Step

Medable Axon provides a single-question step and a form step that can contain more than one question. You can also use an instruction step to introduce the survey or provide specific instructions and a completion step to show a user that they have completed the given task.

Below, we will describe each step type in detail and give you a visual of what that step type looks like in the app.

Autocomplete

This step allows a user to configure a set of autocomplete options to to guide the user into typing something that is configured in a list. You can force the user to choose something from the list or allow the user to type something in outside of the configured list.

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Long Text
Completion Text List	Comma separated list of completion text options	Long Text
Restricted	If checked, the participant can only enter a value in the completion text list	Checkbox
Match Anywhere	When selected the typed expression will match possible values anywhere as opposed to only at the beginning	Checkbox
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox

App Example of Autocomplete Step

Boolean (Yes/No)

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox

App Example of Boolean Step (With Optional checked) – Notice the "Skip Question" link is available to the user

Completion

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Inter nal Description of the task	Short Text
Image File	Image that will be displayed to the user in the App. Supported types: jpeg, png, gif	Image File
Optional	Not Applicable	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Success	Boolean that determines if this step is to be captured as a success.	Checkbox
Visible	Not Application – Reserved for future use	Checkbox

App Example of Completion Step

Continuous Scale

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

** Notes a user facing field

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Default**	Number that determines default numeric value the scale starts on when the step view is loaded	Number
Fraction Digit**	Sets the number of decimal places for each point on the scale	Number
Maximum**	Number that determines maximum possible numeric value that can be input by user	Number
Maximum Description**	Displays the text describing the maximum	Short Text
Minimum**	Number that determines minimum possible numeric value that can be input by user	Number
Minimum Description**	Displays the text describing the minimum	Short Text
Vertical	A Boolean value indicating whether the scale is oriented vertically	Checkbox

Parameters:

Default Value
Fraction Digits
Minimum
Maximum

Validations:

Static (always the same validation):

max value <= min value

Dynamic (depend on the value of Fraction Digits):

Note: the value of Fraction Digits is clamped to be between 0 and 4 --i.e. if it is less than 0 it turns into 0, conversely if it's bigger than 4 it is converted to 4.

If Fraction Digits = 0:
- min value can't be less than -10000
- max value can't be greater than 10000
If Fraction Digits = 1:
- min value can't be less than -1000
- max value can't be greater than 1000
If Fraction Digits = 2:
- min value can't be less than -100
- max value can't be greater than 100
If Fraction Digits = 3:
- min value can't be less than -10
- maX value can't be greater than 10
If Fraction Digits = 4:
- min value can't be less than -1
- max value can't be greater than 1

App Example of Continuous Scale Step

Date/Time

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Calendar*	Always set to Gregorian	Text (Read Only)
Date Only	Checked by default. Signifies that all date properties do not include an associated time	Checkbox
Default Date	Date that determines the date that the date picker starts in the app	Date/Time – Time not provided if Date Only is checked
Minimum Date	Date that determines earliest date that is selectable	Date/Time – Time not provided if Date Only is checked
Maximum Date	Date that determines latest date that is selectable	Date/Time – Time not provided if Date Only is checked

App Example of Date/Time Step

Email

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox

App Example of Email Step

Form

A form step allows you to display/capture multiple questions/answers in one scrolling screen. A good example of this would be a registration task that allows you to capture the basic demographic information needed to register a user.

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox

Once you create a Form Step you will need to create the Steps that will be presented in the form.

Navigation: Axon > Studies > View Study > View Task > View Form Step > Create Form Step

The following are supported step types within a form:

Boolean
Continuous Scale
Date/Time
Email
Image Choice
Integer Scale
Location
Numeric
Section (Form Only)
Text
Text Choice
Text Scale
Time Interval
Time of Day
Value Picker

App Example of Form Step

TIP: Use a Section Step to logically group sections of a form together

Section (Form Only)

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Title*	Section Title	Short Text

App Example of Form Step with Section Steps – See section name "User Registration Information"

HealthKit Permission

A HealthKit Permission step allows you to collect data from any device that writes to the Health App on the iPhone.

How it works

The researcher portal admin must configure the Healthkit Permission step to be part of a new task or include it as part of an existing task.
When the participant completes the step in the app, it is no longer asked again unless you delete the app or you get a new phone and reinstall the app on the new device.
After permission is granted, the app will check for data 10 seconds after authentication or 10 seconds after the public user is established in a public study, then every minute the app will check if there is data not previously uploaded and starts a process to upload anything new. If the app goes into background mode or if the phone goes into sleep mode, the app will continue to upload. If the app is killed or the phone dies, the background upload will stop and pick up where it left off when the app is opened again.

Best practice scenario: Create new Task - Create a task walking the user through granting the HealthKit Permission with an Instruction Step, HealthKit Permission Step, and a Completion Step. Assign the Task to every private group and set it to "Always Available." The reason being is that HealthKit Permissions are granted per device. If a user were to get a new device, the HealthKit Permission must be granted again for the new device per the requirements by Apple. If you do not have this task set to always available then the user will not have an opportunity to re-enable the permissions through the App, the user must do it manually through the settings on the phone.

Best practice scenario: Include in existing Task - Include the step in an "Always Available" existing task. If the user has already granted access then the step is skipped when the user completes the task. So it becomes transparent to the user. If a user were to get a new device, the HealthKit Permission must be granted again for the new device per the requirements by Apple. The user will be asked again to enable permissions when they complete the task.

NOTE: The data that is captured by this step is dependent on what the user grants when the user completes the step. See below for an example:

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
HealthKit Permission Sub Properties**
Type*	Supported HealthKit data category (See table below)	Text
Sub Type*	Supported HealthKit sub category (See table below)	Text
Use Decimal*	Boolean that enables decimals for values captured	Checkbox
Access Type*	Defaulted to "Read". Currently the only available value.	Text
Include Historical*	If checked then the app will grab all healthkit data in the Health App. If unchecked, then the Health App data that is captured will begin collecting at the point the user grants permission	Checkbox

HealthKit Category and Subcategory Table

Type	Subtype	Type	Subtype
Body Measurement	Body Mass Index	Nutrition	Dietary Fat Total
	Body Fat Percentage		Dietary Fat Polyunsaturated
	Height		Dietary Fat Monounsaturated
	Body Mass		Dietary Fat Saturated
	Lean Body Mass		Dietary Fat Unsaturated
			Dietary Fat Trans
Fitness	Step Count		Dietary Nutrition
	Calories		Dietary Cholesterol
	Distance		Dietary Sodium
	Activity		Dietary Carbohydrates
	Distance walking Running		Dietary Fiber
	Distance Cycling		Dietary Sugar
	Distance Wheel Chair		Dietary Energy Consumed
	Basal Energy Burned		Dietary Protein
	Active Energy Burned		Dietary Vitamin A
	Flights Climbed		Dietary Vitamin B6
	Nike Fuel		Dietary Vitamin B12
	Push Count		Dietary Vitamin C
	Distance Swimming		Dietary Vitamin D
	Swimming Stroke Count		Dietary Vitamin E
			Dietary Vitamin K
Vitals	Heart Rate		Dietary Calcium
	Body Tempurature		Dietary Iron
	Basal Body Temperature		Dietary Thiamin
	Blood Pressure Systolic		Dietary Riboflavin
	Blood Pressure Diastolic		Dietary Niacin
	Respitory Rate		Dietary Folate
			Dietary Biotin
Results	Oxygen Saturation		Dietary Pantothenic Acid
	Peripheral Perfusion Index		Dietary Phosphorus
	Blood Glucose		Dietary Iodine
	Number of Times Fallen		Dietary Magnesium
	Electrodermal Activity		Dietary Zinc
	Inhaler Usage		Dietary Selenium
	Blood Alcohol Content		Dietary Copper
	Forced Vital Capacity		Dietary Manganese
	Forced Expiratory Volume		Dietary Chromium
	Peak Expiratory Flow Rate		Dietary Molybdenum
			Dietary Chloride
			Dietary Potassium
			Dietary Caffeine
			Dietary Water
		Other
			UV Exposure

Image Capture

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Template Image File	A template image to be used as a guiding overlay, on top of what the camera displays, for when taking the picture. The template image is not included in the captured image. Use transparent PNGs for this, to allow participants see through it. The image is stretched to fit the available space while retaining its aspect ratio. When choosing a size for this asset, be sure to take into account the variations in device form factors. Supported types: jpeg, png, gif	Image File
Accessibility Instructions	Voice read instructions on how to use the image capture step	String
Accessibility Hint	Accessibility hint for the capture button.	String

App Example of an Image Capture Step

Image Choice

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

** A user can add 1…N Image Choices. Recommend maximum of 6 images for image choices. The number of choices cannot be less than 1.

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Image Choice Sub Properties
Image File*	Image that will display in the app to the user	Image File
Name*	Internal name for the choice	Short Text
Text	Text that will display in the app to the user under the image	Short Text
Value	String that determines the value of the image choice	Short Text

App Example of an Image Choice Step

Integer Scale

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Default	Number that determines default numeric value the scale starts on when the step view is loaded	Number
Maximum	Number that determines maximum possible numeric value that can be input by user	Number
Maximum Description	Displays the text describing the maximum	Short Text
Minimum	Number that determines minimum possible numeric value that can be input by user	Number
Minimum Description	Displays the text describing the minimum	Short Text
Vertical	A Boolean value indicating whether the scale is oriented vertically	Checkbox
Step Size	Integer number that determines the value of each step on the scale. Min of 1. Max of 15.	Number

Validation

The parameters min, max and step size determine the amount of segments the integer scale will have.

There's currently a limitation from Apple's ResearchKit where that amount of segments can't be less than 1 or greater than 13. The resulting amount of segments MUST be an integer result; it cannot be a fraction. See below

In other words:

(max - min) / steps = amount of segments

Rule:

1 <= amount of segments <= 13

Example (Max-Min)/Steps	Amount of Segments	Result
(10-4)/2	3	VALID
(10-1)/2	4.5	INVALID
(50-10)/2	20	INVALID
(50 - (-4))/2	27	INVALID

Maximum Value MUST be larger than the Minimum Value
Step Value cannot be less than 1

App Example of Integer Scale Step

Instruction

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Image File	Image that will be displayed to the user in the App. Supported types: jpeg, png, gif	Image File
Optional	Not Applicable	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox

App Example of Instruction Step

Location

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Use Current Location	Boolean which determines if default starting location is set to current location	Checkbox

App Example of a Location Step

Numeric

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Minimum	Number that determines minimum possible numeric value that can be input by user	Number
Maximum	Number that determines maximum possible numeric value that can be input by user	Number
Style/Decimal	Determines whether or not the numeric step is an integer or decimal	Checkbox
Unit	Text for unit the numeric step is in (years, hours, headaches, etc.)	Short Text

App Example of a Numeric Step

Text

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Maximum Length	Number that determines maximum length of text	Number
Multiple Lines	Boolean that determines whether or not multiple lines are allowed or not	Checkbox
Secure Text Entry	Masks the entry of the text. Commonly used for password entry	Checkbox

App Example of a Text Step

Text Choice

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

** A user can add 1…N Text Choices. The number of choices cannot be less than 1.

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Allow Multiples	Boolean that determines if this step allows single or multiple answers.	Checkbox
Text Choice Sub Properties**
Display Text	Text that displays on the choice	Short Text
Value	Value stored when the choice is selected	Short Text
Exclusive	Boolean that unchecks all the others when checked	Checkbox
Description	Description of the text choice	Short Text

App Example of a Text Choice Step

Text Scale

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

** A user can add 1…N Text Scale Choices. Be aware that there is limited real estate on a mobile screen.

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Default Index	Number that determines starting index of the Presentation Style document array when the view is first loaded.	Number
Vertical	Boolean value indicating whether the scale is oriented vertically.	Checkbox
Text Scale Sub Properties**
Display Text	Text that displays on the choice	Short Text
Value	Value stored when the choice is selected	Short Text
Exclusive	Boolean that unchecks all the others when checked	Checkbox
Description	Description of the text choice	Short Text

App Example of Text Scale Step

Time Interval

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Default Interval	Decimal number in seconds	Number
Step Size	Integer number between 1-30	Number

App Example of Time Interval Step

Time of Day

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Default Hour	Number determining default hour	Number
Default Minute	Number determining default minute	Number
Default Period	AM/PM Selection	Picker

App Example of Time of Day Step

Value Picker

The following describes each field available to configure:

*Notes the field is required

** A user can add 1…N Text Scale Choices. Be aware that there is limited real estate on an mobile screen. The number of choices cannot be less than 1.

Field	Description	Data Format
Name*	Internal Name for the Step	Short Text
Text*	Text that will be displayed to the user	Short Text
Description	Internal Description of the task	Short Text
Optional	Boolean that sets this step as optional	Checkbox
Disabled	Boolean that sets this step as disabled. If this is checked then the step will not appear in the app	Checkbox
Value Picker Sub Properties**
Value	Value stored when the choice is selected	Short Text
Display Text	Text that displays on the choice	Short Text

App Example of Value Picker Step

Reorder Steps

Axon supports the ability to reorder steps and form steps. The Axon App displays the steps in the order they are presented in the Web tool in a linear fashion. When branching exists, the steps continue from the destination step in a linear fashion. When developing a Study, a researcher may want to reorder the steps for display. You simply drag and drop each step into the position desired in the list that displays and the order number will update automatically. Here is how a user would do that. Let's Begin!

Reorder Task Steps

Navigation: Axon > Studies > View Study > View Task > Scroll down to steps related list and click "Reorder"

Drag and Drop the steps into the desired order

Reorder Form Steps

Navigation: Axon > Studies > View Study > View Task > View Form Step > Scroll down to form steps related list and click "Reorder"

Drag and Drop the steps into the desired order

Clone a Step

Axon supports the ability to clone a step. The most common use of this is to clone a step configuration for questions that may be different but have the same scale such as a 1-10 scale or a text scale (ie. Strong Disagree >> Neutral >> Strong Agree). A user can clone all step types.

Limitations

When cloning Form Steps, the sub steps are not cloned
When cloning steps with images (Instruction, Image Choice, Image Capture), the resulting clone does not have the images. You must upload the images to the step manually.

Here is how you can clone a step. Let's Begin!

Navigation: Axon > Studies > View Study > View Task > View Step > Click "Clone"

Note that after you clone you see that the Name of the new step has the work "Clone" in it.