Removing zeros in data entry boxes

Apr 12, 2013

How do I remove the default zeros in data entry boxes? When the screen opens, instead of empty boxes for the learner to fill in, there are zeros already in place. I'd like the text to read "Type here" instead of "0". How do I set that?

Also, how do I remove the default zeros in the %answer% placeholder? Basically, everything comes up with zeroes until after the learner has entered numbers and hit the Calculate button.

3 Replies
Christine Hendrickson

Hi Nancy,

As far as I know, there isn't a way to modify the initial text in a numeric data entry field. Looks like it's always set to "0", even if you add custom text to the field.

Out of curiosity, could you try using a text entry? Your learners will still be able to enter numbers, and you can modify the text that's displayed initially. It may depend on the type of quiz or question you're working with, though, so I realize that may not be an option. 

Can you share a little more information about your quiz? 

Thanks!

Nancy Mucklow

The numbers that the learners enter get used in some calculations. Basically, the course guides the learners to figure out if they have time to take a college credit course. They enter the course information, including the course weight and the number of weeks, and hit Calculate, and the program calculates how many hours a week they'd need to do well. So if the data entry boxes are text, then the calculations won't happen.

Is there a way of converting a text data box to a numeric data box along the way?

Christine Hendrickson

HI Nancy,

Ahhh, I totally understand now, thanks for the additional information. I'm afraid you won't be able to remove those zeros, then. I can see how that would definitely be an appealing option for the fields, however. If you haven't already, you may want to go ahead and submit a feature request to our development team if you'd like to see this in a future release of the software. 

I'm afraid there really isn't a way to convert it after it's been added to the course. You might be able to pull that data using a variable, but it would still need to be a different/additional data entry input field. I doubt that would work with the calculations. 

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