Use a location field to let respondents request location-specific services like waste collection, or report location specific incidents like potholes, graffiti and fallen trees.
Map providers
Location fields can use a variety of map providers (found in the field settings). These change what respondents can do with a location field, and what the location field can do with their answers.
Currently, location fields can be configured to use:
Google Maps
When using Google Maps as a map provider, a location field allows respondents to perform the following actions:
- View a map.
- Drop a pin directly on the map to mark a location.
- Type an address in the location search box and choose from a list of predictive results.
- Select Use my current location to drop a pin on the map and populate the location search box using the location data available to their browser.
- Type an address in the search box without selecting a predictive result (if their desired location is not listed in the predictive results, for example).
Esri ArcGIS
When using Esri ArcGIS as a map provider, a location field allows respondents to perform all the actions listed above for Google Maps.
In addition, the location field can check respondent answers to the field against data in your Esri ArcGIS account.
This data can be used to:
- Validate that a respondent’s location is within a geometric boundary or location list that you’ve specified in Esri ArcGIS.
- Restrict respondent answers to locations within that boundary or list.
- Present respondents with visual cues to help them understand which areas are within your boundary or location list.
No map provider
If your organization hasn’t connected OpenForms to Google Maps or Esri ArcGIS - or you’ve selected None when choosing a map provider - the location field lets respondents:
- Type a location into a text field.
- Select Use my current location to fill the text field with their current location, using the location data available to their browser.
Add a location field to your form
- Open a form
- Add a location field by dragging it from the fields menu into your form
- Name your field
- Hover your cursor over the field and select the settings cog
- Choose whether the field is Required and give it a Description
- (Optional) Configure the field to use Google Maps or Esri ArcGIS
Configure a location field to use Google Maps
Google Maps is only available as a location field map provider if an admin has configured this connector in the Integrations area.
- Add a location field to your form, and configure its basic settings like its description and whether it is required
- Select Google Maps from the Map provider dropdown
- Enter latitude and longitude coordinates to position the center of your map.
The center of the map will affect the appearance of the map - if you choose to display it - as well as predictive search box results (the list will favour locations close to the center you've selected)
- Check or uncheck Display map to show or hide the map on your published field
- Choose a Zoom level for your map. A higher number means the map is zoomed in closer
Configure a location field to use Esri ArcGIS
Esri ArcGIS is only available as a location field map provider if an admin has configured this connector in the Integrations area.
- Add a location field to your form, and configure its basic settings like its description and whether it is required
- Select an Esri ArcGIS option from the Map provider dropdown
Your organization may have multiple Esri ArcGIS connectors configured for different scenarios
- Enter latitude and longitude coordinates to position the center of your map.
The center of the map will affect the appearance of the map - if you choose to display it - as well as predictive search box results (the list will favour locations close to the center you've selected)
- Check or uncheck Display map to show or hide the map on your published field
- Choose a Zoom level for your map. A higher number means the map is zoomed in closer
- Choose whether to Restrict answers to valid results
Restricting answers will prevent respondents from progressing in your form if their location answer is outside your Esri ArcGIS boundary or location list, or if they do not select a predictive result from the search box
- (If you have chosen to restrict answers to valid results) Enter a Search error message
This message is displayed to respondents if they enter a location in the search box but do not select a predictive result (either by choice, or because their location is not within your Esri ArcGIS dataset)
- (If you have chosen to restrict answers to valid results and display a map) Enter a Pin error message
This message is displayed to respondents if they drop a pin on the location field map that is outside your Esri ArcGIS boundary
What's next?
Visit Form fields to learn more about the other fields available on OpenForms.