How do I customize fields in a form?

To customize the behavior, appearance, and logic of fields in a form, Cflow offers a robust Field Properties panel with options grouped under Settings, Controls, Validation, and Advanced tabs.

Steps to Customize Fields in a Form

  1. Go to the Workflow Setup from the left panel.
  2. Select the required workflow (e.g., Expense Report).
  3. Click on the Form Creation tab.
  4. Select the stage (e.g., Initiator).
  5. Click on the field (e.g., Category) you want to customize.

  • The Field Properties panel opens where customization can be done.

Field Settings Explained

Settings Tab

  • Display Name: The label shown to users on the form. This is editable and can be renamed anytime.
  • Field Name: The internal name assigned to the field. This is system-generated and cannot be changed later.
  • Tooltip: Provide help text to guide users on how to fill the field. This appears as a small info icon next to the field.
  • Data Type: Choose the type of input the field should accept:

    • Alphabet + Numeric + Special Character
    • Alphabet + Numeric
    • Alphabet + Special Character
    • Integer
  • Width (%): Adjust the width of the field in percentage. For example, setting this to 30 makes the field occupy 30% of the row width.

Controls Tab

  • Valid Values: Available for Dropdowns, Radio Buttons, Checkboxes, etc. Enter the list of acceptable options for the field.
  • Default Value: Set a value that should appear by default when the form is loaded.
  • Display in Grid: Enable this option to show the field in the Stage Inbox table view.
  • Amount in Words: For numeric fields, this will convert the numeric amount into its word equivalent.
  • Active: Toggle this setting ON to activate the field. You can turn it off later without deleting the field.
  • Round Off: Rounds off decimal numbers to the nearest whole or decimal place.
  • Show Total: Available only for decimal fields inside tables. You can link it to a field outside the table to show the calculated sum.
  • Cumulative Field: Stores running totals based on each entry. Useful for keeping a log of field value additions over time.

Validation Tab

  • Mandatory: Makes the field required. The form cannot be submitted unless this field is filled.
  • Conditional Mandatory: Applies the mandatory rule only when specific conditions are met (e.g., if Department is ‘Finance’).
  • Unique: Ensures that no two requests have the same value in this field.
  • Read Only: Makes the field uneditable during certain stages.
  • Conditional Read Only: Sets the field to read-only based on custom logic or field values.
  • Visible: Controls whether the field should appear on the form.
  • Conditional Invisible: Allows hiding the field during runtime when conditions are met.

Advanced Tab

  • Arithmetic Operation: Perform math calculations using other fields (e.g., Quantity × Price = Total).
  • String Concatenation: Merge two or more field values into one (e.g., First Name + Last Name).
  • Date Calculation: Calculate date differences or future/past dates based on entered values.

Time Calculation: Subtract In Time from Out Time to determine working hours or shift durations.