Text¶

A short answer on one line. Letters, numbers and other characters are all allowed.

A sub-type adds a rule about what the text may contain. The box looks the same. Only what it refuses changes.

Use it for¶

A name, an address line, a job title.
A code or a reference that has no fixed list.
An email address, a web address or a phone number, with the matching sub-type.

Tip

When the answer comes from a fixed list, use a Select One instead. A list cannot be misspelt.

Settings¶

Every question has a Name, a Label, a Placeholder, Help Text, Required and Skip Logic. See Adding a question. Text adds these.

Setting	Description
Subtype	The rule the text must follow. See the table below. The default is None.
Validation: Min, Max	The shortest and longest answer, in characters. For a Phone number, in digits.

Sub-type	What it accepts
None	Anything.
Alphabetic	Letters, spaces, apostrophes and hyphens. Suitable for a name.
Numeric	Digits only. Use it for a code that is made of digits, such as a postcode. For a quantity, use Integer.
Email	A valid email address, such as `someone@example.org`.
URL	A valid web address, such as `https://example.org`. The box shows that example when you set no placeholder.
Phone number	Digits, spaces, brackets and hyphens, with a `+` allowed as the first character only.

A sub-type only applies to the Text type. A Long Text question has no sub-type.

Validation¶

A wrong answer shows a message under the question and the form does not submit.

Rule	Message
Alphabetic	Input should contain only alphabetic characters.
Numeric	Input should contain only numeric characters.
Email	Please enter a valid email.
URL	Please enter a valid URL.
Phone number	Please enter a valid phone number.
Min or Max	A message that names the limit, such as "This field must be up to 10 characters".

Combinations that matter¶

Phone numbers are stored as digits only. +44 (0)7700 900123 is stored as 4407700900123. An import applies the same rule, so a phone number in your file matches the stored value.
Skip Logic on another question can test a Text answer for equals or not equals. Spelling and case must match.
A URL becomes a link in the data table and on the record page.
A calculated field reads the text. concat(first_name, ' ', last_name) joins two Text answers.

How it looks¶

On the web the question is a one-line box, and the placeholder shows inside it. In the 3D app the placeholder shows under the label, and the box shows a short hint for the sub-type, such as Email address or Phone number.