A2J Author ® Macros, Functions & Exiting Dina C. Nikitaides Program Coordinator Center for Access to Justice & Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law

A2J Author ® Variable Macros

Agenda 1.What is a Variable Macro? 2.Where to use Variable Macros 3.Interview Customization with Variable Macros

What is a Variable Macro? Definition A variable macro calls the value of the variable Format The macro format is: %[Variable name TE]%

Where to use Variable Macros A variable macro can be used to display the value of a variable to the end-user in: Text of a question Text of a Learn More answer

Where to use Variable Macros A variable macro can be used to display the value of a variable to the end- user in: Radio button & Checkbox labels Other field labels (i.e. in front of drop down menu)

Where to use Variable Macros A variable macro can be used to display the value of a variable to the end-user in: Step signposts

Where not to use Variable Macros A variable macro cannot be used to display the value of a variable in: Learn More question Unknown number of variables collected in a loop (i.e. names of children collected in a loop) ^

Interview Customization with Variable Macros You can do more than simply use a variable macro to insert the end-users name in to the interview! In a loop for personal information in a loop, collect the name first and follow up with “Enter Jane’s address” – if the end- user is entering multiple people it will help them remember who they are on Display information collected in a loop to the end-user in the Learn More, i.e. list of assets so they know what was entered Instead of using “child/children”, “asset(s)”, “is/are”, etc. in the interview, determine which word should be used, store that in a variable and call it out in text with a macro Use macros in multiple choice question for the end-user to make a selection from, for example end-user enters two people as agents, then ask them to pick which one is the primary agent in a MC question.

Helpful Resources Find more information on Variable Macros  The A2J Authoring Guide: Chapter 5: Variables Tab  Pg. 46 – Question Text Macro  Pg. 47 – Macro to Set Variable’s Value  Pg – Macro to Set a Label  Variable Macro Training Module  A2J Guided Interview demonstrating the different ways to use macros  Included in the A2J Author Starter Kit or download from a2jauthor.org Download the A2J Authoring Guide & Starter Kit from

A2J Author ® Functions

Agenda 1.Age 2.Date 3.Today 4.HasAnswered 5.Ordinal

What are Functions? Definition Built in actions performed to alter data collected. Format The function format is: FUNCTION([Variable name TE])

Where to use Functions Use functions in two places: Question Text Conditional Statements

Function: AGE AGE: Converts a date to age in years. Example: A form might require the date of birth and the statute might limit use of the form to people over the age of 18 years. Collect only the date of birth and convert it into years using the AGE function instead of asking the user to enter both. Syntax: AGE([Client birth date DA])

Function: DATE DATE: Converts days into mm/dd/yy date. Example: Determine a deadline for an answer 30 days from notice date. Syntax: DATE([Notice date DA]+30)

Function: TODAY TODAY: Returns today’s date. Example: Determine if a user is within a 90 day statute of limitations. Syntax: (TODAY - 90)

Function: ORDINAL ORDINAL: Returns the ordinal form of number. Example: In an interview with a repeat loop where the user enters “3” as the number of assets they have first, use ORDINAL function to ask the follow up questions about the “first”, “second” and “third” assets. Syntax: ORDINAL(AssetCount)

Function: HASANSWERED HASANSWERED: Returns a true/false value if a variable has a value. Example: Before condensing three-part name (first, middle & last) into one “full name”, test to determine whether a user has entered a middle name. Syntax: HASANSWERED([Client middle name TE])

Syntax Reminders  The function names “DOLLAR”, “ORDINAL”, “SUM”, etc. are applied to the variable with (parentheses)  Example: DOLLAR([Client total asset value NU])  Variable names with spaces must be wrapped in [brackets]  Example: [Client total asset value NU]  To show the value of a variable or function applied to the variable in question text, wrap the phrase in %double percentage signs%  Example: %DOLLAR([Client total asset value NU])%

A2J Author ® New User Training Exiting

Buttons with Functions & Exiting Agenda 1.Success – Process Form 2.Exit-User does not qualify 3.Exit to Save 4.Exit-Save Incomplete Form 5.Exit-Resume Interview

Button: Success – Process Form The “[Success - Process Form]” button function takes a users to LHI to get the completed document. Use this button function only once in an interview.

Button: Exit-User Does Not Qualify The “[Exit - User does not qualify]” button function closes the A2J Guided Interview.

Button: Exit-User Does Not Qualify The “[Exit - User does not qualify]” function can take users to a website upon exiting the interview.

Exit To Save Give users the option to exit an incomplete interview at any time and save their answers on LHI.

Exit To Save Create one question that is not linked to any other questions in the interview.

Exit To Save Identify the single question as the “Exit” question below the question list. That question will then appear when the “Exit” button is selected by users.

Button: Exit – Save Incomplete Form The “[Exit – Save Incomplete Form]” button function takes users to LHI to save answers.

Button: Exit – Resume Interview The “[Exit – Resume Interview]” button function takes users back to the question they were on when they clicked “Exit” from the top grey menu bar.

Button: Exit – Resume Interview “[Exit – Resume Interview]” and [Back to prior question] sound like they do the same thing, but they are NOT interchangeable. Once a user clicks “Exit” from the top grey menu bar, the exit process is triggered removing the user from the main interview and [Back to prior question] will not work.

Additional Resources  A2J Authoring Guide  Chapter 7 Creating Questions – Pgs Setting a Question’s Destination (with buttons)  O nline A2J Authoring Guide on  Interview Questions – Tutorials – Creating Questions – Buttons  Trainings & Presentations on  Recorded trainings & presentations of various topics

Questions? Feedback? Dina C. Nikitaides Program Coordinator Center for Access to Justice & Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law