List (multi-select) Data Type

Data types specified as "List (multi-select)" allow you to choose multiple values from a list of pre-defined options.

Apart from the one difference that, once created, users will be able to select multiple options, the actual process for creating "List (multi-select)" data types is exactly the same as the process for creating single-select lists.

Creating Multi-Select Lists:

After entering the desired name for the data type (such as "Color," in the image below), and selecting "fm:list (multi-select)" from the "Type" drop-down menu, click "Save."

Creating Options:

In the next window that appears, labeled "Edit the Enumeration List," you can create all of the options that you would like to be included in the list. Hit "Save" to save your options.

By default, the list, once created, will appear as a drop-down menu. If you would prefer for the list to make use of radio buttons instead, simply uncheck the check-box at the top of the window labeled "Show as Select Box."

In order to enter the options that you would like to be included in the list, simply type the text as you would like it to appear into the empty text-boxes for each of the languages that your site supports.

These user-friendly, language-dependent items will be displayed based on the default or preferred language of users' browsers.

The data entered into the "Foreign Key" field, however, will be what is used to store and organize the options within the database.

Modifying the List Order:

Should you wish to modify the order in which individual options are displayed within the list, this can be done with ease as well.

Change the default sort order to be "manual" if you don't like it to be based on the "foreign key" or the "label". After changing it to "Manual", you can click on a row and drag it up and down to change its order.Simply click on a row and drag it up and down to the desired placement.

Hiding Options:

Should you ever wish to hide options so that they will not be displayed in the list, you can click within the "Hide" box in the row of the desired option(s) and hit "Save".

In order to restore options, uncheck the "Hide" box in the row of the affected option(s).

Modifying/Removing Options:

In case you would ever like to modify the "Foreign Key" assigned to a particular option, just click on the  "Edit" icon in its row of the table. However, this is only advisable if the option is still new.

Changing the foreign key will remove all data associated with the previous foreign key, so if you really do need to change a foreign key after it has been in use for some time,  contact support.

Similarly, if you would like to remove an option entirely, you can click on the   "Remove" icon in its row of the table, and it will no longer appear as an item within the list.

Once you are done enumerating the options that you would like to be displayed within the list, simply click "Save" at the bottom of the screen, and the data type will be added to the "Available Datatypes" table.

In the end, the graphical output of the "List (multi-select)" data type will look something like one of the images below: