CalcBuilder Tutorial

The Form Fields screen defines what the visitor fills in. Every field has a variable name that you then use in the PHP and in the layouts.

Adding a field

1. Type a name in Enter the name of the new Field and click Add new Field.
2. Select it in the left column. On the Main tab set:
   • Name — the label shown to the visitor.
   • Variable — the code name (letters, digits, underscore). If the variable is bill, your PHP reads $bill.
   • Required — the visitor must fill it.
   • Type — see below.

Field types — one tutorial each

Every type has its own short tutorial with a front-end screenshot: Number, Date, Option List, Multiple Option List, Linked List (& Linked List SQL), Radiobutton, Yes/No, Text, Text Autocompleter, Textarea, Upload File, Captcha and Inline.

• Number — numeric input; set decimals on the Preferences tab of the field. Use a text field with a mask for currency.
• Date — date picker validated against your date format.
• Option List — single-choice drop-down. Options typed in, pasted as CSV, or from a SQL query.
• Linked List / Linked List SQL — a drop-down whose options depend on a previous drop-down.
• Multiple Option — a set of checkboxes; the value is an array.
• Radiobutton, Yes/No (checkbox → Y).
• Text, Textarea, Text Autocompleter.
• Upload File, Captcha, Inline (a value shown live, not entered).

Per-field Preferences hold the default value, placeholder, prefix/suffix, decimals and CSS class; Advanced holds validation limits and the field’s role in export/search.