Forms Tracking Utility (FTU) - Dashboard - Routing Slip Content Page

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What is the Routing Slip Content page?

A Dashboard page which allows users to view form information. If coming from the Pending Actions page, the Routing Slip Content page also allows the user to take action — approve, disapprove, review, comment only — and the approval or review mechanism and buttons are displayed.

The FTU Dashboard "Frame Display" preference controls where the form is displayed. When this preference is set to "Allow Frames", form content is presented in a frame within the Dashboard page. When the preference is set to "Do Not Allow Frames", the form is displayed in a new browser window.
(Note: "Allow Frames" is the default.)

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Is "form content" the same as "content reference"?

Form content is an image of the form data. Content Reference "points to" form content, and is usually a URL for a web page which is part of the form application.

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Who is allowed to see the contents of a routed form?

Access is controlled by form applications — usually only actors are allowed to see form content.

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Can I modify the form content in the Dashboard during the approval process?

It depends on the application. The form content is viewed in a frame or new browser window, either of which could possibly allow form changes.

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Explain FTU comments — How do I enter a comment? Is a comment mandatory or optional? How large is the Comment field? Where are comments displayed in the Dashboard?

You enter a comment by typing something in the Comment box on the Dashboard Routing Slip Content page. The comment is optional when approving or reviewing a routing action. A comment must be entered when you click the Comment Only button. A disapproval action also requires a comment, so that the initiator knows why the form has been disapproved.

The Comment field is 7500 characters. You can cut and paste text into the Comment box. Choose your words carefully — once entered and submitted, Comments cannot be changed or removed, and all actors on the route see them.

Comments are displayed on the Dashboard Routing Slip Content and Routing Slip Detail pages.

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How can I edit or delete an existing comment?

Comments cannot be changed or removed once they are added to the routing slip. Also, be aware that everyone who has access to the form can see the comments (including students if they are on the route). So use caution. Do not include sensitive data in comments.

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If I "comment only" (without approving or reviewing the routing action), does the routing action disappear from my Pending Actions list? Will the route continue to the next step of that routing slip?

The slip remains at the current step until someone actually approves or reviews it. However, the comment will now be displayed on any Dashboard page that displays comments. An example of when Comment Only might be used: Suppose you are a member of the group asked to approve a form, but you have a question about the form content and would like to research it before approving. You can enter a Comment Only such as "Please do not approve this form - I am checking for the correct account number" so that other group members do not approve it.

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If an approver enters a comment, will the form initiator see it?

Only if the initiator opens the slip in the Dashboard. The exception is that a disapproval MUST have a comment (to explain why disapproved) and this can be included in a disapproval email notification to the initiator (if the route is designed to do so).

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Can I enter sensitive data in FTU comments and other fields?

The system will not prevent it, but beware. Comments are permanent. Be careful when entering sensitive or restricted data in your form. Most applications provide special fields in which you can enter sensitive data, and accessing or viewing the field is restricted to certain users. In FTU, comments are displayed to ALL Dashboard users. Everyone, including students, can log in to the Dashboard (although they won't see any form data unless they are a form initiator or an actor). Remember that any initiator or approver can add additional people (any valid MSUNetID) to the route. Those added actors can then see the form content and comments.

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Can two people look at a routing action at the same time? If the other person acts upon it, will the action disappear from my screen?

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FTU allows multiple campus units to develop electronically routed and tracked, multi-signature web forms through a consistent design interface.