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Field Level Properties

Updated

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[Accordion] Overview

The Field Properties panel provides fine-grained control over every aspect of a field in your custom form, including its appearance, behavior, and how captured data is stored. As you add fields, you can configure their settings to match your exact requirements, from visual presentation to functional rules. 

This level of customization helps you build forms that are polished, intuitive, and consistent, guiding users smoothly through data entry while ensuring information is captured accurately and reliably.

[Note] The available properties for a field vary based on which field type is added to your custom form.

The Field Properties are listed on the Right Panel of the Form Builder.

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[Accordion] Basic Settings

  • Field Label: Defines the field’s display name, clearly indicating what information is expected and helping guide accurate, confident data entry
  • Field Label Font: Determines the font style and size for the field label
  • Description: A brief note shown below the field to help understand what information to enter
  • Description Font: Determines the font style, size, and color for the description
  • Mouse-over Text: Text that appears when you hover over the field, giving extra information or clarification
  • Required For Save: Marks the field as required, ensuring it must be completed before the form can be saved
  • Display in Records List: The information entered here will appear in the record listing for this form (only available when Required for Save is enabled)
  • Allow Layout Update: Causes the field to refresh whenever its value changes (useful when formulas or triggers may cause the field to expand or collapse)
  • Comments: Allows designers to add internal notes or instructions during form configuration (these comments are for internal reference only and are not visible to end users)
  • AI Prompts: Enter guidance to help the Clinical Scribe AI understand what type of information this field should capture when generating your note (you’ll need an active Clinical Scribe subscription for this option to be available)

[Accordion] Data Settings

  • Maximum Length: Sets the maximum number of characters allowed in the field, from 0 (unlimited input) to 8,000 characters
  • Default Value: Specifies the default value that appears in the field when a new record is created
  • Validation: Defines the data validation rules that restrict the types of input allowed (e.g., Numeric)
  • Minimum Limit: Sets the minimum allowable value for the field (applies only if numeric validation is enabled)
  • Maximum Limit: Sets the maximum allowable value for the field (applies only if numeric validation is enabled)
  • Decimal Places: Determines how many decimal digits are retained (applies only if numeric validation is enabled)
  • Read Only: Displays the field’s value without allowing users to edit it
  • Prevent Loading Latest: When enabled, this will prevent the field from automatically populating with the most recent saved value while using the Load Latest or Load Prior feature (instead, the field remains blank or uses its default value, encouraging entry of record-specific information rather than reusing prior data)
  • Timer Direction: Specifies whether the Timer control should count up or count down (applies only to Timer controls)
  • Hide Timer Reset Button: Determines if the Reset button in the Timer field is displayed (applies only to Timer controls)
  • Timer Display Format: Select the time unit used by the Timer field, such as seconds, minutes, or hours, for counting up or counting down (applies only to Timer controls)
  • Thousands Separator: Allows you to show or hide the thousands separator (commas) in numeric values, making large numbers easier to read and interpret (applies only if numeric validation is enabled)
  • Disable Buttons: Controls whether both increment and decrement options are available (applies only to Timer/Counter controls)
  • Increment Step: Specifies the amount to increment or decrement on each button click/tap (applies only to Timer/Counter controls)
  • Timer Tick: Indicates the timer interval (seconds) for the Timer field (applies only to Timer controls)
  • Reference Control: Allows you to reference data from controls on other forms (and optionally write back information to the source field)
  • Suppress Signature Image: Hides the displayed signature image but still stores it in the record (useful when you only need to store the signature data for backend or verification use, not display it)
  • HTML Source: Defines the HTML content that will be displayed within the Web Content control, enabling you to present formatted text, images, links, or other web-based content directly on the form (applies only to Web Content controls)
  • Show as Table: When enabled, it displays data in multiple individual columns; when disabled, data will be shown in a single column with delimiters between each field
  • Mouse Over Color: The color a link will display when you place your mouse over the field
  • Navigation Link: Allows you to set a link for navigation
  • Signer Type: Specifies the type of signer (e.g., Clinician, Supervisor, Clinician & Supervisor, Other) based on the Staff Info record's Staff Type
  • Patient is Signer: Specify if the signer will be the Patient (Yes) or anyone else (No) (applies only to External Signature controls)

[Accordion] Database Settings

  • Data Source: Specifies the origin of data that the field will display or use (choose either List Values, Data Source, Trigger Field, or Reference Control)

[Accordion] Formula Settings

  • Data Formula: Allows you to automatically calculate a field based on values from other fields within the form

Example:

CASE
  WHEN [Patient Demographics Max Phase: Age] >= 18 THEN 'Adult'
  ELSE 'Minor'
END

Result:
The field automatically displays “Adult” when the patient’s age is 18 or older; otherwise, it displays “Minor”

article_field_level_properties_formula_settings_3.1.png
  • Color Formula: Changes the color of a field dynamically based on defined conditions, helping highlight important conditions

Example:

Case 
When [Patient Demographics Max Phase: Age] > 18 then 1044630 
Else 1118696 end

Result:
The field automatically displays in red when the patient's age is less than 18 and green when the patient is more than 18 years of age.

[Tip] There are many free online resources available if you'd like to explore different color shades like this one.

  • Required Formula: Controls when a field becomes mandatory

Example:

Case 
When [Patient Demographics Max Phase: Age] > 18 then `Y` 
Else `N` end

Result:

The field is automatically marked as "Required" when the patient is over 18 years of age (indicated by the bold font and trailing asterisk)

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  • Field Visibility: Shows or hides a field based on conditions you define

Example: Hide the Patient Signature field if the patient is less than 18 years of age

Case 
When [Patient Demographics Max Phase: Age] > 18 then `Y` 
Else `N` 
End

Result: For patients under 18, the system automatically replaces the Patient Signature field with a Parent/Guardian Signature requirement to ensure proper legal consent.

  • Field Enable: Determines whether a field is editable or read-only

Example: 

Case 
When [Patient Demographics Max Phase: Age] > 18 then `Y` 
Else `N` 
End

Result:

The field automatically gets "Disabled" when the Patient is below 18 years of age (indicated by the grey background)

article_field_level_properties_formula_settings_5.png
  • Recalculate Data Formula On Load: Automatically recalculates formula-based fields each time the form is opened, rather than displaying the value that was previously saved in the record
  • Allow Signature Formula: Defines when, and under what conditions a digital signature control can be signed

Example: 

When the current logged-in patient is below 18 years of age, the formula prevents them from signing/saving the form

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Result:

article_field_level_properties_formula_settings_7.png

When the patient is below 18 years of age, a prompt appears informing that the signature cannot be saved by a minor.

[Accordion] Portal Settings

  • Portal Access Rights: Determines the field's visibility state when the form is sent to the Patient Portal

[Accordion] Formatting Settings

  • Data Format: Sets the display font for all fields
  • Label Alignment: Controls whether the label is aligned to the left, center, or right
  • Suppress Field Label: Prevents the field label from displaying
  • Don't Print: Ensures this field is excluded from any printed versions of the form
  • Don't Print If Empty: Prevents field from being printed if no value is entered (applicable if 'Don't Print' is set as "No")
  • Suppress Vertical Space After Field: Removes vertical space between the current field and the one beneath it
  • Report Field Name: Defines the name of the field as it will appear in the Report Builder when the form is used for generating reports
  • Height (Type): Determines how the field height is set (automatic or manual)
  • Height (Pixels, if Manual): Let's you set the height of the field (applicable when Height Type is set as Manual)
  • Width (Percentage): Defines how wide the field appears as a percentage of the available horizontal space (fields will continue to flow to the right of the previous field until the total width reaches 100%, at which point additional fields automatically move to the next line)
  • Display In Patient Note: When enabled, includes this field's data in Patient Notes shown within the Quick Info pane
  • Tag Name: Allows you to assign a custom tag identifier for the field type, which can be used while searching the form in the Custom Form Bulk Search module
  • Margin Left (Percentage): Sets the left margin width as a percentage
  • Margin Top: Sets the top margin spacing for the field
  • Margin Right (Percentage): Sets the right margin width as a percentage
  • Margin Bottom: Sets the bottom margin spacing for the field
  • Label Position: Determines whether the label appears to the Left or Top of the field
  • Label Width (Percentage): Sets the label width from 10-90% (available when the label position is set to left)
  • Print Style: Controls how the field appears in printed output—either displaying all options with selected items marked or showing only the checked items (applies only when the Hide List Check Box option is set to No)

[Accordion] FAQs

[Q] What’s the difference between a Data Source and a Reference Control?

[A]Data Source: Displays data that has already been saved and cannot be modified from the current form. However, it offers options to filter, sort, and limit the number of records shown, making it useful for retrieving specific historical information.
Reference Control: Links directly to a field on another Custom Form or the Demographics form. Unlike a Data Source, it supports edits when the Write Back to Reference Control property is set to 'Yes'.

[Q] What is the difference between “Read Only” and “Disabled”?

[A] Read-only fields display data but cannot be edited. Disabled fields are typically hidden or inactive and may not display stored values.

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