Select Field¶

How to add and configure a Select Field in the Notebook Editor.

What This Field Does¶

A Select Field lets users pick one option from a dropdown list. It is the standard choice for single-selection questions — for example, site types, artefact categories, condition assessments, geological classifications, or archaeological periods. The dropdown conserves screen space while keeping the full list of options accessible.

Adding the Field¶

To add this field, open the ADD A FIELD dialog, navigate to the CHOICE tab, and click the Select Field card. Then click the ADD FIELD button in the lower right.

Note: The CHOICE tab may not be visible in the tab bar initially — click the › arrow button on the right side of the tab bar to scroll until it appears.

Adding a Select Field — the CHOICE tab in the ADD A FIELD dialog

Configuring the Field¶

Click the field’s grey header bar to expand it and see its settings. For an overview of the settings shared by all fields — including Label, Helper Text, Field ID, and the field toolbar — see Field Identity and Field Toolbar.

Give the field a meaningful Label, review the auto-populated Field ID, and add any desired Helper Text.

Select Field configuration in the {{Notebook}} Editor

Select-Specific Settings¶

The Select Field’s key setting is the options list — the choices available in the dropdown. Below the Markdown syntax info banner, you will find the Add Option input, the Add “Other” Option button, and a table listing all current options.

Setting	What It Does
Options list	The choices that appear in the dropdown. Each option is shown as a row in the table below.
Add “Other” Option	Adds a special “Other” choice that prompts the collector to type a custom value when selected.

Note: As per the banner, you can use Markdown syntax in option text (e.g., **bold** or *italic*) to add emphasis or formatting to individual options.

Select Field options list — Add Option input, options table with drag handles and action buttons

Managing options:

To add an option: Type the option text in the Add Option input field and click Add (or press Enter).
To edit an option: Click the pencil icon in the option’s Actions column.
To reorder options: Drag the six-dot handle on the left of the option, or use the up/down arrow buttons in the Actions column.
To delete an option: Click the trash icon in the option’s Actions column.

The display label and stored value are always the same — what your users see is exactly what appears in exported data. There are no hidden codes. To allow users to leave the field blank, include an empty option such as “– None –” at the top of your list.

Shared Field Options¶

Configure any of the shared field options as needed.

For settings shared across all field types — including Required, Annotation, Uncertainty, Conditions, Copy value to new records, and Display in child records — see Field Options.

Tips¶

Choose the right selection field for your list size. Select Field is ideal for lists of 8–20 options. For shorter lists (2–7 items), consider ‘Select one option’ for more rapid entry, at the cost of more screen real estate. For very long (>20 items) or intrinsically hierarchical lists, consider Select Field (Hierarchical).
Include a “– None –” option if collectors need to clear a selection — there is no built-in deselect button. Without a blank option, once a choice is made it cannot be undone.
Enable Annotation and Uncertainty for fields where collectors might need to qualify their choice, such as noting “tentative identification” or “poor visibility conditions”. Annotation, combined with Uncertainty, is especially valuable for classification fields where confidence varies.