Designing forms - Core concepts
Introduction
An introduction to how you design data-collection forms in SurveyCTO, using the drag-and-drop form designer, directly editing form definitions in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, or some combination.
Read now...
Starting a new form
A quick primer on how to start a new form for collecting data with SurveyCTO.
Read now...
Using the online form designer
An introduction to SurveyCTO's online, drag-and-drop form designer.
Read now...
Draft vs. deployed forms
How to use draft vs. deployed forms when designing and revising your forms in SurveyCTO.
Read now...
Organizing your forms
How to keep your data-collection forms organized, by putting them into groups.
Read now...
Testing your forms
A summary of how you can (and should!) test your data-collection forms with SurveyCTO.
Read now...
Field type: text
Reference for the "text" field type, which prompts users to enter some text.
Read now...
Field type: integer
Reference for the "integer" field type, which prompts users to enter a number (without decimals).
Read now...
Field type: decimal
Reference for the "decimal" field type, which prompts users to enter a number (with decimals allowed).
Read now...
Field type: select_one
Reference for the "select_one" field type, which is a multiple-choice prompt that allows the user to select just a single option.
Read now...
Field type: select_multiple
Reference for the "select_multiple" field type, which is a multiple-choice prompt that allows the user to select multiple options.
Read now...
Field type: enumerator
Reference for the "enumerator" field type, which prompts users to identify themselves using specific enumerator names and IDs.
Read now...
Field type: geopoint
Reference for the "geopoint" field type, which captures a single GPS position.
Read now...
Field type: geoshape
Reference for the "geoshape" field type, which collects GPS coordinates that form a polygon enclosing an area.
Read now...
Field type: geotrace
Reference for the "geotrace" field type, which collects GPS coordinates that form either an open polyline or a closed polygon enclosing an area.
Read now...
Field type: barcode
Reference for the "barcode" field type, which allows the user to scan a barcode (including, e.g., a QR code).
Read now...
Field type: datetime, date, and time
Reference for the "datetime", "date", and "time" field types, which prompt the user to enter or select dates and times.
Read now...
Field type: image
Reference for the "image" field type, which prompts the user for an image (which can be a photo, drawing, or signature).
Read now...
Field type: audio
Reference for the "audio" field type, which prompts the user to select or record an audio clip.
Read now...
Field type: video
Reference for the "video" field type, which prompts the user to select or record a video clip.
Read now...
Field type: file
Reference for the "file" field type, which prompts the user to attach a file.
Read now...
Field type: note
Reference for the "note" field type, which displays some kind of note to the user.
Read now...
Field type: start
Reference for the "start" field type, which automatically captures the date and time the survey was started.
Read now...
Field type: end
Reference for the "end" field type, which automatically captures the date and time the survey was ended.
Read now...
Field type: deviceid
Reference for the "deviceid" field type, which automatically captures the unique ID of the device used to fill out the survey.
Read now...
Field type: subscriberid
Reference for the "subscriberid" field type, which automatically captures the subscriber ID associated with the device's SIM card, if any.
Read now...
Field type: simserial
Reference for the "simserial" field type, which automatically captures the serial number associated with the device's SIM card, if any.
Read now...
Field type: phonenumber
Reference for the "phonenumber" field type, which automatically captures the phone number associated with the device's SIM card, if any.
Read now...
Field type: username
Reference for the "username" field type, which automatically captures the username of the user filling out the form.
Read now...
Field type: caseid
Reference for the "caseid" field type, which automatically captures the unique ID of the case for which the form was filled out, if any.
Read now...
Field type: comments
Reference for the "comments" field type, which allows users to enter free-form comments associated with any field(s) when filling out the form.
Read now...
Field type: calculate
Reference for the "calculate" field type, which automatically captures the results of a calculation (also used to pre-load data).
Read now...
Field type: speed violations
Reference for the "speed violations" field types, which allow you to record information and/or audio recordings in response to users moving too quickly through the form.
Read now...
Field type: text audit
Reference for the "text audit" field type, which automatically captures rich meta-data about survey administration.
Read now...
Field type: audio audit
Reference for the "audio audit" field type, which automatically captures audio recordings that help you to monitor survey administration.
Read now...
Field type: sensor_statistic
Reference for the "sensor_statistic" field type, which automatically captures summary statistics for device sensor meta-data.
Read now...
Field type: sensor_stream
Reference for the "sensor_stream" field type, which automatically captures detailed streams of device sensor meta-data.
Read now...
Learning from samples
How to use sample forms as working examples and starting points for your own forms.
Read now...
Other field properties
Information about other field properties that control whether a field is required, has an image or hint, etc.
Read now...
Grouping and repeating questions
How to group the fields in your forms, for organization or for repeating certain prompts more than once.
Read now...
Using constraints to validate responses
How to use constraints to validate field responses on the spot, while a user is filling out your form.
Read now...
Implementing skip patterns with "relevance"
How to use relevance conditions to control which fields or groups of fields should appear in your form, depending on the situation.
Read now...
Using expressions in your forms: a reference for all operators and functions
How to construct expressions for your calculations, constraints, and relevance conditions, including a complete list of all operators and functions available to you.
Read now...
Updating an existing form
How to update an existing form, and implications for your data when your form changes during the course of data-collection.
Read now...
Missing data from old form versions
How to handle cases where it appears that data is missing or lost, because of changes in the structure of your data-collection form.
Read now...
