Types of elements
- Text box (single line)
-
This allows you to capture a single line of text from the user. You can optionally limit the amount of text that the person enters by supplying the number in the appropriate box.
This element allows you to specify if you want the form to attempt to autofill certain data such as name, post, department, or phone number. This will only work if the form is on a page, or within a set of pages, that are password protected and require the user to log in with their ITS username and password. Without this authentication stage it's impossible to tell who the user is so the fields would just be left blank.
This element also allows the user to supply multiple responses. If set to allow this, when the user enters a value in to the element then a duplicate, empty element will automatically be created below giving the user the opportunity to enter another value. This goes on until they stop adding values.
- Drop-down list
-
Drop down lists can have options set by you, or they can be automatically populated with a country list, a list of titles (Dr, Mrs, etc.) or the UG/PG subject list for the current year.
To enter your own options list, type into the field next to or set options: (a new box will automatically appear ready for further options), and to remove options select the X that appears next to the box.
A drop-down list typically has one option that is allowed to be selected, though if you specify the multiple selection option then the user can select one or more options by using the control/command key when selecting.
- Radio buttons
-
Radio buttons allow you to present the user with a range of options and allow them to select just one (it is usually used for Yes/No type of responses).
Having filled in the label for this field, you enter your first option in the box provided (another box will be created for you to add further options, if you need them). You can remove options by selecting the X that appears next to each box.
You have the option to include an 'Other' option automatically. This will create a new radio button at the end of the list with the value 'Other' and also create a text box for the user to (optionally) give further details.
- Checkboxes
-
Checkboxes are added to the form in the same way as radio buttons. Checkboxes differ in that they allow more than one option to be selected.
- Text box (multiple lines)
-
This allows you to capture an arbitrarily long amount of free-form text from the user.
- Email address
-
Allows you to capture an email address. The value will be checked to make sure it is a valid format address.
With this form element you can optionally have an email sent to the given address on form submission. The email is generic unless the email messages option has been used.
Even if you have the send confirmation option selected, if the user has not entered an email address then no confirmation email will be sent. If you required a confirmation email to be sent then it is recommended that you also make this option a required element.
As with the text element, this element also gives an option to attempt to auto-fill with the person's ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ email address. And as with the text element, this also requires the form to be behind an authenticated area.
- Date input
-
Allows you to enter a date via an integrated pop-up calendar.
As with the text element, this element allows you to have multiple responses.
- Date range input
-
As with the date input but requires the user to add a start and end date. If the element is not required and the user completes only one of the dates (either the start or the end) then they will get a message requiring the other to be completed.
As with the text element, this element allows you to have multiple responses.
- Number input
-
Allows the user to enter a number (eg, number of visitors). You can optionally limit either the minimum value entered, the maximum value entered, or both the minimum and maximum value.
- Number input list
-
You can define a set of options and allow the user to enter a number next to each. You can optionally limit each of the values to a minimum and maximum value and optionally show that min/max to the user.
If you make this element required then it requires that the user enter a value for all of the options provided.
- File uploads
-
Allows the user to upload one or more files along with their submission.
You can allow a maximum of five files to be uploaded per file upload element (each file can be up to 5MB in size) and you can specify the types of files that can be allowed (be they documents such as docx or odt, or images such a jpg or png, or many other different types).
Files can only be exported when using the data export option, or they can be individually viewed in the results list.
- Postal address
-
Allows the user to enter their postal address.
In the form builder this is one element, but when shown to the user it will include a box for the house/street (including an extra box for those more complex addresses), town/city, county, postcode and (if no optionally set to UK-only) a country selection list.
- Captcha (spam protection)
-
A Captcha is a field in the form that displays some kind of image (typically either words or a number), obscured in some way, that the user must enter in a text box. This helps to stop automatic processes from completing your form and cuts down on the amount of spam you may get. It will not stop spam 100% but it may help.
If your form were behind authenticated pages then you would not really need to use this element.
There is no input for you to complete.
- Hidden form element
-
A hidden form element is not one that the user can complete but is passed along with the form and stored in the database.
One use case for this may be a marker for the forms. For example, you may have the same form for a period of time but occasionally change the value of the hidden element to indicate when the form was available andcompleted (eg, spring, summer, autumn, winter).
As with the text element, the hidden element allows auto-filling of certain types of data (the same conditions of use apply)
- Paragraph of text
-
This is not a form element for someone to complete but instead a block of text that you can place within your form.
There is no label to complete though you do need to enter the paragraph(s) of text.