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Custom Nomination Fields

You are now able to create custom nomination fields that can be selected whilst setting up an election.

Please note: You will need to ensure that your web templates are adjusted to account for the addition of any custom nominations fields to ensure they pull through to your nominations page. Please see here for the external developer guidance available for further information.

If you do not have a web developer, or require any assistance in relation to this, please get in touch via [email protected] and we shall be happy to assist!

  1. Navigate to the ‘Configuration’ tab within the Elections module;
  2. Select the ‘Nomination Fields’ tab found under ‘Management’;
  3. Click ‘Create Field’ and complete the following details:
    1. Name – name for the field which will appear when a member is completing their nomination form;
    2. Shortcode – this will be a unique code that is required to implement the custom field within your web templates;
    3. Description – input any description/help text that you would like to display alongside this field during nominations; hyperlinks can be included if required.

Please note: The standard fields previously available within the elections module have been retained as custom fields for selection to ensure our users retain access to these options.

Once you have completed the above details, you will the need to select the ‘Method’ (field type) that is required:

Method – Text

  1. Type:
    1. Input – to input a small amount of text, i.e. an email address;
    2. Text Area – to input a larger amount of text i.e. to input a manifesto.
  2. Max Words – set a restriction on how many words can be inputted.
  3. Max Characters – set a restriction on how many characters can be inputted.

Method – Select

  1. Options:
    1. Create options as needed within the ‘Options’ text box. Simply type in the option and select ‘Enter’ on your keyboard to create the selection;
    2. These will then appear within a dropdown format for members to select from when completing their nomination.

Method – Upload

  1. Max Size – enter the maximum kb when uploading a file/image (the maximum kb that can be set is 5,120 kb);
  2. Allow Images – select if you would like to allow the upload of images;
  3. Enable Crop – if you have allowed images, select if you would like to enable students to crop their images upon submission;
  4. Size Type:
    1. Set Size – select if you would like to determine a set height and width for any images uploaded;
    2. Max Size – select if you would like to set a maximum height and width for any images uploaded.
  5. Height – enter the set/max height where an image is uploaded.
  6. Width - enter the set/max width where an image is uploaded.

Method – Checkbox

  1. Select the ‘Checkbox’ method in order to create a checkbox field;
  2. No further configuration will be required, as the name and description will act as the title of your checkbox, i.e. “Do you want us to print your Manifesto?”

Please see below for reference HTML to be utilised to implement the ‘Checkbox’ method on your website upon release:

{if field_method == "CHECKBOX"}

    <div class="form-group">
        <label class="g-mb-10">
            {field_title}
        {field_description}

            {if field_required AND field_complete == 0}
                <i class="fa fa-times g-ml-5" aria-hidden="true" style="color:red"></i>
            {if:elseif field_complete == 1}
                <i class="fa fa-check g-ml-5" aria-hidden="true" style="color:green"></i>
            {/if}
        </label>

        <div class="input-group">
            <input type="checkbox" class="form-control" name="item" value="Y" {if field_value == "Y"} checked {/if} {if field_disabled == 1} disabled {/if}}>
            {if field_save ==1}
                <span class="input-group-btn">
                    <button class="btn btn-sm u-btn-primary" type="submit" value="Save">Save</button>
                </span>
            {/if}
        </div>
    </div>

{/if}

Please note: If selecting an alternative field method does not generate the appropriate options, clear your cache and attempt again after refreshing the page.

Can I delete a custom field?

Custom fields cannot be removed as to prevent the subsequent implications removing a custom field would have on current elections and candidates where those fields have been used.

If a field is no longer required, this could be modified to create an alternative field, or the field renamed to confirm that it is no longer in use.

Updated on 26th January 2024