# Text, checkbox & date In addition to [number](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-manual-input-columns/insert-manual-input-columns) and [dropdown](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-manual-input-columns/dropdown) input columns, you can also use columns of types text, checkbox and date to capture manual data. Let's cover them one by one. {% hint style="info" %} If you are using Inforiver Writeback Matrix, you need to [sign in](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-manual-input-columns/..#1.-sign-in) to start inserting a data input column. {% endhint %} ### 1. Inserting text data input fields Text columns or measures can be inserted to capture text. **STEP 1:** Select **Text** from the **Data Input** dropdown. **STEP 2:** The text column side panel is shown in the image below. You can choose to [insert as a visual measure or column](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-manual-input-columns/..#1.-insert-as). Text entry can be enabled or disabled in the total/subtotal rows using the [Allow entry on total/subtotal](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-manual-input-columns/..#id-2.4.-allow-entry-on-totals-subtotals) rows checkbox. Input access can be configured using the [Allow input](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-manual-input-columns/..#2.-allow-input) option. Click Create.

**STEP 3:** The text column gets inserted. Double-click on any of the cells and start typing the text in the editor. Press Enter to commit the text entry.

### 2. Using HTML content within text data input columns You can include your HTML content within the Text data input column as well as in DAX measures, which can be written back. Double-click within the Text data input column and click on the rich text editor icon, which opens the text editor window. Select the script option in the window, enter your HTML code, and click Apply.

Entering HTML code within the Text Data input column

The image below shows the Text rendered by the HTML code.

The inserted HTML code is rendered and displayed

While doing a writeback, you can choose to writeback as plain text or as text with Html tags. This is done by enabling or disabling the **Text input measure as HTML** toggle under Export > Settings > Data tab in the Writeback Settings side pane.

*Text input measure as HTML* toggle in WriteBack Settings

The images below show the written-back text when the toggle is disabled and enabled.

You can also add HTML code within a DAX measure, which will be rendered. The image below shows the DAX measure created with an HTML code.

The image below shows the DAX measure Comment-HTML and Comments Text column exported as HTML in PDF

DAX measure with HTML is exported in PDF when the "Writeback as HTML" toggle is enabled.

### 3. Configuration options for text data inputs #### 3.1. Word wrap Inforiver provides an option to wrap the text for long entries that get truncated.

Click on the word wrap icon in the Home ribbon to wrap text as per the width of the field.

Word wrap feature for long text data inputs

#### 3.2. Text validations Inforiver allows adding data validations for text inputs. You can add validations to check the length and data type (numeric/text/alphanumeric). When the text entered does not conform to the specified length, Inforiver throws an error and does not retain the incorrect entry.

Error thrown when entered text does not match the length specification

You can also enforce that a text entry should be an email or URL, or even provide a regular expression using the Custom option. For example, if you choose **Email** as **Field Validation** and the data entered is not a valid email ID, Inforiver will generate a pop-up error notification.

Data validation error when the entered text is not an email

## 2. Checkbox Checkbox columns or measures can be inserted to capture binary inputs. Click on 'Checkbox' in the 'Data input' dropdown. To access the checkbox column, Navigate to the **Insert** toolbar and click on the **Data Input** dropdown and select **Checkbox** and click **Create**. You can choose to [insert as a visual measure or column](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-manual-input-columns/..#1.-insert-as). Entry can be enabled or disabled in the total/subtotal rows using the '[Allow entry on total/subtotal rows](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/dropdown#iii-entry-in-total-subtotal-rows)' checkbox. Input access can be configured using the '[Allow input](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-manual-input-columns/..#2.-allow-input)' option.

Additional options like **Default Value**, **Value** are available in Writeback matrix

Click on any of the cells to check the checkbox.

Checkboxes are widely used in reports for data selection, such as shortlisting specific transactions or marking approval and review status. You can filter data based on checkbox values using the 'Checked' and 'Unchecked' options. An application within Inforiver Matrix would be to use the checkbox filter to Writeback only the selected records.

## 3. Date Date columns or measures can be inserted by clicking on 'Date' in the 'Data input' dropdown. You can insert an empty column or copy the dates from the rows in the report. ### 3.1. Create an empty series When you select this option, an empty date column is created and the side panel opens as shown in the image.

You can choose to [insert it as a visual measure or column](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-manual-input-columns/..#1.-insert-as). Entry can be enabled or disabled in the total/subtotal rows using the '[Allow entry on total/subtotal rows](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/dropdown#iii-entry-in-total-subtotal-rows)' checkbox. Input access can be configured using the '[Allow input](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-manual-input-columns/..#2.-allow-input)' option. You can also configure other optional fields as below: #### Format The date format can be changed by clicking the 'Format' dropdown. Choose the desired format.

#### Minimum and Maximum Date You can set the minimum and maximum date ranges for the date input. Users will not be able to enter any dates that fall outside this range. You can enter both dates to specify a range, or just the minimum or the maximum date. To select a date, click the calendar icon.

#### Default value In a report that has thousands of rows, manually entering or copying dates in a data input-date field can be a tedious task. In such cases, you can set a default date. All rows will be filled with the configured default date as soon as you click **Create**. There are multiple options to set a default date: * **Static value**: Use the date picker to set a common date for all the rows. In the image below, the created date column is pre-filled with the default date - 02/10/2026.

* **Measure**: Select the measure (native measure/formula measure/date input column) from which the default date should be sourced. In the example below, the default value is sourced from a formula measure that is available within the same report. * **Dimension**: When you have a date dimension in your row, you can select the row dimension from which the default date must be picked. The default date in the example below is picked from the row dimension, 'Order Date'.

{% hint style="info" %} The default date option is available for both visual measures and visual columns. Invalid date format errors are implicitly handled as blanks for a clean export and writeback. {% endhint %} After configuring the required settings, click **Create.** #### Entering a date To enter data, double-click on a cell. Select a date from the calendar/date picker.

The date gets captured in the chosen format.

### 3.2. Copy from rows If your report has a list of calendar dates in the row dimension, and you want to replicate the same dates in an input column, you can use the **‘copy from rows’** option, instead of manually entering it for each record.

Inforiver automatically detects the date format which can be verified from the pop-up.

In rare cases when the format mapping is not as expected, you can map them manually using the help suggestions and click **Submit.**

The date column is inserted as shown, which follows the dates in the rows. By default, the first of January is the fiscal year's start.

**Note:** Inforiver accepts both hierarchical and non-hierarchical date formats. For example, the visual below has date formats such as half-years, quarters, and months assigned as individual fields instead of using a date hierarchy. Inforiver automatically maps them using the custom formats.

The inserted date column is shown below after setting the required fiscal year.

Unconventional date formats are also accepted and automatically mapped.

#### Setting the start of the fiscal year You also have the option to select the start of the fiscal year while copying the dates. Click 'Change fiscal year start' to choose.

In the below example, the fiscal year start is set to April 5th. Click **Submit** to insert.

The date column is inserted with the specified fiscal month and date.

In the next section, we'll cover the data input features available only in Inforiver Writeback Matrix.