The Text Description field is a read-only content block that lets you add explanatory text, instructions, or context directly inside a Gatheroo request.

Unlike other field types, the Text Description field does not collect any input from your end client, it simply displays information to help guide them through the request.

What Is the Text Description Field?

A Text Description field acts as an in-line guidance block within a section of your request. You can use it to:

  • Provide context or instructions before a set of fields
  • Explain what documents are required and why
  • Add formatting, links, or notes that help your client respond accurately
  • Break up long sections visually for easier reading

Because it is read-only, it does not count as a field your client needs to fill in, it simply appears as a formatted text block in the flow of the request.

How It Will Work

Once released, you will be able to add a Text Description field anywhere within a section, just like any other field type. You will be able to write and format the content using a text editor, and the result will display to your end client when they open the request.

The field will not appear in any downloaded responses or data exports, as it contains no client-submitted data.

When to Use It

Text Description fields are particularly useful when:

  • Your request requires a lengthier explanation before certain fields
  • You want to add a legal disclaimer or privacy notice inline
  • You are grouping fields and want to introduce each group with a heading or summary
  • You want to embed a link to an external resource your client should review

What to Expect

This feature is part of ongoing improvements to Gatheroo’s field toolkit. When it becomes available, it will appear alongside other field types when you click Add Field within a section.

To stay up to date on new features, check the What’s New section inside your Gatheroo account or visit our updates page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Text Description field in Gatheroo?

The Text Description field is a read-only text block you add to a Gatheroo request. It displays a message to your client, such as an instruction, notice, or contextual note, but does not collect a response. Unlike other fields, its content is set by you, not filled in by the client.

Where does the Text Description field appear?

The Text Description field appears in two places: in the client-facing request view, and on the PDF download of the completed request. This makes it useful for including compliance notices, consent statements, or instructions that need to be part of the permanent record.

Can I use the Text Description field for compliance notices?

Yes, this is one of its most valuable uses. Because the text appears on the PDF download, it becomes part of the audit trail. You can include privacy statements, engagement disclaimers, or scope-of-service notices that are attached to every completed request, without needing the client to answer a question about them.

Also Commonly Asked

How do I include instructions or notices in a client intake form?

Use a read-only text or description field to display instructions, legal notices, or context without requiring a client response. This keeps your form clean and ensures important information is visible to clients at the right moment, without the need to add unnecessary questions.

In Gatheroo, the Text Description field does exactly this.

How do I create an audit trail for client communications?

The most reliable audit trail captures what was communicated, when, and to whom, in a format that can’t easily be altered.

Using a client intake tool that attaches notices and instructions to a PDF download (like Gatheroo’s Text Description field) means your compliance statements are baked into the completed record, not just in an email thread that could be lost or disputed.

Do compliance notices need to appear on client-facing documents?

In many regulated industries, yes, disclosures, consent notices, and scope statements need to be in writing and ideally attached to the engagement record.

Adding them as a Text Description in your intake request means they’re visible during completion and preserved on the PDF download, giving you a clear, timestamped record.

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