How to create a list provided by a Data Source or input a custom answer in the response form

About this article

This article will explain how to allow the user to select an answer from a fixed list originating from the data sources or allow the user to insert free text input in the response form so it can be utilized to populate the smart template. 

• How to allow selecting an answer from a fixed list or inputting a different answer in the response form
• Flexible dropdown question example

Prerequisites

How to allow selecting an answer from a fixed list or inputting a different answer in the response form? 

When building the response form, the Flexible dropdown question can be utilized to allow the user to pick from an existing list of answers originating from data sources, or to enter a custom text. Creating a Flexible dropdown question can be achieved by following these steps: 

1. In the Template Designer, navigate to the Form tab
2. Click Add question 
3. Select Flexible dropdown in the Type dropdown
4. Enter the Question title
   This will be displayed to end-user and will guide them to provide the relevant answer
5. Select the Data source
   The data source containing the list of answers necessary for the question
6. Select the Label column
   The column of the data source that should be displayed to end-users when answering the question (reference schema fields cannot be used as the Label column).
7. Optionally, set additional settings to the question
   • Required: Enable this option if the user should be prevented from finalizing the generation of the template if the input is missing. An asterisk will be displayed in the response form to indicate that the question is mandatory. 
   • Filter options: Narrow down the list based on other questions or on the user profile. This section will only be displayed if the flexible dropdown is eligible for filtering. 
   • Reference name: Will be prepopulated based on the question title. The reference name will be displayed when utilizing the form responses smart field and is also the Name utilized in the binding syntax.  
   • Prefill text: Prepopulate the question to guide the user when filling in the response form of the expected answer. The prefill text can be edited and will remain when the user selects the question. 
   • Spacing before: Edit the space between the question and the elements above it in the response form (none, medium, or large).
   • Space after: Edit the space between the question and the elements below it in the response form (none, medium, or large).
   • Helptext prefix: Add additional help text above the question to guide the user when filling in the response form of the expected answer.
   • Helptext postfix: Add additional help text below the question to guide the user when filling in the response form of the expected answer.
   • Share value: Enable this option if the same question will be utilized in the response form of dynamic text elements or slides that would be inserted when generating a document or a presentation. The answer to this question will be reused to avoid prompting the user with redundant questions.
8. Click Add to form
   
   • The Flexible dropdown question will be added to the response form 
   • The question will be displayed in the form responses smart field using its Reference name 
   • Reference name of the question can be utilized in binding syntax to achieve more complex use cases using the Custom text binding smart field or to set template settings and properties.

Flexible dropdown question example

Select or input a sign off

Create a Flexible dropdown question using " Sign off:" as the Question title, linking to the SignOffs data source, and displaying the name column of the SignOffs data source. 

SignOffs data source sample

Related articles