Text Fields (All types explained)

This article explains all available Text field types in the Sintel Apps Designer and when to use each one.

Text fields are used to collect written input. When added to a form, they create a corresponding column in the underlying SharePoint list.

Available Text Field Types

Sintel Apps supports:

1. Single Line of Text
2. Multiple Lines of Text
3. Rich Text
4. Enhanced Rich Text Editor

Each type is designed for a different level of input complexity.

1. Single Line of Text

What It Is

A basic single-row input field for short responses.

Best Used For

• Names

• Reference numbers

• Short titles

• IDs or codes

• Brief descriptions

Key Characteristics

• Displays as a one-line input box

• Best for short, structured data

• Can be required

• Can include default values

• Can be used in Logic

When to Use: Use this for short, clean data that may be used in reporting or filtering.

2. Multiple Lines of Text

What It Is

A larger text box for longer responses.

Best Used For

• Comments

• Explanations

• Justifications

• Internal notes

Key Characteristics

• Multi-line text area

• Allows longer content

• Can be required

• Works with Logic rules

When to Use: Use when users need space to provide context or explanation.

3. Rich Text

What It Is

A formatted text field with basic styling options.

Allows

• Bold

• Italic

• Bullet points

• Basic formatting

Best Used For

• Structured responses

• Lists within responses

• Content that benefits from light formatting

When to Use: Rich Text stores formatting along with content. This may affect reporting or data exports.

Use only when formatting improves clarity.

4. Enhanced Rich Text Editor

What It Is

An advanced formatting field with extended editing capabilities.

Allows

• Full formatting toolbar

• Advanced styling

• Hyperlinks

• More document-style editing

Best Used For

• Detailed reports

• Long structured responses

• Content that may later be exported

• Document-style entries

Important Considerations

Enhanced Rich Text:

• Stores HTML formatting

• May impact integrations or reporting

• Should not be used for simple data capture

• Is not ideal for fields used in filtering or calculations

When to Use: Use Enhanced Rich Text only when users genuinely need document-level formatting. For standard comments, Multiple Lines of Text is usually sufficient.

– Choosing the Right Text Field

– Field Properties (All Text Types)

When selected in the Layout tab, you can configure:

• Label

• Help text

• Placeholder

• Required state

• Default value

• Visibility

• Read-only state

• Validation message

• Styling

These control how the field appears and behaves.

– Best Practices

• Use Single Line of Text whenever possible for structured data.

• Avoid using Enhanced Rich Text unless necessary.

• Keep formatting simple for better reporting.

• Combine with Logic to enforce validation rules.

• Plan your field type before going live — changing it later can impact stored data.

– Key Things to Know

• Adding a Text field creates a SharePoint column.

• Rich and Enhanced Rich Text store formatted content (HTML).

• Field type changes after data collection may affect existing data.

• Text fields can be used in Logic conditions and validation rules.

Next article: Choice Fields (Dropdown, Single & Multi-Select Explained)