table question
For table questions, it would be very helpful to have all text entered into a text field be visible in the field online. Currently, if the table has four columns, the field is quite short and text is not visible to administrators nor evaluators. Either having the text wrap in some fashion, or even having the ability to customize the column width so that text columns are wider than say an integer column.
This was included in our January 2025 update. For further details, please refer to the release notes. If this update does not meet your needs, please create a new idea lab.
-The Foundant Team
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Alexandra Boyle commented
We got this feedback from our reviewers last year that they couldn't see all the info put in the tables and it was very time consuming to explain to them how to open a new document and scroll to it to find the few words that got cut off. Because of that issue we do not want to use tables anymore but there are no other good question type options so we feel stuck. This is a critically needed update to make tables actually functional for reviewers
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Kathy Westhaver commented
We use a 6x6 table for applicants to enter Activities in Community and Leadership. It works wonderfully for the applications yet is really hard to view on the Evaluation Form.
I "pop out" request made in another comment sounds fabulous. Yet the ability for a quit report or even improved scrolling would be an improvement.
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Thiloma Hofer commented
Using tables in application forms make so much sense, but currently it's not very functional. If it's not readable it's not useful to the applicant or the reviewer. Currently replacing some of my tables by using external Google Sheet templates (with links within the application) so that the applicant can then fill out the table and then upload to their application. Less than ideal, as applicants may make changes to the table structure (I find that cell protections aren't always maintained if the user changes the file format). Please improve the functionality of the tables!
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Lee O'Neil commented
If the admins and evaluators could just hover over the table field to open a small pop out text box (sort of like the pop out boxes that open when you hover over a question mark) that would help.
My workaround this year for a few evaluators who really struggled the table fields was to create a report, pulling in the student name, the title of the table, and the data in the table fields. Downloaded the report as an Excel Spreadsheet. Then I created a "directory" style mail merge to create a Word document, sorted alphabetically by student.
They loved it, but sheesh, it was a lot of work.
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Heather Cunningham commented
I agree! We used the suggested idea to have students input certain elements of their high school experience into tables, but our reviewers had a very different time seeing the entire response. Having text boxes that automatically wrap would be a huge benefit and would amplify the way we can use the table function.
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Kendra Fisher commented
Resolving this issue is incredibly important, not only for the benefit of our reviewers, many of whom are reviewing large numbers of student applications, but also for our students, who deserve to have all of their application made easily accessible. Please make this a priority going forward.
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Alex Hall commented
Working in both SLM and GLM, multiple reviewers have mentioned that it is difficult to review applications with tables from students seeking scholarships and potential grantees, even though the table feature makes it very easy for the applicant to fill out information. Having the text wrap from one line to the next would solve this. (Every time we go to train anyone that is reviewing applications, we have to explain "workarounds". Annually, we have over 200 volunteers reviewing applications... which leads to lots of phone calls asking for help with this specific issue.)
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Cheryl L commented
We are completing scholarship review and we heard this from EVERY reviewer. The work around to download the application as a pdf is not always the best option when someone is working on a laptop or iPad. Reviewers need to be able to see the entire response.
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Stephanie Overbey commented
Much needed update to improve our grant and scholarship review process.
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Samantha Rajotte commented
This really is critical in scholarship applications. The table format is the only type of question that makes sense, and makes it easier for students, but reviewers not being able to see the text entered is a big problem.
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Kyla White commented
This would be super helpful.
I would like to use a table question to create a simple logic model in a grant application, so having the text visible and/or the ability to drag the text boxes down to make them longer would be amazing