How to add descriptive placeholders in OutSystems input fields for user guidance?

Adding Descriptive Placeholders in OutSystems Input Fields for User Guidance

 

This guide provides a comprehensive step-by-step approach to adding descriptive placeholders in OutSystems input fields. Placeholders offer users guidance on what information is expected, thus improving user experience and minimizing input errors.

 

Prerequisites

 

• An OutSystems environment set up with access to Service Studio.
• Basic understanding of input widgets in OutSystems applications.
• Familiarity with Service Studio for designing and managing UI elements.

 

Understanding Placeholders in OutSystems

 

• Placeholders are text hints that display in input fields before the user enters data.
• Used for form fields to suggest the type of data required or to guide the user with example input.
• Once the user focuses or inputs text in the field, the placeholder disappears.

 

Steps to Add Descriptive Placeholders to Input Fields

 

• Open Your Application:
  • Launch OutSystems Service Studio and open the application where you want to add the placeholder.
• Locate the Screen:
  • Navigate to the screen that contains the input field or form where you want to add a placeholder.
• Select the Input Widget:
  • Click on the input widget you want to modify in the screen's structure. This field should be able to accept user input.
• Access the Properties Pane:
  • With the input widget selected, find the Properties Pane typically located on the right side of the Service Studio interface.
• Set the Placeholder:
  • In the Properties Pane, look for the “Placeholder” property. This field might be empty if no placeholder has been previously set.
  • Enter descriptive text in the “Placeholder” field that indicates the input required. For example, for an email field, you might enter “e.g., [email protected]”.
• Preview the Changes:
  • To ensure that the placeholder appears as expected, use the Preview feature to test the screen in your web browser.
  • Navigate to the form or input field to verify that the placeholder text displays correctly in the input field and disappears when the user starts typing.
• Publish the Application:
  • Once confirmed that the placeholder is correctly implemented, publish the application for the changes to take effect in production.

 

Best Practices for Placeholders

 

• Ensure placeholders clearly convey what the user should input without using overly complex language.
• Keep placeholder text concise; it should complement the label of the input field, not serve as a replacement.
• Use examples where applicable to demonstrate input format, especially for fields like date formats or currency inputs.

 

By following these steps, you can effectively add descriptive placeholders in OutSystems input fields, enhancing user interaction and minimizing the risk of incorrect data entry. This detail not only provides guidance but also streamlines data submission in forms.