Create a Resource Link on a Form

When automating a template, you can assign resources to variables that help the user know how to answer a specific question in the interview. At times, however, you may want to include a resource for an entire form. To do this, you create a resource field. A resource field appears as a hyperlink on the form document. When clicked, the resource appears in a pop-up window. Resource fields appear during direct-fill assembly only.

To create a resource field, you must create a Text variable and assign as its resource the text you want users to view while directly filling the form document. You must then define the hyperlink text at the Field Properties dialog box.

To create a link field

  1. Edit a form template. (See Edit a Form Template.)
  2. Create a field, and attach a Text variable to the field. (See Create a Form Field and Attach a Variable to a Field.) (This Text variable will not be asked during the interview.)
  3. At the Variable Field dialog box, click the Edit Component button. The Text Variable Editor appears.
  4. Click the Resource tab and enter your resource text. (See Add Resource Information to a Variable or Dialog)
  5. Click OK at the Text Variable Editor and the Variable Field dialog box. The Automator window appears again.
  6. With the field still selected, click the Field Properties button. The Field Properties dialog box appears. (You can also right-click and choose Properties from the shortcut menu.)
  7. At the Type tab, select Resource from the Field type group.
  8. Choose one of the following options from the Display type group:
    • Hyperlink displays the resource as a link on which the user clicks. Enter the hyperlink text in the Hyperlink text field.
    • Image displays the resource as graphic file on which the user clicks. Enter the file name of the graphic in the Image file name field.
    • Bar code displays the resource in bar code format. Enter the text you want to encode in the Bar code text field.
  9. Select Non-printing field. (This keeps the hyperlink from printing on the document.)