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CensusIO CensusIO Guide

Build your first survey type

A survey type is the template for one kind of survey, an electrofishing run, a gillnet set, a disease sampling event. It defines the fields you collect, how they validate, and how they render. Every record belongs to a survey type.

Your organization starts with a library of survey types you can use or adapt. You can also create your own.

Create a survey type

Section titled “Create a survey type”

From Survey types, choose New survey type and fill in:

  • Name (English), the human name, for example “Plankton tow”.
  • Key, a short snake_case identifier, for example plankton_tow. It must be unique in your organization and cannot be changed later, so pick it carefully.

Choose Create and edit to open the builder.

Build the fields

Section titled “Build the fields”

The builder has three columns and a live preview.

The survey type builder A three-column builder. On the left an Add field palette lists field types. In the middle an ordered list of the fields with up, down, and delete controls. On the right a Field settings panel for the selected field. A Live preview of the form runs beneath. Numbered markers point at the palette, the field list, the settings panel, and the preview. Edit survey type Version 3 Save ADD FIELD Text Number Date Geometry Species Select FIELDS (3) Species species_ref Length (mm) number GPS location geometry FIELD SETTINGS Label Key Help text Required LIVE PREVIEW 1 2 3 4
Add fields from the palette, order them in the middle, and configure the selected field on the right. The live preview shows exactly how the form will behave.
  1. Add field: the palette of field types (text, number, date, geometry, species reference, select, and more). Choose one to add it.
  2. Fields: the ordered list. Use the up and down controls to reorder, and delete to remove. Select a field to edit it.
  3. Field settings: the selected field’s label, key, help text, whether it is required, and any type-specific options (min and max, decimals, the choices for a select, the geometry kind, and so on).
  4. Live preview: the real form, rendering and validating exactly as it will during data entry. It updates as you edit.
  1. Set the survey name (you can add French and Spanish names too) and the taxa group (fish, mammal, bird, and so on).
  2. Add and order your fields from the palette, configuring each one on the right.
  3. Optionally group fields into Sections to organize a long form.
  4. Choose Save. The version number ticks up and a Saved check appears. If anything is invalid, the builder lists what to fix before it will save.

Next

Section titled “Next”

Your survey type is ready to collect data. Add a record by hand, or bring in a file.