Information Types¶
Definition¶
Information comes in a number of different types, formats in which a value can be entered into a field.
By selecting the information type for a field, you prevent a letter being an acceptable answer in the field 'Phone number', or you make sure that only a valid date can be entered in the field 'Date of Birth'.
Options¶
Below is a brief description for each information type.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Boolean | Yes or No, and no other value. |
| Text (single line) | A short text on one line. A regular expression restricts which answers are accepted, in the JavaScript flavour described on developer.mozilla.org. Example: an input that does not look like an email address is not accepted. |
| Text (multiple lines) | A longer text over several lines. It accepts markdown for **bold** and *italic*, and a field that is not being edited shows it rendered. |
| Rich Text | A longer text formatted in an editor instead of as markup, with bold, italic and bulleted or numbered lists. It cannot be calculated, and a rule reads its text without the formatting through RICH_TEXT_TO_PLAIN_TEXT. |
| Number (integer) | A number without decimal. |
| Number (decimal) | A number with decimal. |
| Number (with unit) | A number with a measurement unit. Example: an amount with a currency. |
| List (single answer) | A single choice from a given list of answers, like a taxonomy. |
| List (multiple answers) | Multiple choices from a given list of answers, like a taxonomy. |
| Date | A valid date. |
| Date and Time | A valid date with a time of day. Each user sees it in their own time zone, and in the one set on your configuration until they pick their own. |
| File | A single uploaded file, in a format and size you allow. Example: a passport copy. |
| Files | Multiple uploaded files in one field, up to the number you allow. |
| Relationship | A reference to another instance, for example a 'parent' relationship pointing to a person's father or mother. See Relationship Information. |
| JSON (new in Atfinity 17) | A whole JSON object or array in one field, so data that belongs together is not split up. See JSON Information. |
| SVG (new in Atfinity 18) | A picture drawn from a template that reads the values of the instance. No one can enter or change it. See SVG Information. |
| Structure | Several sub-fields grouped together, with the group able to repeat, like an address or a beneficiary. See Structured Information. |
The format, size and number you allow on a File or Files field hold when a user uploads a file, when a proof is assigned to the field, and when a rule assigns one. An upload or an assignment that does not fit is refused and says which restriction it crossed, while a rule leaves the field untouched and records a case error naming the field and the restriction. Files already in a case keep their field when the case or an instance is copied, whatever the field allows now.
Changing the type of an existing information¶
Once an information is live, its type can only be changed to one its values can be converted to.
The existing case values are converted at Put Live, so a value that cannot be converted has to be corrected or cleared in the affected cases first.