Field Types
Overview
Wufoo makes building forms easy by providing pre built templates for the fields. Both common and smart fields are offered. Common fields are the basic form controls available to any web developer. They have no smart validation — they just accept user input. Smart fields are fields that we have created. They have a custom appearance, and they each have a certain type of validation associated with them.
Field validation is the process of checking the user input to make sure it meets certain requirements. For example, in a date field, you may want all data to meet the format of MM/DD/YYYY. Validation ensures that this happens. Since all of our smart fields have built in validation, the grunt work is removed from your end. In addition to validation, fields can take on other requirements such as required, unique, and admin only. You can learn about these additional requirements in the field properties documentation.
Common Fields
Single Line Text - This one line input field accepts all types of text. Entries into this field are limited to 255 characters. Best used for short answer questions such as, “What is your favorite color?”
Paragraph Text - Similar to the Single Line Text field, the Paragraph field also accepts all types of text. Additionally, this field spans across multiple lines and accepts more text than you will probably ever need. Best used for essay type questions.
Multiple Choice - This field presents a list of options to the user, but the catch is that they can only select one of the options. So, if you offer red, green, and blue as options then your users are forced to pick one of those three colors.
- Making a Multiple Choice Required : By default, the first choice in a multiple choice field will be selected. If you want to make sure the field is completed by the person filling out the form, you can click the ‘required’ checkbox. This will require the user to click a field other than the first multiple choice field. For example, if you had the question:
What color do you like?
and the answers
- Please Select an Answer
- Red
- Blue
- Green
Then you would want to add a field that is either blank or says something like ‘Please select an Answer’ as the very first answer and make it selected by default. When the user fills out the form, they will be required to click an answer other than the blank field.
Checkboxes - Like the Multiple Choice field, this field also presents a list of options. However, all or none of the options can be selected. Best used when there are multiple “correct” answers. For example, select all of the foods below that you enjoy eating.
Drop Down - A Drop Down allows users to select one option from a list. While this works identically to the Multiple Choice field. The difference is that this field saves space on your form because the list is combined into one box. Best used when there are an abundance of options, such as, “What state are you from?”
- Bulk Add : If you add a drop down field, you will see an option for Bulk Add underneath the choices. Just click this, and a window will pop up. In the window, place the list of your schools, separated by a newline, and then hit import. This will add them all as choices. Also note that if you do have a very large list, the import may take a little bit to run, so just give it awhile before trying to close the browser.
Smart Fields
Name - Use this field when you wish to find out the name of someone filling out your form. The Name field places 2 Single Line Text fields next to each other, with the labels “First” and “Last.” You can also opt to tag on “Title” and “Suffix,” which will create 4 Single Line Text fields on one line. No special validation is performed. If set to required, only the First and Last name will be required.
Time - This field formats hours, minutes, and seconds on one line. In addition to custom formatting, the Time field also requires that all input is an actual time. If a user were to input “36:10:54 AM” then they would receive an error notifying them of an invalid time.
Address - The Address field is created in a universal style, which allows for 2 street addresses, a city/region, postal code, and country. All fields are text fields, and the country field is a Drop Down. Also note that when browsing data submitted into the address field using the Entry Manager, a Yahoo! Maps graph will plot the address for you automatically.
Price - Accepting Dollars, Pounds, Euros, and Yen, the Price field is used to gather data that is in a monetary format. Any data entered into this field will be validated to ensure that it is numeric.
Number - The number field should be used when you wish to collect data that is in numerical format. For example, “How old are you?” If the users enters an ‘A’ then they will be notified that they must enter numeric data.
Date - Available in both American and European flavors, the Date field accepts valid dates. Additionally, a pop up calendar will appear next to the Date field, which allows users to easily select a date with their mouse.
Phone - The Phone field is also available in both American and International formats. The American version validates based on the data being numerical, and valid phone number lengths. They international version validates based on the data being numerical.
Web Site - The intended use of this field is to collect URL’s, or website addresses. For example, http://www.wufoo.com. Only a valid URL may be entered into this field. Also, when using Wufoo reporting or exporting, this data will automatically be formatted as a hyperlink.
Email - Collect your emails with the Email field. Only valid emails can be entered, which means both an ‘@’ and ‘.’ character are found, as well as a length of greater than or equal to 2 for the email domain. Also, when using Wufoo reporting or exporting, this data will automatically be formatted as a hyperlink.
File Upload - Only available to paid accounts, the File Upload field allows your form users to attach a file to their form submission. An example use would be for collecting resume submissions. Once submitted, the files can be viewed by the Wufoo admin in the Entry Manager.
Allowable File Types : Wufoo will allow most files to be uploaded with the exception of potentially malicious files such as .exe or other files that may cause harm.
Upload Limitations : Each file uploaded field is limited to 10 MB per submission. Each form can only have up to 20MB submitted at one time.
Other Fields
Section Break - While the Section Break field does not accept data, it does offer you the ability to place a large amount of text on your form. This field is best thought of as a paragraph — if you wish to write instructions, detailed questions, or have visual breaks on your form then the Section Break field is your choice. This field will not appear on Reports.
