Template field types
When you add a question or an input to an asset template, you choose its input type. The editor groups the types as Text and numbers, Choices and dates, and Linked data and files, plus Preset field. Several input types are stored as one of two field types, depending on a setting; the stored type is what appears in the XML export and the API.
| Input type | Stored field type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Free text | freetext | Short, one-line answers. The URL and Email validations require a valid web address or email address. |
| Text area | textarea | Longer answers in paragraphs. |
| Rich text | richTextarea | Answers that need formatting (bold, lists, links). The editor opens in plain-text mode; the Format button reveals the formatting toolbar and Plain Text hides it again. |
| Number | number | Quantities, counts, amounts, or any answer that must be a number. |
| Yes / No | booleanDecision | Yes/No questions, answered with two buttons. |
| Single choice | radiobox, or select when Show as a dropdown is on | One answer from predefined options. |
| Multiple choice | select with multiple selection | Several answers from predefined options. |
| Tick box | checkBox | A standalone opt-in or opt-out checkbox. |
| Date | datePicker | Dates, such as a start or end date. |
| Reference | referenceTypes | Values from a configured Reference Type, such as funders, licenses, or ORCID records. Authors can pick more than one allows several. |
| Plan or asset in OpenCDMP | internalEntitiesPlans or internalEntitiesDescriptions, chosen by Link to | Linking to plans or assets that already exist in the platform. Authors can link more than one allows several. |
| Tags | tags | Free keywords. |
| Dataset identifier | datasetIdentifier, or validation when Check that the identifier resolves is on | DOIs, handles, and other persistent identifiers. With the check on, authors are told when an identifier cannot be found. |
| File upload | upload | Attaching supporting documents or data files. |
| Preset field | system | Reusing a core asset property (title, description, or tags) as a form field. See Preset fields. |
A Default value can be set on free text, text area, rich text, number, yes/no, single choice, multiple choice, tick box, and date inputs. The same types can drive conditional questions.
File upload settings
An input of type File upload has these settings:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Max size | The maximum file size authors can upload, in MB, up to the limit of the installation (required). |
| Allowed file types | The file types authors can upload, grouped as documents, spreadsheets, presentations, images, and data (required). |
| Other media type… | Add a type that is not in the list, with the name authors see and its media type (for example application/x-netcdf). |
Preset fields
A preset field maps an input to one of an asset's built-in properties instead of storing a custom answer. This lets you place a core asset property directly inside the template's structure, for example the asset title within a specific section.
Asset templates offer the following preset fields:
| Preset field | What it captures | Required in the template |
|---|---|---|
| Title | The title (label) of the asset | Yes. Authors must always answer it. |
| Description | The free-text summary of the asset | No |
| Tags | The tags applied to the asset | No |
A preset field shares its value with the corresponding built-in asset property: editing it updates the asset's title, description, or tags.
Preset fields behave differently from other inputs:
- Each preset field can appear only once in a template, and a template cannot be finalized without the Title preset field.
- The Title preset field is always required; the setting is locked.
- A question that holds a preset field cannot be repeated, and you cannot add more inputs to it.
- Preset fields cannot be the target of a conditional question: they are always visible.