Drop Down Lists
Drop Down List Elements
Drop down lists are used when there is only one choice from a defined list of items. In reporting, the data from a drop down list is represented by a pie chart, and with the raw data that constitutes the pie chart (Fig. 1). The first step in creating any element is to navigate to the area where elements are created. This is done by selecting ‘Build’, and then ‘Templates’ (Fig. 2). Drop Down Lists are created and edited by selecting ‘Elements’ and then selecting Drop Down List from the list of element types. (Fig. 3).
Figure 1 - Data display of a Drop Down List
The first step in creating any element is to navigate to the area where elements are created.
This is done by selecting ‘Build’, and then ‘Templates’ (Fig. 2)
Figure 2 - The Build Menu
Drop Down Lists are created and edited by selecting ‘Elements’ and then selecting Drop Down List from the list of element types. (Fig. 3).
Figure 3 - The Element Menu
To create a new Drop Down List, select ‘New’ (Fig. 3). This will produce the Drop Down List’s edit screen (Fig 4). Here you decide which of the 3 methods you will use to create the element. You can build the list from scratch by entering the name of the Drop Down List, and then entering items and ‘Adding’ them to the content of your list by clicking the Add’ button for each item.
Figure 4 - The Drop Down List’s edit window
The second option is to copy an existing Drop Down List (Fig. 5), giving the newly created element a name (Fig 6), and then making any edits or additions as necessary.
Figure 5 - Copying an existing Drop Down List
Figure 6 - A copied and named Drop Down List
The third option is to import an existing Value List (Fig. 7), and assign it to be the items names (Fig. 8).
Figure 7- Selecting a Value List
Figure 8 - An assigned Value List
The list of items with this option cannot be changed in any way,
unless the Value List itself is modified and if so this will affect all places where it is
used. Therefore assign Value Lists with caution.
When you have built and named your Drop Down List, select ‘Save & Close’ (Fig. 9).
Figure 9 - Saving a Drop Down List and closing the window
Drop Down List Element with Checklists
It is important to note that before you can create this type of element you must have first created the checklists that you will want to be using.
Please refer to the Checklist chapter with regards to creating checklists.
- Creating a Drop Down List Element with Checklists
A Drop Down List with Checklists is a drop down list that can have unique checklists for each of the possible selections. It is used when you want it to have a different check-list for each item on the list.
To begin, select the Drop Down List with Checklists from the Element Type, and then New (Fig. 1)
Figure 1 - Selecting the Drop Down List with checklist element
The Edit window (Fig. 2), allows you to either add items to the Drop Down List Content and attach checklists to them, or copy an existing drop down list and attach checklists to each item (any attached checklists are not copied, nor is the name of the element.) You can also add items without checklists and attach them later by editing the item (Fig. 3)
Figure 2 - The Edit window
Figure 3 - Linking a checklist
Each item has an ‘open link’ or a ‘closed link icon beside it.
When an item has a checklist attached to it, there is a ‘closed link’ , indicating that there is a checklist attached.
Also, rolling over the ‘closed link’ icon will revel the name of the attached checklist.
You can edit drop down list items by selecting the edit icon, and thus you can add or change the attached checklist:
- The Behavior of a Drop Down List with Checklists
When a Drop Down List with checklist is used in a template, you can control the behaviour of its attached checklists
Figure 4 - Setting the behaviour of the checklists in a Drop Down List with checklist in a template
A Drop Down List with Checklists has a ‘radio button’ behavior that is not found with regular checklists.
If this behavior is selected in a template, only one of the items in the list can be selected (Fig. 5).
Figure 5 - A Drop Down List with checklist being used with Radio Button behaviour implemented.
Drop Down List with Rubrics
Drop down list with rubrics is a drop down list that has explanations about each of the possible selections. It is used when you want it to be clear what the rating criteria is for each item on the list. However, the behaviour varies according to where it is used. When used on the web, there is enough room to display the entire rubric and thus the drop fowl list itself is not needed (Fig. 1).
Figure 1 - Drop Down List with Rubrics when viewed on the web
But on a handheld device which has limited space, the drop down list is used and when selected, the rubric itself is displayed. (Fig. 2)
Figure 2 - Drop Down List with Rubrics when viewed on an iPad
You create and edit this element by selecting Build, Templates from the Main Menu (Fig. 3) and then Elements (Fig. 4).
Figure 3 - Selecting from Main Menu to design an Element
Figure 4 - Selecting Elements
Next, you select ‘Drop Down List with Rubrics’ from Element Types (Fig. 5), and then select New.
Figure 5 - Selecting Drop Down List with Rubrics
The resulting edit window (Fig. 6) looks very much the same as a typical Drop Down List
with the exception that each item in the list has an additional rubric statement.
Figure 6 - The Drop Down List with Rubrics edit window
As with the Drop Down List edit window, there are 3 ways to create the element:
- Assign from a pre-built Value List (with the caution that the list itself cannot be edited), and then enter the rubric text
- Copy a pre-built Drop Down List with Rubrics (which can be fully edited)
- Manually enter the items and their descriptions
A populated element is shown in Figure 7.
A rubric that has the description filled in has a folder with a ‘+’. (Fig. 8) and if you added items
without entering a rubric statement, the items will have an ‘empty folder’ icon which indicates that the link is not complete as there is not a
description for the rubric. In order to enter the description, you select the ‘edit’ icon, and type (or paste) the wording you would like to use.
Figure 7 - A populated Drop Down List with Rubrics
When the element is complete, select Save & Done (Fig. 9)
Figure 9 - Saving the element