A Text Area widget allows user to input multi-lined rich text onto a form.

Adding a Text Area to the Form

1. In the Form Editor, drag the icon from the Form Widgets Palette onto the form canvas. A new Text Area widget is added in the canvas.
   
2. Enter a Label for your Text Area. Notice that the Data Field in the Data section is now populated with the label name but without spaces.
   
   The Data Field should not contain any spaces and should be a unique name within the Collection.
3. The Properties section of the Form Editor will allow you to customize the data properties of your widget.
   
4. Select either the Simple or Calculated radio button. Simple will only take user input. Selecting Calculated will populate the field based on an expression defined using the Expression Builder. Notice that when you select the Calculated radio button the Properties section will change, allowing you to enter an expression in the Value box.
   
5. If the Simple radio button is selected, click the button next to Possible and Default values to define a default value for the Text Area.
   
6. The Required Field radio button allows you to determine if the field needs to be filled out before a user is able to save the record. If the field is marked as a required field, it will be designated with a red asterisk (*) in the form.
7. The Display this field in the default collection view checkbox allows you to add this field as a column in the collection tab's view without having to enter the View Editor.
8. When finished, save your changes in the Form Editor. Refer to the section on Version Management for more information.
9. Click Exit to close the Form Editor and to return to the Collection page.
10. When you create a new record, the Text Area widget will expand to allow users to change the font, size, color and style of the text written in the widget.
    
11. You can also define a URL link by highlighting a set of text in the text area and then typing in the URL in the small area below the font properties.