Form Entry - Form Elements The following are the several types of entry components for all forms: Date Number Text Radio buttons Check boxes Time Date can be entered in two ways: drop-down select or manual entry. You can see the difference in appearance shown below: In order to enter data using the drop-down select, you simply click on the down arrow and you'll be able to click on your selection. This method is used whenever certain criteria must be met or for ease of entering the data. We use manual fill-in entry to give freedom to the reporter. For example, such dates as a birthday are usually this type. When using this type of entry, make sure you follow the format shown in parentheses. Unless there’s a special circumstance, number, text, and time fields are always fill-in entry.  We ask you that you pay extra attention to the format following these fields in parentheses (see below). Check boxes and radio buttons are very similar in that by clicking on them a selection is made.   However, you can remove checks from check boxes by clicking on them again whereas radio buttons require resetting of the entire form.   Another significant difference is that radio buttons allow for only one selection.