Form Layout Options

TrueContext helps you deliver a best-in-class technician experience by offering a variety of layouts for different sections in your forms. The layouts that you choose depend on how you want to collect and display information. This topic describes each layout option and when to use it.

Info:
  • Some types of layouts are only available to customers on the Enterprise tier.
  • Form layouts apply only to forms when displayed in the Mobile App, not to output documents.
  • The topic Form Pages and Sections provides guidance on planning the structure of your forms.

Contents

Regular Section Layout Options

The following examples show the different layout options for a Regular SectionClosed A Regular Section is a set of related questions grouped together for easy reference. The data captured is “non-repeating”. That is, field users enter a single instance of each answer..

Side-by-Side

Enterprise Tier

A Side-by-Side section that shows the question labels on the left and answer fields on the right. The third question is a "Signature", which always displays full width.

A Side-by-Side Section is a variation of a Regular SectionClosed A Regular Section is a set of related questions grouped together for easy reference. The data captured is “non-repeating”. That is, field users enter a single instance of each answer.. The term Side-by-Side refers to a condensed, two-column, question-answer layout.

Use a Side-by-Side layout for:

Tip:To ensure the best user experience, some question types always display at full width in a Side-by-Side section.

Learn more about Side-by-Side sections

Multicolumn “Flow”

Enterprise Tier

macOS view of a Regular section with a Multicolumn Layout that spans six columns. The image shows how you can set up questions to span a specific number of columns, expand to fill empty space, and always start the next question on a new line.

The Multicolumn LayoutClosed A Multicolumn Layout is an Enterprise tier option for questions in a Regular Section. This highly flexible layout gives form designers control over how question are displayed on the Mobile App. gives you greater control over the presentation of Regular Sections. Questions “flow” from one to the next. The Multicolumn Layout includes options to:

  • Display more than one question per line.
  • Hide question text.
  • Set up a question to span multiple columns.
  • Insert manual line breaks.

Learn more about the Multicolumn Layout

Repeatable Section Layout Options

Repeatable SectionsClosed A Repeatable Section is a subform that contains a set of related questions. The data captured is “repeating”, because the field user can complete the same subform more than once, which creates multiple entries. display configurable Summary Table views that make it easy for field users to review, edit, and add information. The following examples show the different layout options for Summary Table views.

Note:Use a Repeatable SectionClosed A Repeatable Section is a subform that contains a set of related questions. The data captured is “repeating”, because the field user can complete the same subform more than once, which creates multiple entries. only for its intended purpose of adding information in a repeating subform. Do not use a Repeatable Section to achieve a particular layout. If you need additional layout options for questions in a Regular Section, consider upgrading to the Enterprise tier, which includes a Multicolumn Layout.

Summary Table Compact View

The Summary Table Compact ViewClosed The term "compact view" refers to a Summary Table in a Repeatable Section. The compact view displays the Summary Table "inline" with the rest of the form. The "full view", by contrast, displays only the Summary Table. is displayed in the main form.

Form that shows the Repeatable Section (subform) and Summary Table Compact View within the main form. The View All option opens the Summary Table in Full View

Enterprise Options—Compact View

Enterprise Tier

Customers on the Enterprise tier have additional layout options for the Summary Table Compact and Full views.

Hide headers

Choose the option to hide headers on the Mobile App if:

  • You want to simplify the display, especially on small screens.
  • Field users don't need the headers to understand what’s in each table cell.

HVAC System Inspection summary table compact view that hides the column headings. It's obvious from the field user's answers ("Furnace", "No Damage or Wear", that the headers aren't needed to provide context.

Wrap rows... and Show headers inset in cell

This example shows what the Summary Table looks like when a row wraps to a new line. The headers are displayed within each table cell.

HVAC System Inspection summary table compact view that shows the third column wrapped to a new line and the column headings "Unit Type", "Part Wear or Damage" and "Inspection Result" inset in the cells. It's obvious from the user's answers ("Furnace, No Wear or Damage", "No Repairs Required") that the headers don't provide much additional context.

Wrap rows... and Hide headers

This example shows the Summary Table with both the Wrap rows… and Hide headers options selected. This simplifies the on-screen display and saves space.

HVAC System Inspection summary table compact view that shows the third column wrapped to a new line and the column headings "Unit Type", "Part Wear or Damage" and "Inspection Result" inset in the cells. It's obvious from the user's answers ("Furnace, No Wear or Damage", "No Repairs Required") that the headers aren't needed to provide context.

Learn more about the Summary Table

Summary Table Full View

The Summary Table Full ViewClosed The term "full view" refers to a Summary Table in a Repeatable Section. When a field user selects the "View All" option, the table opens in full view, and no other part of the form is visible. The "compact view", by contrast, displays the Summary Table "inline" with the rest of the form. opens a new page that’s separate from the main form.

Enterprise Options—Full View

Enterprise Tier

Allow users to sort by column

This example shows the Summary Table full view sorted by the Cost column in ascending (increasing) order.

Tip:Sorting only changes the row display order, not the actual row order in the subrecord. To change the actual order, users drag a row to move it.

Allow users to filter by column

This example shows the Summary Table full view filtered by the Availability column. Only the rows with matching values are displayed.

Tip:You can filter on more than one column to limit the results even more.

Learn more about the Summary Table

Inline Editing

Advanced and Enterprise TierS

You can set up a Summary Table with inline editing to make it simpler for users to edit answers. When a field user taps the edit icon, only the selected question opens, not the whole subform. Inline editing works in both the Compact and Full views.

The following example shows how inline editing works when the Button Group question is set to the Display Value.

iOS view of the Summary Table that shows a pencil icon in the "Inspection results" field and the "Inspection Result" question open after the user taps the pencil icon.

If you set up a column to display a Control, users can edit directly in the table (Enterprise tier only).

Learn more about Inline Editing