Use hints to direct user input in TIER
Overview
Place hints on many TIER controls to give users additional direction on how to enter data on a document.
Details
In Form Design you can add a hint to a TierEdit to explain to the user the type of data that needs to be entered.
There are two types of user hints.
- Field hint – the words describing the control will appear in the lower left corner of the document
- Rollover hint – the words describing the control will appear in a tooltip when you hover the pointer over the control
Add Field hints
- In TIER Design, select the control.
- In the Object Inspector, in the Hint field enter a user-friendly description.
- Save the form and test the hint. Notice that the field hint appears in the lower left corner of the document.
Add Rollover hints
- In TIER Design, select the control.
- In the Object Inspector, in the Hint field enter a user-friendly description followed by a pipe symbol [ | ].
- Save the form and test the hint. Notice that the hint appears in a tooltip when you hover the pointer over the control.
Combine hints
Looking to combine the two types of hints together? Add the Rollover hint first, then add the Field hint afterwards on the same line. These two values can be the same or different.
In the example below, the Field hint will say 'Date' while the Rollover hint will say 'Enter the Date in this field'.
| Object Inspector setting | Form results |
|---|---|
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Additional Notes
- The length of a Field hint is 120 characters and will only display for the length of the document.
- The length for the Rollover hint can be several lines long, up to 900 characters and 10 lines.
- To purposely break the hint onto specific lines, insert #13 between the words. For example: Hint = Enter the Date in this field.#13Press F1 for more help.|Date.
- As always, test your hints before assuming they will display properly. To manage a hint this way, you have to first write it in the Object Inspector then click on the form and press Alt + F12 to view the form in text mode. Jump to the hint by using the search feature, then insert #13 where you want to break or wrap the hint. You can also use more than one #13 in the hint. Then save the form.