Presenting Text in Your Flow

This function can be performed by users with Contributor role or higher.

Users should be able to skim the text in the flow and quickly know what they need to do. Here are some tips to get your point across without overwhelming users:

Keep it short and concise

  • Full sentences are NOT required. For example, don’t write “Click on the ‘New Entry point’ link to go to the next step” — instead put “Click New entry point”.
  • Avoid ambiguous, unclear text: If you’re using words like “if applicable”, add a backstory box that clearly outlines when it IS applicable and when it IS NOT. 

  • Large text boxes are hard to read and slow down the process you are trying to create. Cut it down as much as possible:

Use formatting to aid comprehension

  • Add a title. If you must include text that is going to be more than three lines, you can make it easier to read by adding a title, aligning the text to the left instead of centred, and widening the box:

  • Stick to one line. To make the text easier to read, stretch out the shape so that field names or phrases can be kept to a single line if possible.

    Here is another example of a long field name within a decision shape. Pressing Enter before and after the field name keeps "Long Field Name" together on one line.

See also Formatting Your Flow

Move longer content out of the flow

Sometimes that additional information may be helpful to new users, but would just be clutter for others. Here are two options:

  • Use a Backstory shape to move the information out of the flow but still be available. Or use the Backstory shape to link to a related flow that just contains the longer information.

  • Use pop-ups to add examples or general information. Do NOT hide important information in pop-ups that should be mapped directly into the flow itself, as it could possibly be missed. Also, do not include a whole “wall of text” within a pop-up, as it becomes very difficult for a user to read; instead, put it in a new flow and use the pop-up to hyperlink to that flow. 

    Note  Pop-ups can only hold text; you cannot attach an image within a pop-up!

    See Adding Pop-Ups

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