Time Variable
A Time variable captures a specific time of day entered by the user in the questionnaire. It is used in templates where a precise time is required, such as a meeting time, a deadline, or a contract execution time. The variable supports minimum and maximum value constraints and can be configured to apply only on specific days, such as weekdays (Monday to Friday). Formatting options control how time is displayed in the generated document, including 12-hour and 24-hour time formats.
- Question: Specifies the question text that is displayed on the questionnaire shown to end users.
- Guidance: Specifies the guidance text that appears on the questionnaire. It appears below the variable's answer box in smaller text and supports rich text formatting using the controls above the text box.noteIf you want to make a specific question compulsory for the user, check theAnswer requiredbox. Required questions display a red asterisk and prevent submission until they are answered.
Advanced settings
This section is divided into three different categories. On the Questionnaire, lists questions and input fields shown to end users in Author Online to collect structured feedback or data, which may vary by content type. The document outlines the values that will be included in the final document generated after the questionnaire is completed and the template is assembled. Repeated groups help authors organise content that could be repeated.
On the Questionnaire
- Default Value: Default values are pre-filled entries that appear in questionnaire fields when accessed for the first time. You can type these values manually in the edit box or derive them using expressions. A Time variable requires an expression that evaluates to a valid time.If a variable remains unanswered because the user removed the default or skipped the relevant questionnaire page, the default value will not appear in the final document. This ensures only confirmed user inputs are included.
- Min. Value: Ensures the user enters a value that is equal to or greater than the specified minimum, which is manually entered in the edit box. The minimum value expression must match the variable's type. Contract Express prevents the questionnaire from being submitted if any relevant question contains a value lower than the defined minimum.
- Max. Value: Ensures the user enters a value that is equal to or less than the specified maximum, which is manually entered in the edit box. The maximum value expression must match the variable's type. Contract Express prevents the questionnaire from being submitted if any relevant question contains a value greater than the defined maximum.
In the Document
Default case
The default case specifies the casing of variable values in a generated document when no local case is defined. The available options are:
Format Option | Description |
|---|---|
Capitalize Each Word (capitals) | The first letter of all words will appear capitalised in the generated document. |
Uppercase (upper) | All letters will appear in uppercase in the generated document. |
Lowercase (lower) | All letters will appear in lowercase in the generated document. |
As entered | All letters will appear as they are entered on the questionnaire in the generated document. |
Title case (proper) | The first letter of all major words will be capitalised in the generated document. |
First letter capitalize (firstletter) | The first letter of each word will be capitalised in the generated document. |
If no default case is selected, the value will be generated as entered in the questionnaire, by default.
For detailed instructions, see Field format and case overview.
Default format
The default format attribute determines how variable values appear in a generated document when no local formatting is applied. The default format used depends on the variable type. You can select a pre-defined format from the dropdown or create a custom format by choosing
Create new
. Clicking Edit format
opens the Format dialog, where the newly created format is automatically set as the default. If you choose
None
as the default format, the generated document will undo the previous selection and remove the selected format.You can manage both newly created and existing formats by selecting the format and clicking
Edit format
. This will open the Edit Format dialog box, which provides options to Delete, Save, or Cancel.- Delete– Removes the selected format.
- Save– Saves the custom formats in the Format table according to applicable conditions.
- Cancel– Discards the custom formats; they will not be stored in the Format table.
note
When custom formats are created for a data type, they will be displayed as options in the 'format' dropdown, ordered by the most recently added and appearing immediately after the default format list. If any format is modified, it will be re-ordered to appear by the most recently modified status in the dropdown.
For , the available default formats are:
Time Variables
Pre-defined Format | Description |
|---|---|
hh24:mm | Time formatted using 24-hour notation with hours and minutes separated by a static character (e.g. "14:30"). |
hh12:mm ampm | Time formatted using 12-hour notation with hours and minutes followed by AM or PM (e.g. "02:30 pm"). |
h12 AMPM | Hour value in 12-hour format followed by AM or PM, without minutes (e.g. "2 p.m."). |
See Time Format for details on how to apply different formatting options.
Related Content
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Variables in Author Online
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