Text Entry

The text entry response types (fill-in-the-blank, extended text, and numeric entry) allow test takers to respond to an item by entering text into a field.

Text entry fields have the following states.

• Default. Text extry fields have a gray #767676 border and an inset shadow to help the test taker identify them as active controls. No placeholder text (e.g., “Type your answer here.”) is provided.
• Focus. Since the dotted outline typically used to indicate focus (as described on the Indicators page) can be difficult to discern next to the text field border, the border is changed to dark blue #0068D1 , a light blue rgba(0, 104, 209, .4) glow is added, and the inset drop shadow is removed.
• Disabled. The drop shadow is removed, the border becomes dark gray #D0D0D0 , and the background becomes light gray #E5E5E5 .

The test taker can enter up to 150 characters in a Fill-in-the-blank field and 3,000 characters in an Extended Text field. If the test taker attempts to enter or paste more than the maximum number of characters, entry/pasting is prevented, and the Max-character Limit modal dialog is displayed. (See the Dialogs page for information about dialog styles and behavior.) Content of the dialog:

You have reached the maximum amount you can type.

To type something else, you must remove some of what you already typed.

Fill-in-the-blank entry fields (text inputs) are a single line tall and are shown in-line with item text. They have left and right margins to distinguish them from surrounding content. Individual field widths are set based on the length of the expected response or the available space.

Extended Text entry fields (text areas) are multiple lines tall and stand alone (i.e., not in-line with text). They are left-justified with item text and take up the full width of the column, or the width of 50 zeros, whichever is smaller. Individual field heights are set based on the length of the expected response or the available space.

When a Numeric Entry field is provided, the system runs one or more types of validation on the response entered by the test taker, as specified by the item author. If the response does not validate, a modal dialog is displayed providing information about the nature of the validation error. (See the Dialogs page for information about modal dialog styles and behavior.)

• Basic numeric validation (in cognitive subjects). The system checks whether the response is a number, a comma, a period, or a minus sign. (This is the only validation type available in cognitive subjects.) Error message:

You can only enter numbers or the following symbols.

, . -

• Basic numeric validation (in SQ). The system checks whether the response is a number. (Run by default on SQ Numeric Entry fields when no other validation type is defined.) Error message:

You can only enter numbers.

• Number of digits. The system checks whether the response contains the specified number of digits. Error message:

You can only enter num-of-digits numbers.

• Minimum value. The system checks whether the response is greater than or equal to the specified value. Error message:

You can only enter a number that is min-value or more.

• Maximum value. The system checks whether the response is less than or equal to the specified value. Error message:

You can only enter a number that is max-value or less.

• Range. The system checks whether the response is within the specified range. Error message:

You can only enter a number between min-value and max-value.