Help Center

Depending on the type of content you wish to display or data you wish to capture, you need to select the appropriate field type to use. Field types are organised into 5 broad categories:

• Basic fields
  • Information - display instructions, warnings, or confirmations
  • Text - capture a single line or paragraph of text
  • Number - capture numerical input such as integers or decimals
  • Date/Time - capture a date, time, or date and time
• Choice fields
  • Select (one/many) - capture a selection from a list of options
  • Cascading select - capture a selection from a hierarchical list of options
  • Likert - capture a response from a list of options presented on a scale
• Media fields
  • Image - capture or upload an image/photo file
  • Audio - capture or upload an audio file
  • Video - capture or upload a video file
  • Signature - capture a signature
  • Document - upload a document
• Advanced fields
  • Calculated Value - use built-in functions and operators to calculate and store a value in a hidden field
  • Location - capture a geographic point using GPS or map input
  • Barcode - scan or enter a barcode or QR code
  • Embedded Form (Premium+ only) - allow another form to be completed in-line
  • Custom Widget (Premium+ only) - include custom HTML content within the form
• Layout fields
  • Group - group related fields together to apply repeat or skip logic

Field settings

All fields in a form are given a unique identifier - called the Field name (1). This is used to identify responses to the field when analysing or exporting data. It is also used to reference the field from elsewhere in the form (e.g. to use the value in a calculation). When you add a field, it is given a default name but you should update it to something short and descriptive. The name must be unique within the form and cannot contain spaces or other characters other than underscores ("_"). Simply click on the field name to edit it.

Most field types also generally allow you to specify display text (2) - the content that is shown when the form is displayed. Simply click on the display text to modify it (basic formatting is supported). 

Depending on the field type, additional settings may also apply: 

Basic settings tab (3)

Here you can manage the most common settings for the field. The settings available depends on the field type and can include:

• Hint text - optionally add additional tips or instructions to your fieldworkers about the response required. 
• Default response - optionally choose a value that the field should be pre-populated with for the fieldworker.
• Answer format - for Text field types you can indicate the format of the expected response, e.g. single line vs paragraph text response. This is only editable until you have published the field.
• Required - if selected, a value/response is mandatory. This is only available to field types that expect an input of some kind.

Skip logic tab (4)

In this tab you can manage rules for when to show or hide a field. For more details and examples, read here.

Validation tab (5)

In this tab you can add rules to determine whether a response is valid or not. For more details and examples, read here.

Option list tab (6)

For Choice fields (i.e. Select, Cascading and Likert field types) you have to specify the options from which respondents can choose. In this tab you can add and remove options one by one or in bulk. You can also reorder your options, and update their labels and values at any time. For more details and examples, read here.