Last modified: 2014-02-12 23:38:31 UTC
I have found it to be effective to list some example entries next to a text field to encourage better quality data entry, so a user doesn't have to think too hard about what to enter. But, even when they make entries copied from the examples, sometimes it is mispelled or otherwise imperfect. It would be helpful if checkboxes, dropdowns, and radiobuttons could be targeted to a text, textarea, or combobox field so those examples are "live" and will automatically populate the targeted text field when checked or selected, in addition to whatever the user chooses to enter manually. Deselecting those fields should also remove the entries they added to the text field, but that isn't required for this enhancement to be a beneficial.
I should add that this is most useful for fields that accept multiple values (using checkboxes, possibly combined with radiobuttons and dropdowns), but can also be helpful for a field that accepts a single value (using only a radiobutton or dropdown) if many common values are known, but not all values are known. For example, for a field that takes the name of a popular 1980's musician, in might be easy to guess Michael Jackson should be included in the field targeting, but not so easy to guess Yngwie Malmsteen, who would have to be entered manually.
I should also mention that the CharInsert extension does not work: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:CharInsert http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension_talk:Semantic_Forms#Char_Insert_Not_Working I am guessing it is because CharInsert does not known which field to target. The enhancement report may provide a mechanism that can be used to support extensions like CharInsert.
(In reply to comment #2) Re: the CharInsert extension. SF now supports WikiEditor, which also allows for a customisable toolbar: www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:WikiEditor/Toolbar_customization. On the other hand, it is also rather burdensome to use and far from layperson-proof, so support for CharInsert is still desriable if it can be managed.
