Deprecated Column Types

Deprecated and Updated Column Types

There are several column datatypes that have been deprecated from use. The following column types will no longer be available to be created in existing datasets, or during ingress of new datasets:

• Document- Deprecated
• Photo- Deprecated
• Multiple Choice - Deprecated
• Star - Deprecated
• Flag - Deprecated
• Percent - Deprecated
• Formatted text (HTML) - Deprecated 6/16/18
• Phone icon plus number - Deprecated 6/16/18
• Email - Deprecated 6/16/18
• Money - Deprecated 6/16/18

We will preserve the contents of these column types as plain text or numeric data.  Here are the specific changes for each type and a preview of how they will be displayed in the new table. In each case, the image on the right is the view from the current table and the image on the right is how it is displayed in the new data table.

• Document: In conjunction with the deprecation of the classic import and edit experience, the ability to create new document column types will also be deprecated. Datasets with existing document columns will not be affected.
• Photo: In conjunction with the deprecation of the classic import and edit experience, the ability to create new photo column types will also be deprecated. Datasets with existing photo columns will not be affected.
• Star: This option will be removed from the ingress workflow and the data table. Existing cells will be converted to the corresponding numeric value in the new table. For example, a five-star column will be represented as the number 5 in the new table.

• Flag: This option will be removed from the table and existing cells will be converted to Plain Text where the flag color will be spelled out (green, blue, etc.).

• Multiple Choice: This option will be removed from the data table and existing cells will be rendered as Plain Text. We will also remove the ability to toggle to another choice. Existing Socrata forms powered by a multiple choice drop-down will continue to work, but no new forms can be created with multiple choice drop-downs.

• Formatted text (HTML):

  The Formatted Text data type now displays as Plain Text in the new dataset experience you see today. This means that the special formats that were previously applied, such as colors, bold text, or italics, are not shown on the page even though that information is still stored in the underlying data and can be seen in the API and exports.

  After the 8/16/18 Maintenance Window: we have converted the data type from Formatted Text to Plain Text. In order to preserve the data in that field, including preserving what you see in the API and in the export, we will also be displaying the formatting as HTML within the dataset page you view on your Socrata site.

  

  This change ensures that the data you import, view on your Socrata site, and export all look exactly the same.

• Phone: The Phone data type has been converted into a Plain Text data type with phone formatting applied. With this change in the data type, your phone data will look almost exactly the same as before when you are viewing it on your Socrata site. The primary difference is that previously the phone number was a “tel:” hyperlink and this hyperlink will no longer be applied.

Additionally, there will be a small change in how the data is accessed through the consumer API. Previously each phone data type also allowed users to specify the phone type (such as cell, home, or work). These types were not configured by a large majority of users, and will no longer be provided with the phone number.

• Email: The Email data type will be converted into a Plain Text data type with email formatting applied. With this change in the data type, your email data will look exactly the same as before when you are viewing it on your Socrata site. Additionally, there are no changes in how you import or export this data.

The only change you will see to your dataset is that the data type listed in the metadata (such as in the list of columns on a Primer page) will now list Plain Text instead of Email.

• Money: The Money data type will be converted to Number with a display format of currency. With this change in the data type, your Money data will look exactly the same as before when you are viewing it on your Socrata site, and the currency type used in your data will be preserved. Additionally, there are no changes in how you import or export this data.

The only change you will see to your dataset is that the data type listed in the metadata (such as in the list of columns on a Primer page) will now list Number instead of Money.

• Percent: Similar to the changes we made to Money, the Percent data type will be converted to Number with a display format of percent. With this change in the data type, your Percent data will look exactly the same as before when you are viewing it on your Socrata site, and the percent symbol (%) used in your data will be preserved. Additionally, there are no changes in how you import or export this data. There are two things to note with this change in type. First, the data type listed in the metadata (such as in the list of columns on a Primer page) will now list Number instead of Percent. Second, we will be adding an additional format field for the data that will specify the scale of the number. This new format entry will be called “percentScale” with a value of either “1” or “100” and can be accessed through the API.

• Photo: This type has not been deprecated, however, we will no longer display the thumbnail image of the photo and instead will display text with embedded hyperlinks that open the photo in a new tab. Maps with photo data displayed on them will still render the photo and not the text link.