FAIMS Text Field

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

What This Field Does

A FAIMS Text Field provides a single-line input for brief, unconstrained text. It is the primary choice for codes, identifiers, short labels, and other short-form text — typically accommodating around 50 characters.

Adding the Field

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

Adding a FAIMS Text Field — the TEXT 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.

FAIMS Text Field configuration in the {{Notebook}} Editor

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.

Note: Below the shared options, this field includes a Speech-to-Text Settings section. When enabled, collectors can use voice-to-text input for this field during data collection. An additional option lets you append dictated text to existing content instead of replacing it.

Tips

  • Use with caution. In many — if not most — cases, fields with controlled lists (e.g., Choice fields) will produce more consistent data with fewer errors. Fields with pre-populated options are also faster to complete in the field.

  • Best for entries under about 50 characters. For longer text (descriptions, narratives), use Multi-line Text Field instead.

  • Enable Speech-to-Text for fields where collectors may be working hands-free or in wet/dirty conditions.

  • Review the Field ID before saving — it is auto-generated from the Label. Once records exist, changing the Field ID can break data continuity.

  • Use for metadata. One valuable use of free-text fields is to capture record-level metadata — information about the data collected in the record, such as unexpected environmental conditions or unanticipated challenges. Such use complements Annotations (field-level metadata) and Notebook Details (project-level metadata).