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Ramapo Masters of Science Tools and Concepts of Data Analysis: Dataweb Optional Fields and Modeling Data Formats (Home) Optional Fields | Modeling Format Optional Fields When collecting data there may be fields that you do not require. Such a case might be a comment field where you would like to give a user the option of expressing their opinions but not force them to submit one if they do not desire to do things. Such fields are considered optional and would not be validated. Some indication that they are optional should be made evident on the web page. This might be done in a variety of ways such as adding an asterisk to the description or color coding it. In any case an explanation should appear on the page explaining the designation. Example:
In other cases some fields that cannot be completed by every user. Such a case might be email address. If some of your students do not have email addresses you cannot require the field be completed. At the same time an email address can be a very useful piece of information that you might want to collect from those students who have one. In this case you would not validate the field but wouldn't mark it as optional so as not to discourage users from completing it. Modeling Format Certain types of information are entered without a strict format. A person providing their comments or answering an open ended question would be providing this type of information. Other types of data must adhere to a strict format. Social Security numbers for instance have an absolutely predicable format: 3 digits, a dash, two digits, a dash, 4 digits. We know that a social security number will require exactly 11 characters and that the dashes will always appear in the exact same positions relative to the digits. Phone numbers and dates are other examples. Although more that one acceptable format may exist, a single format should be specified and every effort made to encourage users to honor that format. This makes the data collected more uniform and thus easier to utilize. We may attempt to influence the user through the use of validation and also through modeling. In any case where a particular format is desired a model of that format should be provided on the web page and brought to the user's attention. In the graphic below, several fields have been modeled. Note that attention is called to the sample through the use of color coding. Site Designed and Maintained by rsciorra |