Form Input Types
Last updated: 09 May 2012, 15:55
When you add questions to your web forms, you can choose how you want those questions to present themselves to the user, and what kind of input control the user can use to provide an answer to the question. The list below shows all the different Input Types that you can use, along with a brief description.
The name of each input type is a link to further information. Each type contains descriptions under the following headings:
- Mandatory
How the items behave if you make the question mandatory - Parameters
Describes all of the different things that you can enter into the Parameters box to make the item behave in different ways. - Default Value(s)
Describes whether or not the input type allows you to define default value(s) for the question. - Resource Gallery for Allowed Value Images
Describes whether or not the input type allows you to define a resource gallery that is used to display images to the user. - Query String Key
Describes whether the input type alllows you to pass a value for the question in the query string part of the form's URL, should you want to.
AddressAllows a user to enter an address that comprises Line 1, Line 2, Town, County, Postcode and Country.
Auto Complete TextPresents a text box that can accept one of a range of allowed values. As the user types, the box suggests which of the allowed values the user is typing, allowing the user to easily select the item. Use when there are more allowed values than would easily fit into a dropdown list.
CAPTCHA ImagePresents an image that contains some obscured characters. The user must type the characters as s/he sees on the screen to prove that s/he is human. This helps to prevent spam.
CheckboxA simple checkbox for recording yes/no answers. Note that an un-ticked checkbox can either mean "no", or "not answered". If you need to tell the difference, use a dropdown list with the values "Yes" and "No".
Checkbox ListPresents a list of options which allows a user to select zero, one, or more of the options.
Country DropdownPresents a dropdown list that is automatically populated with a list of all countries.
Current User Email AddressIf the user is logged on, this will be the Email Address of the currently logged in user. This will be read-only. If the user is not logged in, this will display as a Single Line Text box to allow the user to add their email address.
Current User NameIf the user is logged on, this will be the Name of the currently logged in user. This will be read-only. If the user is not logged in, this will display as a Single Line Text box to allow the user to add their name.
DateAllows a user to enter a date into a text box in the format 'dd/mm/yyyy'. The label is suffixed with '(dd/mm/yyyy)'.
Date PickerThis outputs an input based on two dropdowns (Day, Month) and a text box or dropdown for year.
Date/TimeA date picker followed by two boxes for hours and minutes.
DropdownDisplays a dropdown list that allows the user to pick one option from a list of possible answers.
Duplicate Text EntryDisplays two single line text boxes, one above the other. The content of the second box must match what was entered in the first box.
Email AddressDisplays a single-line text box for the user to type in their email address. This will be validated to ensure that it is in the correct format. Note that it does not guarantee a valid, working, email address - just that it is in the correct format.
FileAllows a user to select a file which will be uploaded when the form is submitted. If the form is emailed, the file will be attached to the email. If the form is saved into the database, the file is discarded. Note that no virus protection is carried out - it is your responsibility to scan incoming emails for viruses. You can optionally save the file to a resource gallery, restrict it to a maximum size, and if the file is a JPG image, scale it.
Gift Aid CheckboxThis displays a checkbox to allow a visitor to declare that they wish the website to claim Gift Aid on his or her donation. It uses JavaScript linked to the donation amount box to immediately show the visitor the amount of Gift Aid that will be claimed on his donation.
Hidden ValueSubmits a value with the form that the user never sees.
Multi Line TextA large text box which allows users to enter multiple lines of text.
NumberA Single Line Text box which will only allow users to enter numeric values. (Note that a numeric value may include a decimal point and must not contain spaces or commas. So the following are valid: 1; 2.3; 231.234. The following are not valid: 1,000; 100 000; 0113 2507799)
Number TotalDisplays a box that automatically works out the total of all 'Number' input boxes on the form.
PasswordDisplays two single line text boxes, one above the other. The content of the second box must match what was entered in the first box. The value that the user types is represented by password-style characters.
Posting ContentThis acts as a placeholder which lets you add rich content to the middle of the form. The content is maintained in a seperate posting, so you can add rich text, images, links, and formatting to the content. The content of the posting is displayed in position on the form. When you add an input of this type and view the form in unpublished mode, the form displays instructions that you can follow to correctly set up your form content.
Note: this is display-only - nothing is submitted with the form
Posting Content (Submitted)This is exactly the same as 'Posting Content', but the display name of the posting that you create to hold the placeholder content is submitted along with the submitted form values.
Radio Button Grid HeadingDefines the question of a grid-style survey and the allowed answers that you expect the user to choose from. You then add any number of Radio Button Grid Rows underneath to allow a user to easily answer a number of questions all with the same possible answers.
Radio Button Grid RowAllows you to define a sub-question of a survey that was started by using a Radio Button Grid Heading form item.
Radio ButtonsDisplays a list of radio buttons that allow the user to pick one option from a list of possible answers.
Recipient SelectorDisplays a dropdown of options that you can define. The option that the user selects will determine the email address that the form is submitted to. The user never sees the actual email address.
Reference NumberIf you add a Reference Number item to your form, the question is not displayed. Instead, a unique reference number is generated when the form is submitted. The number is displayed to the user when they submit the form, and is submitted along with the other form values. You can define the format of the number.
Repeating Section Start/Repeating Section EndAllows you to define the start and end of a section of questions which repeats a number of times in a tabular format. All form items between the start and the end item are repeated in a grid format.
Section HeadingYou can split a form into sections using Section Headings. A section heading is displayed as a title within your form. If your site's design supports multi-paged forms, a section heading defines a new page of the form.
Selection With DetailPresents a dropdown list of selectable values. When a user selects certain values, they are presented with a suplimentary question which they can answer by typing into a text box.
Single Line TextDisplays a text box which allows a user to enter text on a single line.
Text Or DropdownPresents a dropdown that contains a list of optional values alongside a text box. The user can select a value from the dropdown or type a value into the text box.
Text or Radio ButtonsPresents a list of radio buttons that allow the user to select one of multiple options alongside a text box. The user can select a value from the dropdown or type a value into the text box.
TimeDisplays two boxes for hours and minutes
User Property: xxxIf there is a user signed into your website, these input types display as controls that are pre-filled with the associated value from the user's profile. Using other settings on the form, these values can be used to update the user's profile every time he or she submits the form.
