{"id":49352,"date":"2024-11-01T12:48:25","date_gmt":"2024-11-01T12:48:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/123formbuilder.polarbuildingcleaning.net\/docs\/?p=49352"},"modified":"2024-11-06T08:08:38","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T08:08:38","slug":"switch-between-field-types","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/123formbuilder.polarbuildingcleaning.net\/docs\/switch-between-field-types\/","title":{"rendered":"Switch between field types"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever added a field to your form, and spent time customizing it, only to realize that another field type would better suit your question? With our new field-switching feature, you no longer need to recreate fields from scratch and lose your work. The field-switching feature allows you to seamlessly convert field types while retaining shared properties, making form building more flexible and efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to switch field types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Start by selecting the field that you need to change. It is important to mention that only certain field types are compatible for switching; we will discuss these options in detail later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, select the fields Settings<\/b> icon to open the right-side panel. When a field can be changed, the first option in the right-side panel will be a dropdown titled Change field type<\/b> that contains the compatible field types available for switching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Change<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Once you select a new field type, the system carries over common properties such as Labels<\/em>, Instructions<\/em>, and other options to the new field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Field compatibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The field-switching feature supports two main categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Choice fields<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can switch between Single choice<\/b>, Multiple choice<\/b>, and Dropdown<\/b> fields. This is useful if, for example, you start with a single choice question and later decide a dropdown format fits better within your form’s structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Switch<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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2. Text fields<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here you can choose between Short answer<\/b>, Long answer<\/b>, Email<\/b>, Phone number<\/b>, Link<\/b>, and Number <\/b>fields. If you initially choose a Short answer but realize that your question might need a more detailed answer, you can easily change the field to a Long answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Switch<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Important mentions for live forms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your form is already live and collecting submissions, there is an important consideration when changing field types: all collected data for that field will be lost<\/b>. This happens because the field-switching action creates a new field, even though common properties remain the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before switching field types on a form that has already gathered submissions, you will receive an alert notifying you about this potential data loss with an option to Duplicate & convert<\/b> the new field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Field<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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The original field can be hidden using the Hide field <\/b>option in the right-side panel. This way, the field no longer displays on the form but allows you to keep all the collected data in the Submissions<\/a><\/b> table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s also important to take into consideration that if you convert a field that was part of conditional logic<\/a> rules<\/b> (Field Rules, Form Rules, or Email Rules), you will need to update those rules<\/b>. Remember that converting a field deletes the original, thus causing any logic that references it to break, so you’ll need to reconfigure the rules with the new field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Related articles<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n