Components need to be available before submit
joeeastham - September 6, 2008 - 03:11
| Project: | Webform |
| Version: | 6.x-2.1.3 |
| Component: | User interface |
| Category: | feature request |
| Priority: | normal |
| Assigned: | Unassigned |
| Status: | by design |
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Description
Based on feedback from the users I support, I believe that moving webform components out of the initial page view has introduced a serious usability issue to this module. Since the purpose of a form is to collect data stored in fields, their absence from the initial view has many users confused. Would it be possible to restore components to their placement in version 1.x? Another option would be to present creating webforms as a multi-step process. I'd take a crack at it myself, but I'm new to Drupal and am still building my skills.
Aside from this issue, the ui improvements in version 2 are great, especially when reordering fields. Thanks.
#1
The fields being on the initial page caused an endless stream of troubles. To list a few:
It was continuously a problem that users would add fields to their webform, thinking they'd been saved immediately, but needed to save the node before the changes took place.
The larger problem than that: multistep forms are simply difficult. The second tab allows greater flexibility, especially when the final goal is reusing CCK fields within Webform.
Many users develop webform with dozens (or even hundreds) of components, moving to a second page breaks up the form a bit.
Future plans call for Webform's configuration expanding further, see #277581: Send emails with a custom/templated body (and subject, to addresses and from addresses) for a patch that adds a third tab for e-mail templates.
#2
Thanks for the clarification quicksketch. I hadn't thought through all of the possible issues. I'm considering adding a message to the initial page to help out confused first-time users.