To ensure that the data you collect from staff, parents, or students can flow seamlessly into your Arbor MIS without manual data entry, you must use specific question types.
The Arbor Option Set is a form question type designed specifically to capture the data in a format that is pre-configured to be aligned with the Option Sets within the MIS. If using an Arbor Data step within your workflow you will need to use this question type for the required fields.
What is an Arbor Option Set?
An Arbor Option Set is a dropdown or selection menu where the available answers are hard-coded to match the exact data fields within your Arbor MIS.
When you use a 'Arbor Data' step (an automated Arbor MIS data step) later in your workflow, such as creating a new student record or adding a staff member, the MIS needs the data to be in a very specific format. Using an 'Arbor Option Set' ensures that the information captured in the form is "ready-to-read" by the MIS, preventing errors or sync failures.
How to set up your Arbor Option Set question
Once you have entered the question where you want to collect this data, select the 'text input' to open the drop-down of question type options. From here select Arbor Option Sets at the bottom of the list.
Once you have selected this you will see that 'Text Input' has updated to 'Arbor Option Sets'.
Next, select the 'Settings' button on the question. This will open a slide over on the right-hand side where you will now detail which option set you would like to be displayed when users are completing the form.
Once this has been selected you will see your option set selection displayed. Close the slide-over using the icon on the left hand side to save your format.
When to Use This Question Type
You should select the Arbor Option Set whenever you intend to use the information gathered in that step to automatically update or create a record in Arbor MIS via an Arbor Data step.
Currently available Option Sets include:
Title: (e.g., Mr, Mrs, Miss, Dr, Mx)
Gender: (As defined by MIS standards)
Country: (A full standardised list of countries)
Job Role: (Matches the Arbor Business Roles)
Guardian Relationship Type: (e.g., Mother, Father, Foster Carer, etc.)
Postal Address Type: (e.g., Home, Work, Previous)
How it Works with Automated Steps
If you are on the Comms, Perform, or MAT Plus/Advanced tiers, you have access to Arbor Data steps. Here is the typical journey:
The Form: You add a question to your trigger form and select 'Arbor Option Set' (e.g., Guardian Relationship Type).
The User Experience: The person filling out the form sees a clean dropdown menu with the correct options.
The Automation: Later in the workflow, you add a Arbor Data step to "Create a Student Record."
The Sync: Because you used the Option Set, Arbor Workflows maps that answer directly to the field in the MIS.