenium/test_personal_information.py
@@ -135,7 +135,9 @@ class TestManageInformation(SeleniumTestCase):
         element.send_keys(new_input_text)
 
     def get_address_input_field(self, address_form, input_field_label):
-        return address_form.find_element(self.by.CSS_SELECTOR, f"[data-label='{input_field_label}'] > input")
+        return address_form.find_element(
+            self.by.CSS_SELECTOR, f"[data-label='{input_field_label}'] > div > div > input"
+        )
 
 
 class TestDeleteCurrentAccount(SeleniumTestCase):
diff --git a/lib/galaxy_test/selenium/test_workflow_editor.py b/lib/galaxy_test/selenium/test_workflow_editor.py
index f7de0383af0..88ef6c9c9ea 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy_test/selenium/test_workflow_editor.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy_test/selenium/test_workflow_editor.py
@@ -101,11 +101,8 @@ class TestWorkflowEditor(SeleniumTestCase, RunsWorkflows):
         node = editor.node._(label="select_from_dataset_optional")
         node.title.wait_for_and_click()
         self.components.tool_form.parameter_checkbox(parameter="select_single").wait_for_and_click()
-        # External (selenium-side) debounce hack for old backbone input
-        # TODO: remove when form elements are all converted.
-        self.components.tool_form.parameter_input(parameter="select_single").wait_for_and_send_keys("parameter valu")
-        self.sleep_for(self.wait_types.UX_RENDER)
-        self.components.tool_form.parameter_input(parameter="select_single").wait_for_and_send_keys("e")
+        self.components.tool_form.parameter_input(parameter="select_single").wait_for_and_send_keys("parameter value")
+        # onSetData does an extra POST to build_modules, so we need to wait for that ...
         self.sleep_for(self.wait_types.UX_RENDER)
         self.assert_workflow_has_changes_and_save()
         workflow = self.workflow_populator.download_workflow(workflow_id)