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	Information of the boolean type only accepts Yes or No as an answer. No other value is possible, so there is no nuance.
Text (single line)	This information type is suited when the answer should be text and is expected to be short. This information type also allows to use Regular Expressions. Atfinity accepts regular expressions in the JavaScript flavour as described on developer.mozilla.org. Regular expressions (or RegEx) allow Atfinity to recognise valid answers, based on their structure. Example email address: If an input does not look like an email address it is not accepted.
Text (multiple lines)	Choose this type when the text information is expected to be longer than a single name or word.
Number (integer)	A number without decimal.
Number (decimal)	A number with decimal.
Number (with unit)	A number with measurement unit. Example: Amount with currency
List (single answer)	This information type accepts a single choice from a given list of answers, like a taxonomy.
List (multiple answers)	This information type accepts multiple choices from a given list of answers, like a taxonomy.
Date	‌This information type accepts a valid date.
File	A single uploaded file, in a format and size you allow. For 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)	Holds a whole JSON object or array in one field, so data that belongs together is not split up. See JSON Information.
Structure	Groups several sub-fields together and lets the group repeat, like an address or a beneficiary. See Structured Information.

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.