Presenting Options on a Form Using Radio Buttons and Check Boxes

Radio buttons are similar to menu buttons. Use them when you want users to select one of several options. Check boxes can be used in groups or individually.

  1. Click either the radio button or check boxes button in the Form Tool window.

  2. Enter a name for this item in the Field Name field.

    Use the same field name for all the buttons that you group together. Usually, you need to specify a unique field name. Radio buttons are the exception to this rule.

    This name does not appear on the form; it's stored in the HTML file. The cgi-bin script uses this name to identify the information collected from that field.

  3. Click Checked if you want this button to be selected by default.

    A red check mark indicates it's selected.

  4. Fill in the Value field if you want the data submitted to the server to be different from the choices presented to the user.

    For instance, you may ask people to indicate whether they prefer the color purple or orange. Instead of returning "purple" or "orange," you return "p" or "o." This step is optional.

  5. Click the Apply button; the radio button or check box appears on your page.

  6. To create a label with each button, type it directly on the page.

  7. Create the other radio buttons or check boxes by repeating steps 1 through 6.