When you create a form, you have many different field types of input available to you. You see a screen as shown below when you create your custom form and begin the process of adding fields to your form. You can open the Custom Forms from the menu drop-down, Manage > Custom Forms.
Text Box
A text box is the simplest type of input. When you create a text box, it is a simple box where a customer inputs data. The images show what you'll see when you are creating a Text Box field. The Col Span (or column span) would likely be one, but that can vary if you have fields appearing next to this field on the form. If you want this field to appear when the form is printed, click Yes in the Radio button box. You can apply filter masks under the Input Type drop-down. You can use either Phone Number or e-Mail filter masks. Enter the Field Name in the Name box, the customer doesn't see the field name. The Prompt is what the customer will see. Here I entered Student First Name. Then choose the columns and Max Length. The columns is in pixels for the actual size of the text box, the Max Length is the amount of characters that can be entered by the public. You can make this field Required by checking in the box. Click 'Finish'.
Note: You are not able to use a field name of Name or Date.
Here is a preview of the text box that we just created. I also added the Student Last Name field. Note the red asterisk next to the Field Names as they are required fields.
We have added functionality to Custom Forms to include if-then required fields. In the example below, if the Student2FirstName field is completed, then Student 2 Last Name would be a required field.
Text Area
The next Input Type is Text Area. This is similar to a text box, but there is more space for the customer to enter more characters. Below is a Text area that I added to our form to determine if the child has any medical conditions. The rows will determine how wide your column appears and the columns is how many characters can be entered.
The image below shows how the form will look to the public. This Text Area field is also a required field as indicated by the asterisk.
Drop Down List Box
The next field type available is a Drop Down List box. We started creating the List box as shown below. Select the Input Type, the Column Span and the Print settings as before. Enter the Name and the Prompt. Click 'Next' to add the Drop Down choices.
Then click 'Add Choice', to add the Drop Down text as shown below. Enter your Drop Down choices in the available boxes after clicking 'Add Choice'. You must add a Value in the Value column. If your drop down text is lengthy and want smaller results in your reports this is very useful. Press 'Save' when you are finished entering. Note, I entered select in the top line, this way there will be no selection of a grade made by default.
Your form now has the Drop Down as shown below for the Student's Grade. This is how the form would appear to the public.
List Box
The List Box is similar to the Drop Down List box except there is no Drop Down. It's just a box with values the public selects. Enter the field name in the Name Field, the Prompt (which is visible to the public), Rows and your Choices. Click 'Save' when completed.
The List Box is shown below as seen by the public. The parent just needs to select the Grade for their student.
Multiple List Box
The Multiple List Box is similar to the List Box except the public can choose more than one item on the List. Input the Name field, Prompt, Rows and Choices as shown below. The Multiple List Box can not be a required field.
The Multiple List Box as seen by the public. Notice the public can choose more than one item by holding down the Control key on the Keyboard while they click.
Radio Button List
Another Field Type is the Radio Button List. Enter the Name field, Prompt, Column and Choices. Note: The Radio Button List can be a required field.
The image below shows the Radio Button List public view.
Check Box List
Check Box List is a field type that allows you to build a list where all the choices will be required. Enter the Field Name in the Name box and enter a prompt in the Prompt box. Choose the amount of columns you wish your Check Box List to display. In the example below, I selected 1 Column so the choices will be displayed vertically to the public. Enter all your choices and click 'Save' when finished. This field type allows required fields.
The Check Box List shown below is how the public will see the form. Parents must check all of the boxes or they will not be able to submit the form. The parents will see an error message if the form is not completed.
HTML
You can create .html blocks within your form. These blocks will not collect data but will provide details or instructions for completing the form. You will begin on this page.
After you select HTML, you will then see the HTML editor. You don't need to know .html programming with the built-in editor!
Working with the .html editor is much like working in a program like MSWord. You can apply many items from the tools on the top several rows. You can change your text attributes to Bold, Italics, choose different fonts and type sizes, align your text and insert images!
Below is how the form appears to the public with the .html box included. If you selected this form to be a Participant Form, you will see all the students for this user account listed at the bottom of the form.
The last Input Type is a Calendar field. Choose the Column Span and whether you want this field to appear on your printed forms.
When completed, press the 'Save' button.
Below is how the Date/Calendar field will appear to the public. I've clicked on the Calendar to show the drop down field. You can navigate the calendar by clicking on the arrows and double-arrows.
We have now covered all of the Input Types available in the Custom Forms in ePayTrak. See how we have applied these basics in the Custom Form Creation section.