Select List Control Settings

Control Description
The Select List control provides either a checkbox- or multi-select drop-down menu-style control from which the Request participant selects one or more options.
Set options that display in this control in one of the following ways:
Provide each option: For each option, enter a unique value that represents the option, and then enter the text that displays as the option. After your options are configured, sort the order in which they are to display in the control. Alternatively, provide options in the control in JSON format.
Reference a data source in the JSON data model: Reference data from a Data Connector that displays in this control as its options. Specify the data name, value, and content from the Data Connector. See a design example. Optionally, use a PMQL expression to limit which data to use as options based on the PMQL expression's criteria. The order that data objects present in the data object determines the order these options display in the control; options cannot be manually reordered.
This control is only available for the following Screen types:
​Conversational-type
​Form-type
See Screen Types.
Checkbox Functional Description
When using the Select List control with checkboxes, the control functions similarly to multiple Checkbox controls whereby multiple options may be selected. Unlike using multiple Checkbox controls, the Select List control includes all selected options as an array in the order that options are selected. This array becomes part of the JSON data model as shown in the example below in Preview mode.
Preview of a Select List control using the checkbox style
Drop-Down Menu Functional Description
When using the Select List control as the drop-down menu, multiple options may be selected one at a time. Selected options have the following attributes:
Each selected option displays in the control.
Each selected option displays in bold-style text in the drop-down menu. Furthermore, a red-colored highlight displays when hovering over a selected option, rather than the default green-colored highlight for deselected options.
Follow these guidelines to deselect an item from the Select List control when using the drop-down menu style:
Click the image
for the option to be removed.
Select the option again from the drop-down menu.
The Select List control includes all selected options as an array in the order that options are selected. This array becomes part of the JSON data model as shown in the example below in Preview mode.
Preview of a Select List control using the drop-down menu style
Permissions Required
Your user account or group membership must have the following permissions to design a Screen unless your user account has the Make this user a Super Admin setting selected:
Screens: Edit Screens
Screens: View Screens
See the Screens permissions or ask your Administrator for assistance.
Add the Control to a ProcessMaker Screen
Permissions Required
​Permissions are required to do this.
Design Best Practice
​Avoid designing with more than 25 controls in one Screen.
Follow these steps to add this control to the Screen:
1.​Create a new Screen or click the Edit icon
to edit the selected Screen. The Screen is in Design mode.
2.View the Screen page to which to add the control.
3.Locate the Select List icon
in the panel to the left of the Screen Builder canvas.
4.Drag the Select List icon into the Screen Builder canvas. Existing controls on the Screen Builder canvas adjust positioning based on where you drag the control.
5.Place into the Screen Builder canvas where you want the control to display on the Screen.
 
6.Configure the Select List control. See Settings.
7.Validate that the control is configured correctly. See Validate Your Screen.
Below is a Select List control in Preview mode.
Select List control in Preview mode
Move the Control on the Page
After adding a control to a Screen page, you may move it to another location on that page such that it is above or below other controls placed on that page. A control cannot be moved to another Screen page.
​Permissions are required to do this.
Follow these steps to move a control to another location on that ProcessMaker Screen page:
1.Place your cursor anywhere on the control not displaying the Duplicate Control
or Delete Control
buttons.
2.Hold your cursor, and then drag the control above or below other controls on that Screen page. Screen Builder previews where the control would display on the page based on how you position the control above or below other controls. If the control cannot be placed in a location because your cursor is above an existing control or too far to the left or right of the page, the
icon displays in the preview.
3.Place the control at the location on the page you want it. The other control(s) on the page automatically adjust position.
Copy the Control with its Settings
Copying a control also copies the current settings of that control. The copied control displays below other controls placed on that Screen page.
​Permissions are required to do this.
Follow these steps to copy a control:
1.Select the control to be copied.
2.Click the Duplicate Control button
. The control copies with its current settings, and then displays below other controls placed on that page.
As a best practice, after copying a control, change the Variable Name setting value for the copied control to its own unique variable value. Otherwise, in-progress Requests that use this Screen read from and send data to both controls.
Delete the Control from a ProcessMaker Screen
​Permissions are required to do this.
Deleting a control also deletes configuration for that control. If you add another control, it will have default settings.
Follow these steps to delete a control from a Screen page:
1.Select the control to be deleted.
2.Click the Delete button
. The control deletes. Other controls on that Screen page adjust their locations automatically.
Settings
​Permissions are required to do this.
The Select List control has the following panels that contain settings:
​Variable panel​
​Configuration panel​
​Data Source panel​
​Design panel​
​Advanced panel​
Variable Panel Settings
Click the control while in Design mode, and then click the Variable panel that is on the right-side of the Screen Builder canvas.
Below are settings for the Select List control in the Variable panel:
​Variable Name​
​Label​
​Validation Rules​
Variable Name
Edit the default Variable Name setting value for this control if necessary. The Variable Name setting value represents data in this control during Requests. Ensure that the Variable Name setting value is a unique name from other controls in this Screen and contains at least one letter. This is a required setting.
 
Use the Variable Name setting value in the following ways:
View the selection made in this control by its Variable Name setting's value. The Data Preview panel in Preview mode corresponds the option(s) the Request participant selects in the Select List control with that Select List control's Variable Name value. The Variable Name setting contains the selected option(s) as an array. In the example below, SelectListControl is the Variable Name setting's value.
 
Reference this value in Visibility Rule setting expressions.
Reference this control's value in a different Screen control. To do so, first reference this control's Variable Name value in a Calculated Property, then use this Calculated Property in the target control. It is not recommended to directly reference the Variable Name setting of a Select List control.
Consider the following example. You have a Select List control with Variable Name setting accountType which displays a list of accounts available at your bank.

When a user makes a selection, you want to display the selected account type in a Line Input control on this Screen. Follow the following best practice to reference the value of the Select List control. 
1.Insert a Line Input control and set its Variable Name value. This example uses the Variable Name userAccount.
​
2.Create a Calculated Property and set the Property Name setting to userAccount.
3.In the Formula setting, enter the following JavaScript code:
return (this.accountType);
​
See best practices when editing a Request variable name.
Label
Edit the default label that displays for this control if necessary. New Select List is the default value.
 
Ensure that all Select List controls implemented in a Conversational-type Screen contain Label setting values. See Controls in Conversational-Type Screens Require Labels.
Validation Rules
Enter the validation rule(s) the Request participant must comply with to properly enter a valid value into this control. This setting has no default value. If there are no configured validation rules the following message displays: No validation rule(s). See Validation Rules for "Validation" Control Settings.
 
Follow these steps to add a validation rule to this control:
1.Access the Variable panel for this control while in Design mode, and then locate the Validation Rules setting.
2.Click the Add Rule button. The Select drop-down menu displays.
 
3.Select the rule that this control validates against.
4.Click Save. Parameters for the selected rule display. Parameter settings display which ones are required to properly configure the rule.
5.Enter the parameter settings that this control uses to validate against. See Validation Rule Settings, and then locate the validation rule for its parameters.
Follow these steps to edit a validation rule for this control:
1.Access the Variable panel for this control while in Design mode, and then locate the Validation Rules setting.
2.Click the Edit icon
for the validation rule to edit if that rule can be edited. Validation rules that do not have parameters cannot be edited. The parameter settings for that validation rule displays.
3.Edit the parameter settings that this control uses to validate against. See Validation Rule Settings, and then locate the validation rule for its parameters.
Follow these steps to delete a validation rule for this control:
1.Access the Variable panel for this control while in Design mode, and then locate the Validation Rules setting.
2.Click the Delete icon
for the validation rule to delete. A message displays to confirm deletion of the validation rule.
3.Click Delete.
Configuration Panel Settings
Click the control while in Design mode, and then click the Configuration panel that is on the right-side of the Screen Builder canvas.
Below are settings for the Select List control in the Configuration panel:
​Placeholder Text​
​Helper Text​
Placeholder Text
Enter the placeholder text that displays in this control when no value has been provided. This setting has no default value.
 
Helper Text
Enter text that provides additional guidance on this control's use. This setting has no default value.
 
Data Source Panel Settings
Click the control while in Design mode, and then click the Data Source panel that is on the right-side of the Screen Builder canvas.
From the Data Source panel, select one of the following methods to specify options that display in the Select List control:
​Provide options: Enter a unique value that represents each option, and then enter the text that displays as the option. After your options are configured, sort the order in which they are to display in this control. Alternatively, provide options in this control in JSON format.
​Request data: Reference data from the in-progress Request as options in this control. This data object must be part of the Request's JSON data model. During the in-progress Request, the Select List control references a specified data array and object in the Request's JSON data model to display its values as options in that control. The order that data objects are in the Request's JSON data model determines the order these options display in the control; options cannot be manually reordered. See the following related topics:
Select List Controls: Avoid Using Request Data for Options in Which JSON Objects May Dynamically Change​
Example: Dependent Field Design Example Using Select List Controls.
​Data Connector: Reference the data from a Data Connector's Endpoint as options in this control. Note that the Data Connector package must be installed for this option to be available. 
These Endpoints a Data Connector references may be Application Program Interface (API) endpoints, Collection records, or other data source endpoints. During the in-progress Request, when the Select List control references data from the Data Connector, the control maps the Data Connector data to a specified JSON data array, variable or key name, or data object to become part of that Request's data. Data maps to the JSON data array in the same order it is retrieved from the Data Connector. Optionally, use a PMQL expression to limit which data to use as options based on the PMQL expression's criteria. The order that data objects return from the Data Connector determines the order these options display in the control; options cannot be manually reordered.
See Example: Dependent Select List Controls Display Countries and Regions. 
Provide Options
See the following procedures how to provide options for a Select List control.
Provide Options Using Screen Builder
Provide Options Using a JSON Schema
Add an Option to This Select List Control
Follow these steps to add an option that displays in this control using Screen Builder:
1.Access the Data Source panel for this control while in Design mode, and then locate the Data Source setting.
2.From the Data Source drop-down menu, select Provide Values if this setting is not selected. This is the default setting.
 
3.Ensure that the Options list label displays. If the JSON Data option displays, click the Edit as Option List option.
 
4.Click the icon
beside the Options list label. The Add Option screen displays.
 
5.In the Value setting, enter a value to represent the option in the Request data. This value must be unique from other values in this control. If the value is not unique to other Value settings in this control, the following message displays: An item with the same key already exists.
6.In the Content setting, enter the option that displays in this control.
7.Click Save. The option displays below the Options list label.
 
Edit an Option for This Select List Control
Follow these steps to edit an option that displays in this control using Screen Builder:
1.Access the Data Source panel for this control while in Design mode, and then ensure that the Data Source setting uses the Provide Values option.
 
2.Ensure that the Options list label displays. If the JSON Data option displays, click the Edit as Option List option.
 
3.Click the
icon for an option to edit its settings. The Edit Option screen displays.
 
4.In the Value setting, edit the value to represent the option in the JSON data model during in-progress Requests for Processes that use this Screen as necessary. This value must be unique from other values in this control. If the value is not unique to other Value settings in this control, the following message displays: An item with the same key already exists.
5.In the Content setting, edit the option that displays in this control as necessary.
6.Click Update. The edited option displays below the Options list label.
Delete an Option from This Select List Control
Follow these steps to delete an option from in this control using Screen Builder:
1.Access the Data Source panel for this control while in Design mode, and then ensure that the Data Source setting uses the Provide Values option.
 
2.Ensure that the Options list label displays. If the JSON Data option displays, click the Edit as Option List option.
 
3.Click the
icon for the option to be deleted from this control. A message displays to confirm deletion of the option.
4.Click Delete.
Sort the Order of the Options
Follow these steps to sort the order of the options that display in this control using Screen Builder:
1.Access the Data Source panel for this control while in Design mode, and then ensure that the Data Source setting uses the Provide Values option.
 
2.Ensure that the Options list label displays. If the JSON Data option displays, click the Edit as Option List option.
 
3.Drag the
icon for each option up or down to sort the order they display in this control as necessary.
Set to Allow Multiple Selections and How Options Display
Follow these steps to set whether multiple selections can be selected from this control and how the options display:
1.Access the Data Source panel for this control while in Design mode, and then ensure that the Data Source setting uses the Provide Values option.
 
2.Click the Allow multiple selections setting to allow multiple options to be selected from this control. Otherwise, only one option can be selected.
 
3.From the Render Options As drop-down menu, select one of the following options:
Dropdown/Multiselect: Select the Dropdown/Multiselect option to display the control as a drop-down menu.
Radio/Checkbox Group: Select the Radio/Checkbox Group option to display the control as a group of checkboxes.
 
Provide Options Using a JSON Schema to This Select List Control
Follow these steps to provide options that display in this control using a JSON schema:
1.Access the Data Source panel for this control while in Design mode, and then locate the Data Source setting.
2.From the Data Source drop-down menu, select Provide Values if this setting is not selected. This is the default setting.
 
3.Click the Edit as JSON option below the Options list label. If the JSON Data setting displays, skip this step.
 
The JSON Data setting displays. If a valid JSON schema has been configured previously, the JSON Data setting displays the JSON. Otherwise, this setting is empty.
4.Click the icon
beside the JSON Data option. The Script Config Editor displays.  
​
​
5.Enter your control options in the order they are to display in this control using JSON format. Use the scroll panel to the right of the JSON to scroll to different sections of the JSON if necessary. This is useful especially when you are editing a long JSON.
6.Click Close or the Close icon
. The control options are saved.
Set to Allow Multiple Selections and How Options Display
Follow these steps to set whether multiple selections can be selected from this control and how the options display:
1.Access the Data Source panel for this control while in Design mode, and then ensure that the Data Source setting uses the Provide Values option.
 
2.Click the Allow multiple selections setting to allow multiple options to be selected from this control. Otherwise, only one option can be selected.
 
3.From the Render Options As drop-down menu, select one of the following options:
Dropdown/Multiselect: Select the Dropdown/Multiselect option to display the control as a drop-down menu.
Radio/Checkbox Group: Select the Radio/Checkbox Group option to display the control as a group of checkboxes.
 
Reference Request Data
Make note of best practices when configuring a Select List control's options when that control is within a Loop control. When referencing a JSON array from Request data, configure the Select List control to reference the JSON object containing the JSON array and not its values. Then duplicate the JSON array in the Loop control. See Duplicate the JSON Array in a Select List Control Used in a Loop Control.
Make note of practices to avoid when referencing Request data for the options in a Select List control.
Follow these steps to reference data from the in-progress Request as options in this control:
1.Access the Data Source panel for this control while in Design mode.
2.From the Data Source drop-down menu, select Request Data.
 
3.In the Options Variable setting, enter from which Request variable, based on its Variable Name setting value, to use as options for this control. The Request variable from which to use as options must be an array. The options in the Select List control display in the same order as the Request variable lists items in its array. Optionally, use mustache syntax to indicate the Request variable name, especially if each option in this control derives from combining multiple properties within an array where each of its items contains one or more objects. response is the default setting. See Dependent Field Design Example Using Select List Controls.
​
4.In the Option Label Shown setting, enter the JSON object key name from within the JSON array containing the Request variable from which to display as each option in this control. To use all JSON object key names in the JSON object, do not enter a value into the Option Label Shown setting. Use JSON dot notation as necessary.
For example, consider the following JSON array within Request data named accountTypes that contains two JSON objects, both of which their key names are type:
    "accountTypes": [
      {"type": "Life"},
      {"type": "Medical"}
    ]
To reference both values from the key name type as options in the Select List control, use the following JSON dot notation in the Option Label Shown setting: data.accountTypes. The JSON array must contain JSON objects composed of key names and corresponding values, not just values like the following:
    "accountTypes": [
      "Life", "Medical"
    ]
Optionally, use mustache syntax to indicate the JSON object key name from within the JSON array. content is the default value.
 
5.From the Show Control As drop-down menu, select one of the following options:
Dropdown/Multiselect: Select the Dropdown/Multiselect option to display the control as a drop-down menu.
Radio/Checkbox Group: Select the Radio/Checkbox Group option to display the control as a group of checkboxes.
 
6.Select the Allow multiple selections option to allow multiple options to be selected from this control. Otherwise, only one option can be selected.
 
7.From the Type of Value Returned drop-down menu, select one of the following options:
Single Value: Select the Single Value option to indicate that only a part of the JSON object specified from the Option Label Shown displays as each option in this control.
Object: Select the Object option to indicate that the entire JSON object within each item of the array displays as each option in this control.
 
8.If the Single Value option from the Type of Value Returned setting is selected, the Variable Data Property setting displays. In the Variable Data Property setting, enter the JSON object key name from within the JSON array containing the JSON response that this control stores in that Request's data when this Screen submits. To use all items in the JSON array, do not enter a value into the Variable Data Property setting. Use JSON dot notation as necessary if the relevant JSON array containing the object key name is embedded in other JSON objects and/or arrays. Optionally, use mustache syntax to indicate the JSON key name from within the JSON array. value is the default value. See Dependent Field Design Example Using Select List Controls.
 
Reference a ProcessMaker Data Connector
ProcessMaker Package Required
Note that the Data Connector package must be installed for this option to be available. T
Best Practice When Configuring a Select List Control Within a Loop Control
Make note of best practices when configuring a Select List control's options when that control is within a Loop control. When referencing a JSON array from a data source, configure the Select List control to reference the JSON object containing the JSON array and not its values. Then duplicate the JSON array in the Loop control. See Duplicate the JSON Array in a Select List Control Used in a Loop Control.
Follow these steps to reference data from a Data Connector as options in this control:
1.Access the Data Source panel for this control while in Design mode.
2.From the Data Source drop-down menu, select Data Connector.
 
3.In the Options Variable setting, enter the name of the JSON array containing the API's JSON response from which to reference its objects as options that display in this control after the Data Connector's Resource interacts with the API endpoint. The name of the JSON array is called response by default. Use JSON dot notation as necessary if the relevant JSON array containing the object key name is embedded in other JSON objects and/or arrays. response is the default value.
 
4.From the Show Control As drop-down menu, select one of the following options:
Dropdown/Multiselect: Select the Dropdown/Multiselect option to display the control as a drop-down menu.
Radio/Checkbox Group: Select the Radio/Checkbox Group option to display the control as a group of checkboxes.
 
5.Select the Allow multiple selections option to allow multiple selections from this control. Otherwise, only one option can be selected.
​
6.From the Type of Value Returned drop-down menu, select one of the following options:
Single Value: Select the Single Value option to indicate that only a part of the JSON object specified from the Option Label Shown displays as each option in this control.
Object: Select the Object option to indicate that the entire JSON object within each item of the array displays as each option in this control.
 
7.If the Single Value option from the Type of Value Returned setting is selected, the Value setting displays. In the Value setting, enter the JSON object key name from within the JSON array containing the JSON response that this control stores in that Request's data when this Screen submits. To use all items in the JSON array, do not enter a value into the Value setting. Use JSON dot notation as necessary if the relevant JSON array containing the object key name is embedded in other JSON objects and/or arrays. Optionally, use mustache syntax to indicate the JSON key name from within the JSON array. value is the default setting. See Dependent Field Design Example Using Select List Controls.
 
8.In the Content setting, enter the JSON object key name from within the JSON array containing the JSON response to display as each option in this control. To use all JSON object key names in the JSON object, do not enter a value into the Content setting. Use JSON dot notation as necessary. Optionally, use mustache syntax to indicate the JSON object key name from within the JSON array.
content is the default value.
 
9.From the Data Connector drop-down menu, select from which Data Connector to reference as a data source. If a Data Connector does not exist, this setting has no options.
 
10.From the End Point drop-down menu, select which Resource to reference from the selected Data Connector. A Resource is a Data Connector asset with which to interact with a data source, also called an End Point. These Resources are configured from the Data Connector itself. Depending on the Data Connector selected from the Data Connector Name drop-down menu, these Resources may reference Application Program Interface (API) endpoints, Collection records, or other data source endpoints.
 
11. In the PMQL setting, optionally enter a PMQL expression to filter which data in the JSON data array to display as options in this control based on which JSON objects in that array meet the PMQL expression's criteria.
 
Consider the following example of doctors who work in a clinic. 
1
doctors = [
2
    {id: 1, name: 'Adam Ardin', gender: 'male'},
3
    {id: 2, name: 'Amanda Creek', gender: 'female'},
4
    {id: 3, name: 'Lucy Morales', gender: 'female'},
5
    {id: 4, name: 'Mindy Smith', gender: 'female'},
6
    {id: 5, name: 'Toby Tomlinson', gender: 'male'}
7
]
Copied!
Use the following settings to reference this data array as options for this control:
Element Name: doctors
Value: id
Content: name
Suppose that a new patient at the clinic indicates that she wants to see a female doctor. To filter doctors from this JSON data array who are female in the clinic so that only those objects display as options in a Select List control, use the following PMQL expression in the PMQL setting of that control:
gender = "female"
Design Panel Settings
Click the control while in Design mode, and then click the Design panel that is on the right-side of the Screen Builder canvas.
Below are settings for the Select List control in the Design panel:
​Text Color​
​Background Color​
Text Color
Select the text color that displays for this control. Optionally, click the Clear Color Selection option to remove the selected color.
 
Background Color
Select the background color that displays for this control. Optionally, click the Clear Color Selection option to remove the selected color.
 
Advanced Panel Settings
Click the control while in Design mode, and then click the Advanced panel that is on the right-side of the Screen Builder canvas.
Below are settings for the Select List in the Advanced panel:
​Default Value​
​Visibility Rule​
​CSS Selector Name​
​Aria Label​
​Tab Order​
Default Value
Enter the default value this control displays. The default value can be assigned as a Request variable, text or JavaScript. When the Screen submits, the Request uses this control's default value unless the Request participant changes it. When using a Request variable in the Default Value setting, consider the following:
If the Request variable is empty, the control does not display any value by default.
When the Request variable is assigned a value for the first time, this value becomes the permanent default value of the control.
Any further changes to the Request variable do not affect the default value of the control.
The Default Value setting supports using Request variables in mustache syntax. For example, if the Default Value setting is {{ FirstName }} {{ LastName }} from which a Request participant entered her first name and last name in separate controls (respectively) earlier in that Request, this control displays the contents of those controls by default during the Request.
There are two ways to enter the default value this control displays.
Enter the default value as text (default)
Enter the default value as JavaScript
Enter the default value as text or a Request variable in mustache syntax..
 
Enter the default value as JavaScript, especially if a Calculated Property might change this default value setting. Ensure to use the this. JavaScript keyword preceding the ProcessMaker Screen control reference. Example: this.FullName when FullName is the Variable Value setting value for the control to set its default value.
 
Visibility Rule
Specify an expression that indicates the condition(s) under which this control displays. See Expression Syntax Components for "Visibility Rule" Control Settings. If this setting does not have an expression, then this control displays by default.
 
Note the following regarding how to use visibility rules:
To make this control hidden until another control contains a value, enter the Variable Name setting value of that control to this control's Visibility Rule setting.
​Visibility rules override custom CSS settings.
CSS Selector Name
Enter the value to represent this control in custom CSS syntax when in Custom CSS mode. As a best practice, use the same CSS Selector Name value on different controls of the same type to apply the same custom CSS style to all those controls.
 
See the following best practices regarding custom CSS in Screens:
​Editing a CSS name to represent this control in custom CSS syntax​
​Visibility rules override custom CSS setting​
Aria Label
Enter the string that provides a text alternative to this control for the following purposes:
Assistive technology, such as screen readers, read the Aria Label setting value.
This control has a visual indication of its purpose, such as a button that uses a graphic instead of text, but still needs to clarify that purpose for anyone who cannot access the visual indication.
The Aria Label setting value replaces the Label setting value. For example, if a Submit Button control has both a Label setting value and an Aria Label setting value, assistive technology only uses the Aria Label setting value.
​
Tab Order
Tab order determines the sequential navigation order to navigate a Screen's controls using a keyboard interface. Assistive technology users often use a keyboard for navigation.
​See best practices for setting the tab order for a Screen's controls.
Enter the number for the sequential keyboard navigation order that this control takes focus amongst other controls in this Screen.
​
Related Topics
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Validate Your Screen
Edit Your Screen
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Date Picker Control Settings
File Download Control Settings
File Preview Control Settings
File Upload Control Settings
Google Places Control Settings
Image Control Settings
Line Input Control Settings
Loop Control Settings
Multicolumn / Table Control Settings
Nested Screen Control Settings
Page Navigation Control Settings
Record List Control Settings
Rich Text Control Settings
Saved Search Chart Control Settings
Signature Control Settings
Submit Button Control Settings
Textarea Control Settings
Expression Syntax Components for "Visibility Rule" Settings
Validation Rules for "Validation Rules" Settings