Dropdown fields are easy to use because of the simplicity of picking an option from a list. If you need to create a dropdown with nested options or limit the choices that can be selected depending on the form filler’s selection, you can use the Dynamic Dropdowns widget.
To use Dynamic Dropdowns
- In the Form Builder, select Add Form Element in the upper-left corner.
- In the left pane, go to Widgets at the top.
- Search and select Dynamic Dropdowns to add it to your form.
- In Widget Settings, configure your dropdown in the Values field.
Nesting or indenting the options with spaces creates a parent-child relationship between dropdown lists. Here’s an example:
Vertebrates
Warm-blooded
Dog
Cat
Bird
.
Cold-blooded
Goldfish
Turtle
Frog
.
.
Invertebrates
With legs
Beetle
Ladybug
Spider
.
Without legs
Earthworm
Leech
.
.
.To break that down, the top-level options are
Vertebrates
Invertebrates
.To create choices for “Vertebrates,” add a new line under it and list the options, each with one leading space.
Vertebrates
Warm-blooded
Cold-blooded
.
Invertebrates
.To create choices for the 2nd-level “Warm-blooded” option, add a new line under it then list the choices, each with two leading spaces.
Vertebrates
Warm-blooded
Dog
Cat
Bird
.
Cold-blooded
.
Invertebrates
.And so on. See what it looks like in this demo form.
Notes
- Setting up the list and nestings using a text editor like Notepad or TextEdit is recommended.
- Include dot (.) as one of the choices in a set to initially display an empty “Please select” option for that set.
- Append asterisk (*) to a parent option to make its children required.
- The Values field has a 65000 character limit.
- The longer the list, the slower the widget becomes.
Send Comment:
16 Comments:
84 days ago
Hi, I am trying to separate the first level text of the DD to insert in a text box and then the second level text to insert it into another textbox. Can this be done, I am getting the first and second level text together when I copy the value to a text box.
More than a year ago
The warning for the widget, Dynamic Dropdown, is: "Warning: Don’t add too many entries. If you have too many, your form might crash or stop working." What is too many? I have a project that if I use the Dynamic Dropdown there are a little under 1,500 entries. I suspect that's "too many" but I thought I'd double-check before I write it off.
More than a year ago
Is there a way to translate the "Please Select" empty value to another language?
More than a year ago
Hi, is there any way to add rows?
Just like configurable list did.
More than a year ago
Hi, is there any way to pre-populate the fields on this widget?
More than a year ago
Hi,
Is there a way to insert links in the dropdowns? Or can you hyperlink the text itself?
More than a year ago
I have a form with dropdown widget https://www.jotform.com/build/220721649488060, however, it seems not following the style of the rest of the form (font size, field height, font color), could you advise what can be done, thanks.
More than a year ago
I've now got the forms loading offline but still having issues with certain questions. The first Dynamic Dropdown I get too does not show the drop down boxes when offline... only
More than a year ago
Can I populate or look up the choices in a drop-down using the contents of a table?
More than a year ago
Hello JF,
I like the dynamic dropdown widget but it does not automatically suit the colour that the rest of the form has taken and stands out badly. How do I inject some css to change the colour and opacity of this box in order to make it fit in with the rest of the form?
More than a year ago
Hi, is there any way to have "Please Select" displaying in the first drop down list of a Dynamic Dropdown. I have two drop downs but when I preview them they are pre-filled with the first selections. I would like to make the user select something from the first dynamic drop down list.
Thank you.
More than a year ago
TEM COMO COLOCAR MULTI SELEÇÃO?
More than a year ago
I have collected information in a google form that I would like to have referenced by a jotform before it can be submitted. How would I load a security question and response by a field such as name or ID to have the question 1 of 9 choices appear based on the field and only allow form submission based on a correct response, preloaded.
Thanks in advance for your support.
More than a year ago
How do I change the size of a text box? it looks so small as default
More than a year ago
How can I conditionally disable the Dynamic Dropdown widget? The normal disabling function does not work on the DD.
Thanks
More than a year ago
Can I update this widget with conditional logic?