Input elements
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Input elements are the steps where staff provide a value — they type, tap, draw, photograph, or record something, and Pilla saves the answer to the workflow run. There are eleven of them, ranging from a basic text box to a freehand sketch pad.
What input elements are
An input element captures something from the person doing the workflow. The value goes into the workflow run and shows up in the run history, exports, and any reports.
Every input element has a Name (what you'll see in reports) and an Instruction (the help text staff see above the input on mobile). The rest of the configuration depends on the element type — for example, a stepper has min, max, and start values; a rating scale has start and end numbers; a cascading select has parent and child options.
All input elements at a glance
| Element name | What it does | Plan required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text input | Captures a free-text response from staff. | Basic | Good for descriptions, notes, anything open-ended. |
| Number input | Captures a numeric value. | Basic | Mobile keyboard switches to numeric. |
| Stepper | Tap +/- buttons to enter a count. | Basic | Better than a number input for small counts where a keyboard is overkill. Configure start value, step size, min and max. |
| Date & Time input | Captures a date and time. | Basic | Mobile shows a date and time picker. |
| Location input | Captures the user's GPS location. | Basic | Useful for site visits or proof-of-presence. |
| Photo input | Requires staff to take a photo. | Standard | Opens the camera on mobile. |
| File input | Requires staff to upload a file. | Standard | Any file type. |
| Signature input | Captures a finger-drawn signature on a blank pad. | Standard | Use for sign-offs, deliveries, compliance attestations. |
| Voice note input | Records a short audio clip. | Standard | Good for observations staff can't easily type. |
| Sketch pad input | Lets staff draw freehand on a blank canvas. | Standard | Useful for hazard maps, room layouts, rough diagrams. |
| Annotated photo input | Staff take a photo, then draw arrows, circles, or labels on it. | Standard | Good for damage reports or highlighting issues. |
Common configuration
Every input element shows the same two fields at the top of its config card:
- Input name (text, required) -- the label that appears in run history, exports, and reports.
- Instructions (textarea, required) -- the help text staff see above the input on their phone. Use this to tell them what "good" looks like, what to include, or any rules.
There's also a Mandatory toggle at the top right of the name field. Turn it on and staff can't complete the workflow without filling in this step.
Per-element configuration
Stepper -- four extra fields:
- Start at (number, optional) -- the initial value shown to staff. Defaults to 0.
- Step (number, optional) -- how much each tap changes the value. Defaults to 1.
- Min (number, optional) -- lower bound. Blank means no minimum.
- Max (number, optional) -- upper bound. Blank means no maximum.
If you set a min above the current start value, Pilla bumps the start up to match. Same for max — if you set it below the start, the start drops.
Photo input, file input, voice note, sketch pad, annotated photo -- no extra fields. The input itself opens on mobile when staff get to the step.
Signature input -- no extra fields. A blank signature pad appears on mobile.
Date & Time input -- no extra fields. Mobile shows a combined date and time picker.
Location input -- no extra fields. Mobile asks for location permission and captures GPS coordinates.
Text input, number input -- no extra fields beyond name, instructions, and mandatory.
How plan locks show up
When you open the element picker (either from the left toolbar, the empty-group prompt, or the plus menu below a node), elements you can't add show a small lock icon in the bottom-right corner. Hover the icon and the tooltip tells you which plan you'd need to upgrade to.
Tips
- Use the Instruction field to remove ambiguity. "Take a photo of the area" is much weaker than "Take a wide-angle photo showing the whole prep bench, with the floor visible at the bottom of the frame".
- Reach for a stepper when staff need to count something small (1-20 trays, 0-10 customers). It's faster than typing and fewer mis-taps.
- A sketch pad beats a text description when staff need to show where something is — a hazard, a damaged area, a layout.
- An annotated photo is the strongest evidence you can capture. Use it for damage reports, before-and-after checks, and incidents.
- Date and time, location, and signature inputs all create solid audit trails. Use them anywhere you need proof of when, where, or who.