Activity Field Types

Field Type

Example

Purpose

Checkbox List

Boxes that are selected or cleared to turn a value on or off. You can select more than one value. For more information, see Checkboxes and Drop-Down Lists.

Single Checkbox

A box that is selected or cleared to turn a value on or off. This is typically used to confirm a record or to opt to display in directory. For more information, see Checkboxes and Drop-Down Lists

Date 

A combination of month, day, term, or year fields. The Date field enables users to enter a date by picking the month or term from a drop-down list, and/or typing the day and year into a text box with validation rules. For more information, see Date Fields.

Drop-Down List

List of predefined values from which users can select only one value. The drop-down list ensures data integrity and consistency, and limits input values to those designated by your campus. All drop down lists have type ahead functionality available, allowing users to see a list of pre-defined options as they input data. Drop-down fields are commonly used when selecting the department, position/rank, and academic year. For more information, see Checkboxes and Drop-Down Lists.

Dynamic Sub-Answer (DSA)

Enables user to create multiple sub-records within a record. Enables users to associate one record with multiple sub-records. This is helpful when associating multiple contributors with intellectual contribution records. For more information, see Dynamic Sub-Answers (DSAs).

Numeric

Numerical values with validation rules: integers, decimals, percentages or currency. Numerical value fields are commonly used to capture credit hours, number of undergraduate students advised and teaching workload percentage.

Phone Number

Stores integers in a phone number format.

Radio Button

Selects the text of the field label as the response for the record. Mutually Exclusive of other response options. This field type is commonly used to collect responses using a Likert scale and as compliance options for Conflict of Interest screens.

Record Reference

List of records entered by the user in another screen from which the user can select only one value. You can choose to display values from one or more fields within this reference drop-down field. Creates an association between two records, so this field type can be used by users' to associate their intellectual contributions with presentations and user-defined goals with objectives. For more information, see Record Reference.

Store File

Store a file to supplement activity data. Creates a central repository of files such as photographs, syllabi, full-texts of intellectual contributions and presentation files related to teaching, research and service. 

Text Area

Multiple lines of up to 20,000 characters that allow users' to add text such as a brief biography, description of pedagogical innovations and brief description of responsibilities. (See below for more information on character limits)

Text Box

Single line of characters. Commonly used to include the title of an article, course names, name of a sponsoring organization or web address in a record.

Time

Stores integers in a time format. This is useful when needing to record course time or office hours. 

User Reference

Search box of your instrument's user accounts. Should specify whether the creator of the record or all users associated with the record should have the ability to edit/delete the record. For additional information, see User Reference.

This field is commonly used to add authors, presenters, instructors or inventors in a record. 

Yes/No 

Drop-down list with yes and no values. Used to answer a yes/no question and can typically be used to determine whether the course is a new preparation, if the faculty is on tenure track, or if they are on leave.