Information types and options

The following types of information are the available, with options for each type as shown.

Single line of text

Use this information type when you want site visitors to type just a few words.

Default value
If you want new items to display information in this field automatically, type that information here. Site visitors can change this value if they want to.
Allow blank values?
If you want to require site visitors to enter information in this field, clear this check box.
Maximum number of characters allowed
Type a number to limit the number of characters site visitors can type.

Multiple lines of text

Use this information type when you want site visitors to type a sentence or more.

Default value
If you want new items to display information in this field automatically, type that information here. Site visitors can change this value if they want to.
Allow blank values?
If you want to require site visitors to enter information in this field, clear this check box.
Number of lines
Type a number to limit the number of lines site visitors can type in this field.

Number

Use this information type when you want site visitors to type a numerical value.

Default value
If you want new items to display information in this field automatically, type that information here. Site visitors can change this value if they want to.
Allow blank values?
If you want to require site visitors to enter information in this field, clear this check box.
Number of decimal places
Select the number of decimal places to enable site visitors to enter decimal values in tenths, hundredths, and so on.
Percentage option
If you want the number to represent a percentage, select this check box.
Minimum and maximum values
If you want site visitors to enter values within a certain range, select the Minimum value allowed check box and type a value for the lower limit, and select the Maximum value allowed check box and type a value for the upper limit.

Currency

Use this information type when you want site visitors to type a monetary value.

Default value
If you want new items to display information in this field automatically, type that information here. Site visitors can change this value if they want to.
Allow blank values?
If you want to require site visitors to enter information in this field, clear this check box.
Display format
Select a currency based on geographic region.
Number of decimal places
Select the number of decimal places to enable site visitors to enter decimal values in tenths, hundredths, and so on.
Minimum and maximum values
If you want site visitors to enter values within a certain range, select the Minimum value allowed check box and type a value for the lower limit, and select the Maximum value allowed check box and type a value for the upper limit.

Date and Time

Use this information type when you want to store calendar or time-of-day information.

Default value
If you want new items to display a date and time, do one of the following:

Site visitors can change this value if they want to.

Allow blank values?
If you want to require site visitors to enter information in this field, clear this check box.
Date format
Select whether you want to display the date or the date and time of day.

Choice

Use this information type when you want site visitors to choose from a set of selections that you provide.

Choices
In the Choices box, type the selections you want site visitors to choose from. Type each selection on a separate line. To start a new line, press ENTER.
Default value
New items will automatically display the selection you typed first in the Choices box. If you want to use another selection as the default, copy and paste that selection here. Site visitors can change this value if they want to.
Display options
If you want the selections displayed in an expanding box, click Drop-down menu. If you want the selections displayed in a list, click Radio buttons.

Lookup

Use this information type when you want to make it easy to select information that's already stored on your web site.

List or document library
Select a list, document library, or survey from your web site.
Field
Select the field that stores the information you want site visitors to be able to select.

Yes/No

Use this information type when you want to store true/false information. To indicate a value of "yes," site visitors select the check box; to indicate a value of "no," site visitors clear the check box.

Default value
If you want new items to display a value in this field automatically, click Yes or No here. Site visitors can change this value if they want to.

User

Use this information type when you want to make it easy to select the name of an authenticated user of the site.

Hyperlink or Picture

Use this information type when you want to display a hyperlink to a web page or display an image from the World Wide Web.

Default address
If you want new items to display information in this field automatically, type the URL or click Browse to select a web address. If you want the hyperlink to display text other than the URL, type the text in the Default text box. Site visitors can change these values if they want to.
Allow blank values?
If you want to require site visitors to enter information in this field, clear this check box.
Link type
If you want the hyperlink to be text, click Hyperlink. If you want the hyperlink to display an image, click Picture. To display a picture, site visitors enter a web address that is the URL of an image, such as http://example.microsoft.com/image.gif.