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.
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Starting a new form

A quick primer on how to start a new form for collecting data with SurveyCTO.
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Using the online form designer

An introduction to SurveyCTO's online, drag-and-drop form designer.
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Draft vs. deployed forms

How to use draft vs. deployed forms when designing and revising your forms in SurveyCTO.
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Organizing your forms

How to keep your data-collection forms organized, by putting them into groups.
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Testing your forms

A summary of how you can (and should!) test your data-collection forms with SurveyCTO.
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Field type: text

Reference for the "text" field type, which prompts users to enter some text.
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Field type: integer

Reference for the "integer" field type, which prompts users to enter a number (without decimals).
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Field type: decimal

Reference for the "decimal" field type, which prompts users to enter a number (with decimals allowed).
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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.
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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.
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Field type: enumerator

Reference for the "enumerator" field type, which prompts users to identify themselves using specific enumerator names and IDs.
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Field type: geopoint

Reference for the "geopoint" field type, which captures a single GPS position.
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Field type: geoshape

Reference for the "geoshape" field type, which collects GPS coordinates that form a polygon enclosing an area.
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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.
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Field type: barcode

Reference for the "barcode" field type, which allows the user to scan a barcode (including, e.g., a QR code).
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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.
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Field type: image

Reference for the "image" field type, which prompts the user for an image (which can be a photo, drawing, or signature).
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Field type: audio

Reference for the "audio" field type, which prompts the user to select or record an audio clip.
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Field type: video

Reference for the "video" field type, which prompts the user to select or record a video clip.
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Field type: file

Reference for the "file" field type, which prompts the user to attach a file.
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Field type: note

Reference for the "note" field type, which displays some kind of note to the user.
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Field type: start

Reference for the "start" field type, which automatically captures the date and time the survey was started.
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Field type: end

Reference for the "end" field type, which automatically captures the date and time the survey was ended.
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Field type: deviceid

Reference for the "deviceid" field type, which automatically captures the unique ID of the device used to fill out the survey.
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Field type: subscriberid

Reference for the "subscriberid" field type, which automatically captures the subscriber ID associated with the device's SIM card, if any.
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Field type: simserial

Reference for the "simserial" field type, which automatically captures the serial number associated with the device's SIM card, if any.
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Field type: phonenumber

Reference for the "phonenumber" field type, which automatically captures the phone number associated with the device's SIM card, if any.
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Field type: username

Reference for the "username" field type, which automatically captures the username of the user filling out the form.
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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.
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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.
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Field type: calculate

Reference for the "calculate" field type, which automatically captures the results of a calculation (also used to pre-load data).
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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.
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Field type: text audit

Reference for the "text audit" field type, which automatically captures rich meta-data about survey administration.
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Field type: audio audit

Reference for the "audio audit" field type, which automatically captures audio recordings that help you to monitor survey administration.
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Field type: sensor_statistic

Reference for the "sensor_statistic" field type, which automatically captures summary statistics for device sensor meta-data.
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Field type: sensor_stream

Reference for the "sensor_stream" field type, which automatically captures detailed streams of device sensor meta-data.
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Learning from samples

How to use sample forms as working examples and starting points for your own forms.
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Other field properties

Information about other field properties that control whether a field is required, has an image or hint, etc.
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Grouping and repeating questions

How to group the fields in your forms, for organization or for repeating certain prompts more than once.
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Using constraints to validate responses

How to use constraints to validate field responses on the spot, while a user is filling out your form.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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