Merge Codes
 
  
  
  
 

Introduction

 
From different section within Formdesk you can refer to entries that the user of your form applied or to other variable information provided by Formdesk using Merge Codes.

Formdesk provides two differtent sorts of Merge Codes:
1. Identifiers that apply to answers to questions (entries) of the form.
2. System Codes that apply to Formdesk system information.

Identifiers

 
When you add a question to your form a unique name will automatically be assigned to it (Field1, Field2, Field3 etc.). This unique name is called the 'Identifier' of the question and can be modified for your convinience. You use these Identifiers from different parts within Formdesk to refer to the answer that was given to the question.

The following are the most important sections within Formdesk where you can use Identifiers:
- Within a calculation (to calculate based on form entries);
- When defining dependencies (to conditionally skip form elements);
- When setting up the auto responder (email message that is sent to the respondent after submission);
- When setting up the thank you message (message that is displayed after submission);
- When setting up the confirmation screen (summary screen where the user can confirm his/her entries);
- When setting up the group email message (merge email message to the respondents of the form);
- When setting up the report for publishing result entries;
- To pass data into the form;
- To remember user's form entries over different forms.

TIP: If you intend to use any of the functions above, give the Identifiers a logic name!
When you add or modify a question of your form you will find the name of the Identifier in the upper right corner of the question's properties window. It will make your life a lot easier if you modify the default name of the Identifier into a logic name.
For example, if you would create a calculation to calculate a subtotal [amount] * [price] makes a lot more sense than [Field11] * [Field15].

System Codes

 
When setting up certain messages within Formdesk you can use System Codes to include system information. Using System Codes you can for instance include the date and/or time the form was submitted, a printer button or the entire completed form in the message.

You can use System Codes in the following sections within Formdesk:
- When setting up the auto responder (email message that is sent to the respondent after submission);
- When setting up the thank you message (message that is displayed after submission);
- When setting up the confirmation screen (summary screen where the user can confirm his/her entries);
- When setting up the group email message (bulk email message to the respondents of the form);
- When setting up the report for publishing result entries;

Some important System Codes are:

_fd_IdA unique code for each submitted form
_fd_AddDateDate the form was submitted
_fd_AllEntriesThe entire completed form.
_fd_FilledEntriesThe entire completed form. Questions that have not been answered are left out.
_fd_PrintPrint button (image).
_fd_DeleteEntryA hyperlink that enables you or your respondent to delete the entries of the submitted form from the Formdesk database.

Using Merge Codes

 
To include Merge Codes in a message or calculation they must be placed between brackets ([ and ]).

In all cases where you can use Merge Codes you can pick them from a list. In most cases the button leads you to this list.

The example below demonstrates a message that use Merge Codes.
Date of inquiry: [_fd_AddDate]

Dear [name],

Thank you for your interest in our class [class] which you want to visit on [date].

Your inquiry:

[_fd_AllEntries]

Best Regards,

[_fd_Owner_Organisation]