Field and Label formatting nightmare...

[daveslater]

I am trying to convert a paper checklist form into a UI Form, but I am struggling with some basic design issues.

The format of the form is several tabs, each with a number of questions, about 12-15 each tab, and each question quite long and detailed.

Next to each question should be a dropdown choice list to select from one of 3 options: Discussed and agreed, Not yet agreed, Not required.

I could not find a way to reuse the choice list for each question using a Choice field, so had to opt for a Reference field with a dropdown style referencing a custom table with the 3 choices in it.

The form sits its a scoped application.

The problem is, the short answer dropdown field takes up 80% of the page, and the long question shoved over to one side:

 

I just want to be able to adjust this width but I just can't.

I have tried setting a Reference Style on the choice table, but this is ignored, even after clearing SN's cache.do and my browser's cache too. Same issue in Chrome, Edge and IE.

I have tried using "long label" attribute on the fields to no effect, again clearing all caches and multiple browsers.

I have tried using 2 columns and using Data Structure to hold the "label" in column 1, while the choice sits in column 2, but there's no clean way to hide the label on the field in column 2, without resorting to client scripts which would be cumbersome to maintain given how many questions are on the form in total.

I have opted to go for the label on the field in column 2 to be a colon, but this looks awful in the table or when referencing the fields in the UI which uses its display name of ":"

Are there any better ways?

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Edit:

...oh dear. That was not an option at all:

Why, ServiceNow, why?

[andrew_venables · Accepted solution]

Have you considered using an Assessment/Survey or a CatalogItem/Record Producer?

Forms are specifically designed to hold form based data, what you are describing is more like a questionnaire with different rendering requirements.

Although Assessments might take a little longer to initially setup you will hopefully find they have many features that help with what you are ultimately trying to achieve.

Assessment Product Docs: Prhttps://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/jakarta-servicenow-platform/page/administer/assessments/referen...

And here's a sample of how they render:

[daveslater]

Yeah, I will have to rethink my approach entirely.

The requirement is for this to be an auditable record stored during transition of a service into Operations that can be reopened and amended at will until finalised, and refered back to for all sorts of things. I'll have a look at surveys, but I'm not sure they behave the way I need them to, without invoking all sorts of stuff I don't want.

A Record Producer to skin the table's record would only be relevant when inserting a new one, and not be able to edit via it as far as I can see.

It's just super-frustrating that I cant adjust something as basic as a width of the field/label and have to jump through maddening hoops to hack stuff into something workable.

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Edit:

Also, it needs to hold reference fields to business services, configuration items, and users/groups, all possible with a Form for a table.

[sdepoorter]

I am looking for the exact same concept for another reason and the survey wont work for me.

I would like to add a Project Gate Review checklist for 3 Gates in the Project Management Life Cycle (Plan Gate, Execution Gate, Close Gate).     Each gate requires it's own set of questions with a choice field with 3 selection options.   The questions are longer than the maximum field label length.   I'd prefer these checklists to be within the Project page rather than another location.   The intent is to have the Project Manager complete the checklist prior to a Gate Review, submit that list for a pre-check to the Portfolio Manager, then if the Portfolio Manager deems the project ready for review a request is made to request to review with the PMO.   I am having a challenge also with finding a method to do this.

We are currently using Instanbul during development with plans to upgrade to Jakarta soon.

From the image posted by Dave Slater at the top of this thread, it appears we are looking for similar solutions.   Any ideas would be very appreciated!!

[Anonymous3]

I am looking for a solution to the same requirement. I need to ask the user 'Risk' related questions on the Project form, but my choice dropdown width is more with the question in three lines. 

We are currently using Jakarta during development with plans to upgrade to Kingston soon.

Thanks in advance!