Types of data fields

Use to specify the text values that a user can choose from. Use text list values in the following ways.

• On the dashboard, use to group variables on summaries, for example, Total Hard Savings for each business unit.
• On the dashboard, use as filters, for example, show all projects in the Eastern and Southern regions.
• On forms, connect text lists to drop down, option, or list controls.

You can keep a blank row as the default value to prevent a project from reporting a value that a user did not intentionally choose.

Use to specify the numeric values that a user can choose from. Use numeric list values in the following ways.

• Use to convert text values to numeric values for use as inputs into formulas. For example, in a numeric formula, "yes" could equal 1 and "no" could equal 0.
• On forms, connect numeric lists to drop down, option, or list controls.

Use when data is a text string, with no line breaks or paragraphs. Use text values in the following ways.

• To allow users to enter multiple lines of text, including line breaks or paragraphs, choose a memo field instead.
• To limit users to a predefined list of values, choose a list field instead.
• On forms, connect text fields to text box controls.

Use memo values in the following ways.

• Use when data is multiple lines of text, including line breaks or paragraphs.
• On forms, connect memo fields to memo controls.

Use rich text values in the following ways.

• Use when single-value data is formatted as bulleted lists, bold, underlined, color, and so on.
• Use when single-value data is an image; images cannot be displayed on the dashboard.
• On forms, connect to a rich text control.

Use when data is a date. Use date values in the following ways.

• Choose from a short date format or a long date format.
• On forms, connect date fields to date picker controls.

Use when data is a decimal number or a percentage, or if users must enter scientific notation. If you specify the number of decimal places, then the maximum number of decimals that are stored and displayed is 9. If you do not specify the number of decimal places, then the maximum number of decimals that are stored and displayed is 15. Users can enter any number within the minimum/maximum you set. Use decimal values in the following ways.

• To limit users to a predefined list of numbers, choose a list field instead.
• On forms, connect decimal fields to numeric box controls.

Use when data is a whole number. Commonly used for financial data to prevent users from entering fractional currency. Users can enter any number within the minimum/maximum you set. Use integer values in the following ways.

• To limit users to a predefined list of numbers, choose a list field instead.
• On forms, connect integer fields to numeric box controls.

Use when data is a numeric result of a formula. Use numeric formula values in the following ways.

• Formulas use other fields to produce a result. For example, some formulas might add or subtract financial fields.
• On forms, connect numeric fields to numeric box controls.

Use to return a formula result as text. Use text formula values in the following ways.

• Most commonly used with text formula functions, such as concatenate, left, right, and so on.
• On forms, connect text formulas to text box controls.

Use when you need to calculate a date value based on another date value. Use text formula values in the following ways.

• Dates are measured in days. So, to calculate a date 2 weeks after the start date, the formula expression would be [Start Date] + 14.
• Use the DATE() function to construct dates out of day, month, and year components.
• On forms, connect to date picker controls.