Release update: Currently out for CN, JP, AU and CA DCs (Free and standard editions). 
For other DCs, this will be released by mid-March.

We are pleased to share with you that Zoho CRM's Layout Editor now includes two new field formats— Radio Buttons and Sliders for Numeric Fields. These additions will make it easier for your users to fill out forms across all your modules, given the convenience they offer, as well as visual appeal.

Let's take a closer look at how these new elements work.

Radio Buttons are ideal when a user has to input a single choice from a minimal set of options that are presented upfront, making selection clearer and faster.

Here are some common use cases where Radio buttons work the best:

• Billing cycle, such as Monthly or Yearly

• Subscription plan, such as Basic, Pro, or Enterprise

• Property type in real estate, such as 1 BHK, 2 BHK, or 3 BHK
  

In each of these cases, the choices are limited to 2 or 3 options which are clearly defined, and the user needs to select just one option. Since all options are visible upfront, there’s no need to open a dropdown or scroll, making the selection quick and effortless.

Here's how to configure a radio button on the module's layout page:

Display Format for options

When adding the radio button, the Radio Button Properties pop-up lets you choose how the options appear on the screen. Rather than using a fixed format, you can select a display style that best suits the field, making it easier for users to see and choose from the available options.

There are two display format options:

• Radio button, where options are listed one below the other.

• Group button, where options appear as a compact set of selectable buttons.

This flexibility helps you design forms that feel clear and easy to use, while letting users quickly understand their choices and select the right option.

Option Visibility

The Option Visibility setting helps you decide how much information users need to see after a value is selected.

• Show all: If users need to view all available options at all times and quickly update their choice on the go, you can select Show All. This keeps every option visible on the screen, making it easy to compare options and change the selection whenever needed.

• Show selected only: If the field is mainly required during record creation and showing all options later adds little value, you can choose Show Selected Only. In this case, only the chosen value is displayed after selection, keeping the details page clean and focused while still capturing the required input.
  
  
  

Important Notes:

1. Consistent data, every time - Once a Radio Button field is configured with a fixed set of options, users can select only from those defined values while creating or updating records from any source. Any value outside the configured options is not accepted by the system, ensuring clean and consistent data across all records.

2. Options limit - 3 options per field in each layout. (Excluding Unused options)

3. Field Limits - This field is included under Text Field limits.

4. Edition Availability - In all editions except Free.

5. Modules Supported - Supported in all Modules, except Users.
   

Range and Sliders for Numeric Fields

Earlier, defining a default range for numeric fields was not straightforward. Users were not aware of what range was expected or acceptable until they saved the form. Let's say, for example, a Customer Satisfaction Score is being captured after a sales interaction. If the score is meant to be recorded on a scale of 1 to 5, there was previously no direct way to enforce or clearly communicate this range upfront.

Now, as we bring the setting of range for numeric fields, you will be able to define the minimum and maximum value for numeric fields. This sets clear boundaries on the values that can be entered, so the users know the expected range before they add any data.

Sliders are another prominent aspect that will help users to visually select a value within a defined range. When you choose to display sliding scale, the user can simply click on any interval or drag the slider to choose a value directly, making the selection more visual and guided.

Continuing with the same example, you can define the customer satisfaction score by setting its minimum value to 1 and maximum value to 5. When the users create or edit a new record, they will clearly see that the value must fall within this range and can either type a number or use the sliding scale to select the score visually. The spaced intervals help users quickly understand the scale and choose the right value with confidence.

The same approach works well for other controlled scales, such as:

• Setting a budget

• Defining a probability range such as 10% to 100%

• Defining priority levels on a numeric scale
  
  

Here's how to configure a sliding scale for a numeric field on the module's layout page:

Setting the minimum and maximum limit values ensure that users can only enter values within an allowed range.

Important notes:

1. Sliding Scale depends on Limit Values: When you enable the Sliding Scale, you must define minimum and maximum liit values. However, Limit Values can be used on their own. If you do not need a Sliding Scale, you can simply set the limits to restrict the allowed range.
   If the user tries to enter a value outside the allowed limits, an error message appears, preventing incorrect entries. This helps to keep the data accurate and consistent across records.

2. Fields Supported: Number, Long Integer, Decimal, Percent, Currency.

3. Edition Availability: All editions

4. Module Availability: All Modules

5. Sliding Scale is not supported for Subforms.
   

We hope you find this update helpful!

To learn more check out our help resource here.