Prompt fields

Applies to: IOS

Introduction

Online customers can optionally personalize their products with their own data. This is often used to customize products such as bookmarks and wallets, where the customer can be prompted to enter a preferred name to appear on these products rather than accept the name that is part of subject data.

These so called 'Prompt Fields' can be added to any portrait type product - pack layouts and pack items - which then can in turn be added to any package in any offer.

Prompt fields and subject fields

Prompt fields are separate to regular subject fields and never replace any data in subject fields. However they can be used in conjunction with subject fields meaning if a prompt field is not personalized by a customer, the product will use subject field data by default. Conditional text support adds flexibility to prompt fields.

Prompt fields across multiple products, multiple orders

Since prompt fields are product based, the same product can be ordered with different data from order to order and even within the same order. For example a parent can order two Christmas products each with different greetings or messages while estranged parents can each order a product customized with their preferred data.

Likewise, the same prompt field can be used on multile products and each product can be customized with different text.

Prompt fields in tsAdmin

Optionally, prompt fields can be added to the Timestone Administrator. This allows the photographer to define a custom prompt message that is presented to the customer. In addition the photographer can set the order in which the fields are prompted for the cases where there may be multiple prompt fields in the same package such as when prompting for trader card data.

Prompt fields can optionally be a chargeable option.

Key points

• Prompt fields can be added to any pack layout, item or package template
• Data entered into prompt fields does not replace subject field data
• Prompt fields are product based meaning the same product can have different data each time it is added to the cart
• Optionally add prompt fields in tsAdministrator to customize the prompting message and set order
• Prompt fields can be charged for
• Prompt fields can be made mandatory

Adding prompt fields to a template

Prompt fields are added to a template using a text box in the following manner:

@?promptfield

Note the presence of the ? between the @ symbol and the prompt field name. This designates the field as a prompt field as opposed to a regular field.

Prompt fields can be added to any pack layout or pack item.

The prompt field does not need to be an existing subject field. Any text string can be used as the prompt field.

Prompt fields in tsAdmin

Prompt fields can be added to tsAdmin under the 'Prompt Fields' object.

Although they can be added with respect to season, workspaces and accounts it is recommended prompt fields simply be defined at the root level (*.*.*)

Defining prompt fields is simply a matter of adding the prompt field name, the prompting message (what message the customer will see prompted for data) and in what relative order the prompt fields will be displayed when multiple prompt fields are present.

The screen grab below shows seven prompt fields in tsAdmin. The fourth field, 'name', could well be used on many products while the other fields could be used on products such as Trader Cards. Note the name field has a position of 1 meaning it will be displayed first when multiple prompt fields are placed on a template.

Figure 1: Prompt fields in tsAdmin

Using prompt fields in conjunction with subject fields

There will be many occasions where the photographer will want the product to display subject data by default but allow the customer to 'override' the subject field data by entering their own data when prompted. Furthermore if the product is ordered without any custom data the product should likewise print with the default subject field data

This is achieved by using prompt field names that match subject field names. A prompt field of @?firstname for example will use custom data if entered but default to the subject field @firstname in the absence of custom data. Likewise a prompt field @?name will default to the subject name (firstname+lastname).

If a prompt field name is the same as a subject field name, IOS will display and print the product with subject field data unless the customer enters their preferred data

See example and download template

An example of the above can be see on the Timestone demo IOS site with this link:
See example

A sample template with a prompt field can be downloaded here.
Download template

Prompt fields and conditional text

As with regular fields, prompt fields can be used in conditional text statements. This is useful, for example, if prompting the customer for data for a trader card. Headers for the data (Age, Height, Weight etc) can be made to display only if data is entered into the prompt field.

Consider the text box below where the customer is prompted for their age via a @?age prompt field. For detailed information on conditional text please consult Conditional text

{@?age|Age: @?Age Years Old}

Charging for prompt text

Optionally, prompt text can be a chargeable option.

The price to be charged and charging options are added in tsAdmin to the 'Chargeable Options' section of an offer. (tsAdmin>Offers>Pricing>Chargeable Options>Prompt text.) Three behaviour ules are available that determine when the prompt text charge will be added together a default option of 'No charge'. The screen grab below shows an offer where prompt text will attract a once off fee of $5.

Figure 2: Charging a once off fee of $5 for prompt text

Making prompt fields mandatory

Optionally, prompt fields can be made mandatory meaning the customer must enter data into the field before the product can be added to the cart. To make a prompt field mandatory, simply add an asterix(*) character to the end of the field name on the template.

Figure 3: Making the Age field a mandatory prompt field

End of article