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Display subsets of linked fields on applications, inquiries, forms

Brent Graber

April 25, 2023 20:08

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We have some use cases where it would be handy to display a subset of options on a linked field. Examples include making a form less off-putting and making a form less prone to human error.

• Less off-putting: When seeking gender information it would be nice to link to the built-in gender field and additional genders we might add, but maybe not display "Unknown."
• Less error-prone: We have degree-program combinations that are suitable for some kinds of students but not others. It would be nice to filter a larger degree-program list to display only legitimate options when someone completes an application. For example, if a student says they're interested in completing a degree online, we'd like to show a conditional linked field with only the online options. (We have a similar use case that would be based on whether the student needs a visa to study in person in the U.S.)

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6 comments

• 2
  
  Clay McFerrin April 25, 2023 21:09

  Hey Brent,

  I'm not a Populi employee, but I was curious about your comment on the gender field - are you sure that your prospective students are actually seeing the "Unknown" option? Our inquiry and application forms don't display that value in the user's view, even though we can see it in Staff view.

  

   

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  Adam Sentz April 25, 2023 21:45

  Clay McFerrin is correct. You'll only see "Unknown" when editing the Gender field directly on a profile. 

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  Brent Graber April 26, 2023 11:49

  Well, that's a relief. The second use case still pertains, right?

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  Clay McFerrin April 26, 2023 13:24

  I agree that it would be handy to have the option to set specific answer choices, in addition to the questions themselves, as conditional.

  If you need this for any non-linked fields, I think you could accomplish this by setting up a conditional question with the appropriate choices for each case in the original question.

  • Q1: Where do you plan to live while studying? A: On campus; B: Off-campus; C: Off-campus with family
  • Q2 [Only if Q1=A]: Which dorm?
  • Q2 [Only if Q1<>A]: What is the address?

  For the degrees specifically, since each application must be linked to a program, I imagine the workaround at this point would be to set up separate programs (i.e., Undergraduate Online, Undergraduate Campus, Graduate Online, Graduate Campus, F-1 Visa), with only the corresponding degrees linked to each program. Then each program could have its own application form, and would show only the available degrees. This would probably be pretty complex for your Academic Admins.

  But I could be totally wrong, in which case hopefully Adam or somebody will correct me.

  Edited by Clay McFerrin April 26, 2023 13:28
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  Brent Graber April 26, 2023 13:42

  Currently we're doing exactly as you've described--multiple applications linked to specific programs, and conditional unlinked fields that display only when relevant. Additionally, for fields that could have been linked originally (and weren't for a variety of reasons) I have a script that attempts to copy applicant responses in the various applications to the proper linked field. That's what I was considering doing for gender when I stumbled across the "additional gender" options, and it's inelegant even when the options in the unlinked and official fields align precisely.

   

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  Clay McFerrin April 26, 2023 13:59

  Well, sounds like y'all are on top of it! Like you, we had several fields that were originally set up as being unlinked, but I think we've been able to replace them all with linked fields at this point.

  Best of luck!