# Template Required Fields: Finding and Completing

To help users complete template dialogs, CPRS has made it easier to locate required fields. Three features have been added:

- the navigation bar shows how many fields still need to be filled out
- navigation buttons to move to the first, previous, next, and last required field
- required fields are highlighted

Note: Sites can turn off this feature using a parameter. If turned off, the required fields will continue to display with an asterisk, but the features identified above will not. These features are not currently available for Reminders.

## How It Works

A navigation bar assists with finding and completing “required” fields. This navigation bar will allow the user to quickly access all required fields in the template dialog. The navigation bar provides a count of all unanswered required fields and provides navigation buttons to allow the user to jump directly to the required field. In addition to the * used to identify required fields, all incomplete required fields will be highlighted within the template.

Once the required field is filled in, the counter will reduce and the highlight for the field will be removed.

This screen capture illustrates how required fields are highlighted. The highlight color can be customized.

## Customizing the Navigation Bar position and the Highlight Color

Navigation bar position: The position of the required fields navigation bar can be changed to the Top, Left, Right, and Bottom of the template dialog. This can be accomplished by accessing the Right Click (Context) menu associated with the Navigation Bar. By right clicking on the navigation bar, the user is presented with the choice of Top, Left, Right, and Bottom. After selecting the position you want, the navigation bar will immediately move to the selected position.

## Enable or Disable Required Fields Display

The user also has the ability to enable/disable the highlighting within the template. By accessing the Right Click (Context) menu associated with the body of the template, the user will see an option to Highlight Required Fields without Value. When checked highlighting is enabled while when it is unchecked the highlighting is disabled.

You may also adjust all of the template required fields settings by using the Set Highlighting Preferences option.

To access, the user can

- Right Click (Context) within the body of the template and select Set Highlighting Preferences.
- Or users can select Tools | Options… | Notes tab and then select the Required Fields button.

Dialog to select whether fields display, the highlight color, and the navigation bar position.

Then the user can select the highlight color using the drop-down box.

The user also select where the navigation bar displays on the dialog: Top, Left, Right, or Bottom.

Related topics

- Improving the Tree View Custom View
- Write a New Progress Note
- Template Fields
- Template Topic Selection