Initial Considerations
Field Embedding is the ultimate way to customize surveys and data collection instruments to make them look exactly how you want. Field Embedding is a feature that allows you to reposition field elements on a survey page or data entry form so that they get embedded in a new location on that same page. Embedding fields gives users greater control over the look and feel of your instrument.
The Process
Create fields in Online Designer as you normally would one after the other
2. Place the REDCap variable name of the field you wish to embed inside braces/curly brackets - e.g., {first_name} - and place it in the Field Label, Field Note, Section Header, or Choice Label of another field on that same instrument.
3. Adding the field icons: The usual icons pertaining to a field's Data History, Field Comments, and (if enabled) Missing Data Codes can be displayed on a data entry form (but not on a survey) next to the embedded field's new location by appending :icons to the variable name inside the braces/curly brackets - e.g., {last_name:icons}. The icons do not appear by default but only when the ':icons' signifier is attached.
For reference a video on the subject can be found here: Video on Field Embedding
What the User Sees
Users may place fields in a grid/table for a more compact user-friendly page, or they can position fields close together in a group if they are related.
The field's true field label will never actually be seen on the survey/instrument. It is recommended to add a Field Label even if the field is being embedded because the label will still be needed when viewing a report.
Additional Considerations
Field embedding will not work across instruments but ONLY on the current instrument/survey being viewed. If on a multi-page survey, then the embedded field must be on the same survey page as its host field.
The field must exist first before it can be embedded elsewhere.
A field cannot be embedded inside itself (i.e., in its own Field Label), and a field cannot be embedded in another field's Field Label or Field Note if that field is also embedded elsewhere.
Field embedding does NOT work in the REDCap Mobile App