How to create a list provided by a data source or input a custom answer in the response form

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

How to allow selecting an answer from a fixed list or allow free input

When building the response form, the Flexible dropdown question can be used to allow the user to pick from an existing list of answers originating from a data source, or to enter a custom text. It can be created by following the steps below: 

1. In Template Designer, open the Form tab.
2. Click + Add question.
3. In the Type field select Flexible dropdown.
4. In Question title type the question. This is the question that will be displayed to the end-user.
5. Select the Data source containing the list of answers necessary for the question.
6. Select the Label column of the data source that should be displayed to end-users when answering the question.
7. Optionally, set additional settings:
   
   • Required: Enable this option if the user should be prevented from finalizing the generation of the document if the input is missing. An asterisk will be displayed in the response form to indicate that the question is mandatory.
   • Hint text: Prepopulate the question to guide the user when filling in the response form. The hint text will be deleted when the user starts typing in the field.
   • Filter options: Narrow down the list based on other dropdown questions from the response form or based on User Profile fields.
     

     Note This section will only be displayed if the dropdown is eligible for filtering.

   • Reference name: Will be prepopulated based on the question title. The reference name will be displayed when using the form responses and is also the name used in the binding syntax.
   • Prefill text: Prepopulate the question with one of the answers from the list. The answer is editable by the end-user.
   • Spacing before: Edit the space between the question and the elements above it in the response form (None, Medium, or Large).
   • Spacing 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.
   • Helptext postfix: Add additional help text below the question to guide the user.
   • Share value: Enable this option if the same question is used in the response form of dynamic text elements or slides that can be inserted when generating a document or a presentation. The answer to the question will be reused to avoid prompting the user with redundant questions.
8. Click Add to form.
   

   Tip Once the question has been created you can click Preview form to see how the question will appear to the end-user.

Example

In this example the Closings data source is used:

In the template a 'Closing' question is created, that is linked to the Name column of the Closings data source:

This is how the question appears to the end-user. The flexible dropdown shows the two closings from the data source, but the user can also enter a custom text: