Configure Option Types

• Attributes
• Creating Option Types
• Creating Selections within Option Types
• Editing Option Types
• Inactivating/Activating Option Types

Creating an Option Type for predetermined elements provides system administrators with the ability to constrain what users are able to select from. Selecting from a list of Option Types within a proposal provides users with an easy way to select the appropriate data without needing to reference another system, documentation, etc. to know what selections to make. Option Types can only be managed by system administrators - unless a user is given permissions to do so within Permissions.

Option Types can be used within a variety of gadgets on your forms:

• Options Checkboxes
• Options Dropdown
• Options Multiselect
• Options Radio
• Options Typeahead
• Outcomes
• Percentage List
• Table

Attributes

Each Option Type created will have the following attributes available, and you are not limited to the total number of Option Types you can create:

Type Name

The name displayed when viewing all Option Types. The Type Name can be modified after creation if needed. For example: Course type, Degree Type, or Program Type.

Type Label

By default, when you create a new option within an Option Type; the button the label that appears when adding new options will say, 'Add' - but if you add a label, the button will reflect the new label instead. For example, 'Add New Degree Type.'

Type Header

By default, no heading is applied when an Option Type is created. Providing one will display the text at the top of the Option Type page and within the breadcrumb when viewing the available options. 

Type Fields

Optional field(s) that can be added to the Option Type to provide additional related data, such as description or code. Additional fields can be text, a text area, or a checkbox field, but are only visible with the Option Types - so users will not see the information. The most common example of these fields would be to provide a translation to be used within an integration. For example, the human-friendly option available to users might say 'Lecture', but you need to provide 'LEC' for your SIS.

Type Placeholder

Placeholder text that can appear when adding additional options to an Option Type, rather than a blank field. 

Parent Option Type

Parent Option is a setting that is no longer in use within CM. Although you can technically list a parent to an Option Type, it is not possible to link the items within a form. It is not suggested to use this setting.

Creating Option Types

Option Types can be created for just about any purpose where you have a set of options users will need to select from. You may want to create them to house Campus options, Degree, Program, or Course Types, or even your Objective and Outcome information. By creating the list ahead of time, you can be sure that the selections are consistent and free of errors that may occur when typing.

To create an Option Type at any time:

• As an Admin, CM Admin, or User with appropriate permissions - select System Settings from the navigation.
• Select Option Types.
• Select Add Option Type.
• In the Type Name field, enter the name of the Option Type. This will serve as the name you see on the search, and should be specific to help you identify it later. 
  • For example, if you were creating an Option Type to house a list of course types, you might title it, 'Course Type'.
    
• Although not required, it would be recommended to enter a label in the Type Label field.
  • You may choose to use the same name as the Type Name if you would like.
    
  • This label is used on the 'Add' button when adding selections within the Option Type when no other fields are provided. If left blank, the button will simply read 'Add'. If a label is provided, the label will reflect the name of the label.
• Although not required, it would also be recommended to enter a label in the Type Header field.
  • You may choose to use the same name as the Type Name if you would like.
    
  • This heading is used at the top of the screen after the text that reads 'Settings' when viewing the Option Type. If left blank, the text will simply read 'Settings'. If a label is provided, the label will reflect the name of the heading.
    

• If additional fields are needed, click on the Add Field button.
  • These are Optional fields that can be added to the Option Type to house additional related data, such as description. These fields can be either a text, a text area, or a checkbox field - but they are only visible with the Option Type, meaning users will not see the information on the form.

Note: One of the more common example of these fields would be to provide a translation for use within an integration. For example, the human-friendly option available to users might say 'Main Campus', but you need to provide 'primary' for your SIS.

• • If the additional field is being added, enter the name of the field into the Label field, and select the appropriate Type.

• Although not required, you may also choose to add a Type Placeholder to provide a reminder or visual clue when adding a new selection within the Option Type.
  • When adding a new Option Type, if no placeholder is provided, it will appear as a blank field to the left of the 'Add' button. If you choose to enter a placeholder, you may further customize the way this field appears. For example, if you provide 'Course Type', it will then read 'New Course Type' instead of the blank field.

• If you would like to establish a relationship between two Option Types, you can use the Parent Option Type to indicate the Option Type that relates to the one being created.
  • Parent Option type can be used to to create a hierarchical relationship between two Option Types. For example, if you wanted to establish that courses with a type of 'Accounting' would be associated with the Subject Code 'ACCT' - you can associate them in the Option Type, and use the association to limit the options on the form for the user. 

• Once all of the selections have been made, click Add Option Type. The new Option Type will appear in the list with the selections provided.

Creating Selections within Option Types

The Option Types can be thought of as a 'bucket' that houses the list of selections for users to select. The previous steps outline how to create a new Option Type, and this section will outline how to add the actual options within. 

To create a selection within an Option Type at any time:

• As an Admin, CM Admin, or User with appropriate permissions - select System Settings from the navigation.
• Select Option Types.
• Locate the Option Type you will be adding selections to, and select Set Options.
  • The Search bar can be used to quickly locate the Option Type. 

• Enter the details associated with your option.
  • The fields that are available will vary based on the settings that were provided when the Option Type was initially created. 
  • If all fields are provided, then the field for the Name of the option will be listed first, followed by any custom fields added, and then by the Parent Option. These items can be entered at the same time the option is created, or they can be provided at a later time.
    • In this example, a course type is being created for 'English'. The SIS Translation value provided that can be sent to the SIS is 'lang_eng' and the item is linked to the subject code 'ENG'.
      
• Click Add. The new option will be immediately available as a selection, and the selections will reflect within the available options.

Editing Option Types

Option Types can be edited as needed; whether that is to adjust the name or available fields, or the actual options available to select from. 

To edit an Option Type at any time:

• As an Admin, CM Admin, or User with appropriate permissions - select System Settings from the navigation.
• Select Option Types.
• Locate the Option Type to be edited, or that contains the the selection within the Option Type. 
  • The Search bar can be used to quickly locate the Option Type. 
  • If a selection within an Option Type is needed, locate the Option Type first, select Set Options, and then you can search within. 
• With the Option Type visible, you can click into any of the available fields to update the information. These changes will save automatically as you work.

• If you are updating the name of the Option Type, click on the edit icon to the right of the name. When you are finished, click the icon again to save it.
  

Inactivating/Activating Option Types

Option Types that are longer needed or applicable can be inactivated as needed - or activated again if they need to be brought back into use. Inactivating an Option Type removes the ability to select it as an option; but leaves the selection in place on existing records.

Inactivating is used rather than deleting to ensure existing records are not impacted; and allows you to reactivate them at any time should they be needed at a later date. Any reports generated will continue to include the inactivated options. Changes to the active status of an Option Type will be effective immediately.

Note: It is not possible to delete an Option Type, only to inactivate them.

When an Option Type is reactivated, the associated options will immediately become available within any form gadgets displaying options for selection. 

Inactivating an Option type

To inactivate an Option Type at any time:

• As an Admin, CM Admin, or User with appropriate permissions - select System Settings from the navigation.
• Select Option Types.
• Locate the Option Type to be inactivated, or that contains the the selection within the Option Type. 
  • The Search bar can be used to quickly locate the Option Type. 
  • If a selection within an Option Type is needed, locate the Option Type first, select Set Options, and then you can search within. 
    
• Click the Inactivate option to the right of the Option Type or selection within the Option Type to Inactivate it.

•  

Activating an Option Type

To activate an inactive Option Type at any time:

• As an Admin, CM Admin, or User with appropriate permissions - select System Settings from the navigation.
• Select Option Types.
• If you need to activate an Option Type, change the selection from Active to Inactive.

• Locate the Option Type to be activated, and click the option for Activate.
  • If a selection within an Option Type is needed, locate the Option Type first, select Set Options, and then change the setting to Inactive.
  • Locate the selection to be activated, and click the option for Activate.