The Essay question type lets people enter multiple lines of text. For example, people can respond to essay questions or enter open-ended comments/feedback.
Add an Essay Field and Set Up the Definition Properties
1. Log in to the campus portal as an administrator and access EX FormFlow - Forms.
2. Click on the form you are working with.
3. Click Add Question. The Add Item window appears.
4. In the Unique ID field, enter an identifier for the dropdown.
5. From the Type drop-down pick list, select Essay.
6. In the Text field, enter and format the label you want to use to describe the essay field.
7. Text is automatically added to the left of the essay field. Use the Text Position options to move it to the top or right.
8. If you are grouping fields, enter the group name in the Group field. Each question being included in the group must have the same group name in this field.
9. If you are using a collection grid:
a. Select the grid you are associating the essay with from the Grid drop-down.
b. Select the appropriate Grid Function from the drop-down.
10. Click Save.
1. Log in to the campus portal as an administrator and access EX FormFlow - Forms.
2. Click Manage Forms. The Manage Forms page appears.
3. Click on the form you are working with.
4. Click on the tab you want to work with.
5. Right-click on the question/field and select Properties. The Edit Item window appears.
6. Click the Settings tab.
7. The question is automatically added to the left of the form page. Use the Alignment options to move it to the center or right.
8. To adjust how wide or high the essay appears, enter the size you want it in the Width and Height fields. You can use the percentage of 100 or use px, pt values. For example, if you want the essay field to be small, enter 50% or 50px.
9. Use the Font Size field to determine the font size of the text the user enters. TIP: Consider the height and width of your field. If you size them down and use a large font size, text may not appear.
10. Set up the attributes:
a. If you want to require users to select an option from the essay, select the Required check box.
b. If you want the essay to be shown to users, but unavailable to them to select from, select the Read Only check box.
c. If you want to make a question/field only visible in the report view or EX FormFlow - Workflow, select the Show Only in Report checkbox.
d. The Hide On Load setting can be used to hide a question on the form until another action takes place. * This setting will soon be discontinued. To show/hide a question, use question Rules options.
e. If you want the essay the user enters to be included in the form report summary table on the Report View, select the Include in Report Grid check box.
11. To have the essay show a particular text when the form user accesses the form, enter it in the Default Value field. Form users can update what is entered here. You can also use @@ string replacers in this field.
12. If your essay includes a value amount mapped to a selected Payment Profile, and you want to double the final balance amount, select the Add Double Value to Final balance checkbox.
* It is recommended that you use the Balance Calculator to modify the final balance as this setting will eventually be discontinued.
13. If your essay includes a value amount mapped to a selected Payment Profile, and you want to multiply the amount by the Fee Amount in the Payment Profile, select the Multiply Balance by Double Value check box. For example, an event participant is registering for an event and they have 3 guests attending with them. There's a fee and when they select the number attending this will multiple the fee of the event by 4.
* It is recommended that you use the Balance Calculator to modify the final balance as this setting will eventually be discontinued.
14. From the Map to Payment Field drop-down, select the essay information to be available in the payment portlet.
15. If you are associating the essay field with information in EXi Events, select the appropriate event field from the Map to EXi Event Field drop-down options. If you are using this drop-down with a multi-part event that allows invitees to select the events they are attending, see Build a Multi-Part Event Registration Form.
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This option is only available to schools with an EXi Events Management license. |
16. In the Help Info Text field, enter additional information or brief instructions for form users. Help information is shown next to a help icon that shows your text when the user hovers over or clicks on it.
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This option is only available to schools with a CRM Candidate license. |
17. Click Save.
Associate an Action with the Essay Field
You can use actions to control if anything happens when the form user enters particular information.
1. Log in to the campus portal as an administrator and access EX FormFlow - Forms.
1. Click Manage Forms. The Manage Forms page appears.
2. Click on the form you are working with.
3. Click on the tab you want to work with.
4. Right-click on the question/field and select Properties. The Edit Item window appears.
5. Click the Rules tab.
6. Click Add Step.
7. In the first drop-down, select the If or Else condition.
8. In the second drop-down, enter what user action causes something to happen.
9. In the third drop-down, select the action you want to happen.
10. Sample options include:
a. To show the form user a message, select Alert: Show message. A blank field appears where you can enter text you want shown in a pop-up notification.
b. To show or hide other form options based on what the forum user entered, use the group clear, hide, show, and toggle options. See Working with Grids for more information.
11. To include additional conditions before the action occurs:
a. Click Add Step.
b. Select Else from the first drop-down option.
c. From the second drop-down option, select the action to occur.
12. To have more than one action occur when the form user selects a particular option:
a. Click Add Step.
b. Select And from the first drop-down option.
c. From the second drop-down option, select the action to occur.
13. Repeat steps 6 - 12 to add as many actions and conditions as needed.
14. Click Save.