Data Type Visualization
In Data Storage point you can find more information about Data Types. Here we consider the Data Types in the context of visualization of fields on a form. The list of Data Types includes the following data types:
- Text
- Integer
- Number
- Boolean
- Calendar
- Location
- Complex
- Reference
- Spacer
Media and Document Data Types are not useful on Forms.
Text
- Text field with the None modifier is an empty field where you can enter text. If you select "Data Conversion" all text will be converted and saved as you select it.
- Text field with Multi-line modifier is used if you need to enter a lot of text.
- Text field with List of Values modifier is displayed like a drop down list of fixed values. The values are defined when you create a field. For the "Options" field you can enter a list - one value per line.
- Text with Value / Label List modifier is displayed like a drop down list of fixed values. Singularity of this modifier is that on a form you see a list of labels but when the form is processed you can use the values instead of long labels.
- Auto Number modifier is used if you need to sequentially enter number values for every form processing. After processing the proposed value will be increased.
- Dictionary modifier is used when you need access to resource records. On a form you will see a drop down list. Each item of the list represents a label field of the resource.
Integer
The integer data type represents a field for input numbers. The field has Min and Max limits. If limits are crossed, a form will not be processed and you will see an error message.
Number
Field of number data type represents a field for input numbers. It has Min and Max limits and also has a scale - you can set decimal places. Additionally it has a Units modifier for you to select different measurements like Length, Mass, Power, Pressure and many others and select a unit of measure for it.
Boolean
Boolean field on a form appears as a checkbox. If you check it, the true value will be submitted to a server, in other way false will be submitted to the server.
Calendar
The Calendar field is used to input a date. To simplify input you can click on the field and select date from popup calendar.
Location
Location field is used to display a map on a form. It always should be in a separate section.
Complex
Field of Complex data type with Address modifier is a set of fields, which includes Street, City, State, ZIP or Street, City, Region, Postcode, Country depends on Localization.
Complex field with Email modifier is a field for inputting an email. Singularity of this modifier is that the field has validation when the form is processed.
Complex field with Phone modifier is a field for inputting an email. This field has validation when the form is processed too.
Days of week modifier is displayed on a form as seven checkboxes, one checkbox per day of week. Month of Year is displayed on a form as twelve checkboxes, one checkbox per month.
Complex field with Number Range modifier is two input fields separated by a dash. It can be useful if you need to set a range of values. For example you can set a valid temperature value range.
Time Period modifier is useless on Forms.
Reference
Reference data type is used for displaying hierarchical data. It represents a drop down list of objects. For example, a data model includes two groups: Customer as a parent and Site as a child. If you add on a form two fields - Customer and Site of Reference type, you can see two drop down lists with Customer and Site objects. When you select the Customer, list of Sites will be adjusted.
Spacer
Spacer data type is used when you need to modify a field's order. Fields on a form are displayed in a series. If the form has a lot of fields, it is split up into columns. Spacer can be used, if you need to move some field relative to another one.
