Interview created 5/30/2012
Edited this interview on 6/13/2012 : added steps and the question/field portion of the interview process.
Welcome to A2J Author®.
A2J Author is a software tool that allows non-technical users to build graphical interfaces for data collection.
This A2J Guided Interview® was designed to help new A2J authors learn all the different features available in the A2J Author software. Each step of the interview will walk through the various aspects of the software in order to make the most helpful and effective Guided Interview.
This is an example of one of the 18 possible fields that A2J author provides as structures for your Guided Interview questions.
Enter your name.
While this feature is one of the potential question fields available on A2J Author, it is important to note that A2J Guided Interviews work best with a gender question even though the answer may not be applicable to a particular legal form. This question allows the avatar to be visible as a representation of the specific end user walking through the Guided Interview.
Choose your gender.
The end user avatar makes the Guided Interview more interactive and beneficial for your end user.
There are various types of structured questions that can be used in A2J Author. To change the layout of a question one must look to the FIELDS tab found within the Question tab menu.
Once you open A2J Author you will notice there is a compilation of tabs on the left hand side of the screen. Each of the steps in this interview will address a corresponding tab.
The second field type we will look at is the date field which can be used to collect any date.
What is your birthdate?
The third field available is for the end user to enter their telephone number.
The fourth field available is for an end user's social security number.
Another potential question field could be in regard to income.
The Calculator found on the right hand side is for the end user to use to perhaps multiply their bi-monthly payments into an annual salary. If the user pushes enter, the value from the calculator will automatically fill the answer space provided.
If the end user is filling out a legal form, such as a complaint, where the user needs to type a longer section of text there is a "Long Answer" field available that would appear as this example does.
This is an example of the 3 options field style. These radio buttons original start with three, but more may be as many as 6 additional.
Choose the color you like best:
This is an example of check boxes. These are used mainly when the end user may select more than one option.
Which is your favorite NFL team?
This next field could be used by A2J authors who are creating a guided interview which would require the end user to write out a list of either children, dependants, assets or etc.
First the author may choose to use this field in order to determine how many times to end user will be filling in the same fields.
While this address field is another question option in this particular example we are using it to show how a counting variable and advanced logic can help obtain information effeciantly.
This is another feature on A2J author that allows you to tell the end user more information and even give them access to helpful outside information without exiting the interview. Click here.
Variables are used with A2J Guided Interviews in order to determine how the data is collected for the resulting document.
Thus, variables come in a variety of types to correspond with the appropriate data collection.
The variables created to make a HotDocs form must be identical to the variables used in the corresponding A2J Guided Interview.
Text: TE
Date: DA
Number: NU
Multiple Choice: MC
True False: TF
In order to make the question easier to understand, and make the guided interview more interactive, A2J has the capability to add a graphic with the questions.
Sign this form
Hopefully this interview taught you a little bit more about al the different features available for use by A2J authors. For additional help please access our website for more tutorials that step by step navigate you through the software.
First, I would like to discuss the various features that can be found on the A2J Author interface before selecting any of the tabs along the left hand side.
When a new A2J Guided Interview is opened there are 4 icons in the upper left hand corner.
-New
-Open
-Save
-Save As
These are the essential features necessary to create and maintain your A2J Guided Interview.
Further if there are any problems with your experience with the A2J Author software there is a "Send Feedback" tab in the upper right hand corner of the screen. This then allows you to send an email to the A2J Author technical team.
Using steps is a way for you as the author to better organize your data. Dividing the interview questions into "Steps" based on question topics. New Guided Interviews come with a default of 4 steps but A2J Author may put a total of 12 steps in their Guided Interviews.
The Interview tab is found at the top of the left hand side of the A2J author interface.
This tab contains most of the information pertaining to the interview.
Title: Name of the interview or Title of the form
Description: Brief statement about the purpose or function of the interview
Jurisdiction: Area where the guided interview would be used
and
Author: Your Name
Further the Interview tab allows you, the A2J author to add visual affects to the Guided Interview as well.
There are two fields: one for a "LOGO Graphic" and one for an "END Graphic" which may be uploaded.
Any Image may be uploaded as long as it meets the size parameters.
Please note that parameters do apply to the format of the graphic, as follows:
• 120 x 120 pixels
• alpha transparency
• .jpg, .png, .gif, or .swf (Note: To browse for all types of files, be sure to type “*.*” for the file name after you have selected the yellow folder to browse.)
The END Graphic must be exactly 900 x 250 pixels so that the graphic is properly centered over the roadway.
When an end user needs to disclose an itemized list you may wish to use the A2J Author field called "Asset List" which contains numbered text boxes. A maximum of 9 fields per question may be used in your Guided Interview.
Last, the Interview tab allows A2J Authors to keep track of the progress on their interview creation process by keeping a log in the "History" text box.
Now that all of the various question forms have been covered it is time to discuss the potential button pairings that help the end user move from one question to the next.
You may include as many as three buttons.
The difference between the buttons under the Buttons tab is their ability to be used singularly as a means of reaching the next question or when multiple are used may be able to assign a value to a corresponding variable.
Under the Buttons tab located on the left side of the software the "Destination Question" contains a text box. By clicking on the yellow folder icon the A2J author may select the particular question that the end user would be shown next if they selected that button.
These are some symbols that might be seen on the Questions Flowchart.
Lastly, the buttons added by the author may have different labels instead of the default word "Continue."
Contains a textbox that allows conditional "if/then" statements to be used so that when the end user provides a certain answer the customer will be directed to a specific question based on that answer.
Add or subtract statements as necessary.
The next few questions of this interview will be a representation of a type of loop that can be created in a guided interview.
A loop is when a group of questions is repeated in order to allow the same information to be collected without creating mutiples of the question.
Once you, the author, have established a leading question into the loop you should then specify which questions need to repeat.
This question is an example of a repeated question. Where the counting variable is set to "LoopCount".
The last question to be repeated should ask if the end-user would like to add any more of the previous information again.
Example: Would you like to run through these loop instructions again?
Under the "Buttons" tab set the "Yes" button to increment counting variable in the "Options" field and set the "Destination Question" to go back to the first of the repeating questions.
Conditional statements may be implimented before or after a question is posed to the end-user.
Example: #1 After: If true then set =
After a conditional is written then there is a corresponding action that is added as well.
Example:
#1 If true then set variable to value =
or
#2 If false then go to =
A2J Authors may print a full report of the dialogue or script of the audio for their guided interviews in order to better enable them to review their work.
Further this is a way to determine what will all be included in a print out of answers.
The preview tab allows A2J authors to view how the guided interview looks to the end user in its current state and the author may jump to a specific questions without having to go through the entire interview.
Within the preview screen there are additional buttons to help the author quickly change a problem they come across.
- Script
When the interview is complete and has been reviewed by the author the A2J guided interview may then be uploaded on to the Help Interactive server.
-Upload URL
-Upload
-Clear all Media
This question is an example of how advanced logic can be used to direct the end user to a different question.
Each of the following radio button options upon selection will take you to a corresponding question.
This is the corresponding question that the end-user would see after selecting "MARRIED" and could be used to ask a more particular question for those individuals.
This is the corresponding question for those end-users who select "Single" would be directed to.
Here as an A2J author one would be able to ask more specific questions to that particular audience they are looking to address.
This is the corresponding question that would be reached by those individuals that chose the option "Head of Household."
You may choose to select the back button in the upper left hand corner and try selecting another option to see the other questions that the end-user could be taken to.
Another feature that may be utilized is adding a video to the A2J Guided Interview™ to help the end-user.
Question Flowchart Key
BLUE “START” CIRCLE. This symbol indicates the first question in an interview. It can be changed by using the Starting Point field at the bottom of the screen (Figure 67).
RED “EXIT” CIRCLE. This symbol indicates the unsuccessful ending of an interview. It is shown when the [Exit-User does not qualify] option is set under a button in a Question. When an interview is exited the browser closes and the end-user is redirected to a URL that is configurable.
GRAY “EXIT” CIRCLE. This symbol indicates the location of the Exit question. It is set in the Exit Question field at the bottom of the screen (Figure 67). When an end-user selects the Exit button in the main navigation bar they will be redirected to the Exit question.
GREEN/YELLOW “EXIT” CIRCLE. This symbol indicates the end of a partially completed interview (Figure 67). It is shown when the [Exit-Save Incomplete Form] option is set under a Button in a Question. When this circle is reached the end-user’s incomplete data file will be transmitted to the LawHelp Interactive server.
GRAY/WHITE “RESUME” CIRCLE. This symbol indicates that the end-user can return to the Question they were in just previous to selecting the Exit button in the main navigation bar (Figure 67). It is shown in the Flowchart when the [Exit-Resume Interview] option is set under a button in a Question. Thus, it allows the end-user to resume the interview if they decide against exiting before the interview is completed.
WHITE “BACK” CIRCLE. This symbol indicates that the end-user can return to the Question they were in just previous to the present Question. It is shown when the [Back to prior question] option is set under a button in a Question. This button feature provides authors an alternative to the Back button which normally appears in the main navigation menu for an online interview.
YELLOW “???” CIRCLE. This symbol indicates that a button click has no destination assigned to it. It is shown when the [no where] option is set under a button in a Question. A finished interview should not have any yellow “???” circles.
GREEN “DONE!” CIRCLE. This symbol indicates the end of a successful interview. It is shown when the [Success-Process Form] option is set under a button in a Question. When this circle is reached the end-user’s input will be transmitted to the LawHelp Interactive server. Note: Modifications can be made to a program file that will allow the end-user’s input to be directed elsewhere, such as a case management or e-filing system.
PURPLE “?” DIAMOND. This symbol indicates that there is advanced logic occurring inside that question. The advanced logic can be either conditional branching or setting a variable to a value based upon a condition.
BLACK CIRCLE ARROW. This symbol indicates that the designated Question is part of a Repeat Dialog. Furthermore, it indicates that the variables contained in that Question will be indexed according to the value of the Counting Variable. This symbol will only appear if the author indicates the Counting Variable in the Counting Variable field in each Question that is part of the Repeat Dialog.
PURPLE LINE(FROM A BUTTON TO A QUESTION.) The line represents that a counting variable has been set under the button above the line. It also indicates that the next Question – the Question to which it is pointing -- is the logical starting point to begin collecting variables in a Repeat Dialog.
PURPLE LINE (FROM A PURPLE “?” DIAMOND TO A QUESTION.) This line represents that logic contained in an advanced condition may cause the end-user to be directed to an alternative Question. Thus the purple line is a conditioned flow, whereas a black line connecting Questions is a set flo
Creates a pop-up window within the preview screen so the author can see if the appropriate variables correspond with the appropriate interview question.
Creates an additional pop-up window showing the software script of the interview in detail.
Allows the A2J author to jump from the preview screen back to the authoring interface for that particular question.
This allows the author to exit the preview screen of the guided interview.