---
title: "Mixed Type Repeater"
slug: "mixed-type-repeater"
description: "This document demonstrates how to display multiple types of data in a single control via a Mixed Type Repeater. This allows users to display custom data types, strings, booleans, and more. "
tags: ["Entering Large Data", "Mixed Type Repeater", "Multiple Data Types"]
updated: 2025-08-07T19:31:10Z
published: 2025-08-07T19:31:10Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Mixed Type Repeater

## Overview

The **Mixed Type Repeater** control creates a data repeater capable of dynamically displaying multiple data types based on Users' inputs. Users can also display different custom data types or primitive data types.

A common use case for the Mixed Type Repeater may involve creating dynamic surveys. When creating a survey, Users can use the Mixed Type Repeater to populate different survey questions like a radio button list, true or false question, or multiple-choice question.

---

## Example

The following example allows End Users to select a custom drop-down list repeater or a text data repeater by selecting a Button. These data repeaters will be hosted within a **Mixed Type Data Repeater.**

An**Add to List** event button adds elements to the drop-down list.

Relevant Example Lab to Follow

Please refer to our [Creating a Mixed Type Data Repeater](https://documentation.decisions.com/projects/docs/creating-a-mixed-type-data-repeater) Example Lab to review and download the project.

For help importing the file, refer to our [Importing and Exporting Projects](/v9/docs/importing-and-exporting-projects) article.

1. In the Project, create a [Defined Data Structure](/v9/docs/creating-defined-data-structures-advanced) named 'Text_Element' with the following data fields: Data (String) and Name (String). Save the Data Structure.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-17_11h16_10.png)
2. Create a second Defined Data Structure named 'Dropdown_Element' with the following String data fields: List, Data, Name. Click the Is List checkbox next to the List data member. Then, click SAVE. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-17_11h20_30.png)
3. Create a third and final Defined Data Structure, and name it 'Element'. Configure the Structure to have two String data fields: Data and Name. Save and exit.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-07-17_11h23_06.png)
4. [Create a Flow](https://documentation.decisions.com/v9/docs/create-flows) and open it in the Flow Designer. Add a **Show Form** step to the Flow Designer to [create a new Form](https://documentation.decisions.com/v9/docs/create-a-form).
5. Configure the Form to have the following controls and Data Names provided below: 

| Form Control | Location in Toolbox | Data Name |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Button | Actions | Done |
| Text Box | Data | Name |
| Event Button | Actions > Events | Add Text Element |
| Event Button | Actions > Events | Add Dropdown Element |
| Text Box | Data | Add To List Text |
| Event Button | Actions > Events | Add To List |
| List Box | Data | List |
| Mixed Type Repeater | User Controls | Elements |

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-25_11h14_26.png)
6. Select the Mixed Type Repeater Control. In the Data Name text box under COMMON PROPERTIES, type "Elements".
7. Click ADD under Sources and select PICK OR CREATE SOURCE to create a new User Defined Control.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-25_11h15_21.png)
8. When the Form Designer opens, select SETUP INPUT DATA. In the Name field, enter 'Dropdown_Element'. Click the Type field drop-down list, navigate to User Defined Types > Defined Data Structures, and select Dropdown_Element.  
Click **Save** and then close the window.
9. On the Data panel, expand DROPDOWN_ELEMENT. Click and drag the Name field to the Form and select **Label of Data Value** on the pop-up menu. Then, press **Enter** to save control.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-08-07_15h21_52.png)
10. Drag and drop a **Drop Down List** control to the Form under the Label in the Toolbox panel. Under its **Properties**panel, change **Type**to **String [Text]**.  
Expand the **List Input Source** drop-down and select **DataName**. Under **List Items DataName** field, click **PICK FROM DATA**. Select **Dropdown_Element.List**.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-08-07_15h23_51.png)
11. Save and close Source Form Designer. Then, select OK on the **Add Sources** dialog window.
12. Add a new Source named 'Text User Control List'. It will automatically open in the Source Form Designer.
13. When the Form Designer opens, select SETUP INPUT DATA. Enter a field named "Element" with a Type matching the Element Defined Data Structure. Click Save and then close the window.
14. On the **Data**panel, expand ELEMENT. Click and drag the **Name**field to the Form and select **Label Of Data Value** on the pop-up menu. Then, press Enter to save control.
15. In the **Toolbox**panel, drag a **Text Box** control to the Form under the **Label**. Change its **Data Name**by selecting **PICK FROM DATA**. Select **Element.Data**.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-23_09h24_57.png)
16. Users should note that both Elements (Dropdown or Text) cannot have an Outcome Scenario of **Not Used**, otherwise the Form will throw a Validation Error.
17. Click Save and close Form Designer. Then, click OK on the **Add Sources** dialog window.
18. Select **SETUP INPUT DATA**on the Form, add Elements (Object-List), Name (String), List (String-List), and Item (String).![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-23_09h26_56.png)

---

## Drop Down Active Form Flow

1. Click the workspace around the Form. In the **Properties**panel, scroll down to the **FORM RULES > Active Form Flows**, select **ADD**.
2. Name the Flow "Add Drop Down Element" and Select EDIT RULE FLOW.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-23_09h28_01.png)
3. Add a**Create Data** step on the **Start**step's outcome path. In the properties of the Create Data step, navigate to **DATA****> Data to Create**, select **Show Editor**.
4. Name this **DropdownItem** with the data type **Dropdown_Element**.
5. Choose **Build Data** as the mapping type on the Create Data step Inputs. For **List**, select **Form Input Data > List**. For **Name**, select **Form Input Data > Name**.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-25_11h28_25.png)
6. Add a **Set Control Value** step on the Create Data step's outcome path.
7. In the Set Control Value step **Properties,**navigate to **Inputs**, and select **Form Data > User Control List Container** for **Form Control**.
8. Under **Elements**, select **Join Arrays** as the mapping type.
9. For **Item 0,** select **Form Input Data > List****;** for **Item 1,** select **Build Array** as the mapping type; then, for **Item 0,** choose **DropdownItem**.
10. Save and close the Flow. In the **Edit Active Form Flows** dialog, under ADVANCED > Triggers, choose **EventButton_Dropdown: Click**.
11. Select OK to save.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-08-07_14h06_10.png)

---

## Text Element Active Form Flow

1. Click the workspace around the Form. In the **Properties**panel, scroll down to the **FORM RULES > Active Form Flows**, and select ADD NEW.
2. Name the Flow "Add Text Element". Under ADVANCED > Triggers, choose **EventButton_Text: Click**. Select EDIT RULE FLOW.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-08-07_11h31_55.png)
3. Add a **Create Data** step on the **Start**step's outcome path.
4. In the properties of the Create Data step, navigate to **DATA****> Data to Create**, and select **Show Editor**. Name this **TextElement**with the data type **Text****_Element**.
5. Choose **Build Data** as the mapping type on the Create Data step Inputs. For **Name**, select **Form Data > Name Textbox > Value**.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-08-07_11h33_56.png)
6. Add a **Set Control Value** step on the Create Data step's outcome path.
7. In the Set Control Value step **Properties,**navigate to **Inputs**, select **Form Data > User Control List Container** for the **Form Control**.
8. Under **Elements**, select **Join Arrays** as the mapping type.  
For **Item 0,** select **Form Input Data >****Elements;**for **Item 1,** select **Build Array** as the mapping type; then, for **Item 0,** choose **TextElement**.
9. Save and close the Flow. Select Ok back in the Active Form Flows window to confirm creation.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-08-07_11h36_01.png)

---

## Add to List Active Form Flow

1. Click the workspace around the Form. In the **Properties**panel, scroll down to the **FORM RULES > Active Form Flows**, select ADD NEW.
2. Name the Flow "Add to List". Under Advanced > Triggers, expand **EventButton_Add_List**and enable Click. Select EDIT RULE FLOW.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-08-07_11h37_45.png)
3. Add an **Add Item to List** step on the Start step's outcome path.
4. In the Add Item to List step properties, navigate to **Inputs;**under **New Item,** choose **Select From Flow** as the mapping type and select **Form Data > Add to List Text Box > Value**.
5. Select **Form Input Data > List** from the **Select from Flow** option for **Original List**. Under **Outputs**, change the value of **New List** to **Form Input Data >****List.**![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-08-07_11h40_03.png)
6. On the outcome path of the Add Item to List step, add a **Set Control Value** step.
7. In the Set Control Value Step **Properties,**navigate to **Inputs**, select **Form Data > Simple List** for the **Form Control**.
8. Under **List**, select **Ignore**.
9. Under **selected List,**select**FormData.SimpleList.Selected Item.**
10. Save and close the Flow. Select **OK** to save the Active Form Flow.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-08-07_15h11_50.png)

---

## Debug

1. Save and close the Form Designer. Set all Form inputs from the Flow Designer to Ignore.
2. Connect the Show Form step to the End step in the Main Flow.
3. Select Debug and verify that the Flow works properly.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/Recording2025-08-07150145-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter.gif)