Text Area
A Text area is a multi-line box for longer text. Unlike a Text box, customers can press Enter to start a new line or paragraph, and the box grows as they type.
When to use a Text area
Custom orders - engraving text, name personalization, special requests.
Gift messages - a note to include with the order, or delivery instructions.
Forms - a short bio, cover letter, or a longer answer on an application.
How to add a Text area option
Step 1: Add the option
Open 1. Add options, click Add option, tick Text area under Text input on the New options tab, then click Add options.
Step 2: Name it
Enter the Label on product (e.g., "Note"). Use Label on cart if the cart and order should show a different name. Tick any options below based on your needs:
Required field if customers must fill it in
Hide option label to hide the label.
Step 3: Save and test
Click Save, then open the product page on your store to check that the Text area works correctly.
Option settings
Set only what you need - all of the settings below are optional.
SKU - a SKU for this field. Advanced plan and above. See How does Product Option SKU works?.
Default value and placeholder
Placeholder text - a faded hint shown inside the field (e.g., "Type your message here"). It disappears once the customer starts typing. Available on every plan.
How the placeholder looks on your storefront:
Default value - text that is already filled in when the customer opens the product page. Available on the Advanced plan and above.
Example: pre-fill the "Message" field with "Happy Birthday!" so it appears automatically when customers open the product page.
Help text
Add a short note explaining what to enter. Choose how it's shown: Tooltip, Below the option title, Beside the option title, or Below the option.
Example of Help text shown as a Tooltip on the storefront:
Limit the number of characters
Set Min character and Max character to control how much customers can type. Available on the Advanced plan and above.
Min character - if the customer's text is shorter than this, OPTIS shows a message under the field, e.g. Min character: 5.
Max character - once the customer reaches this limit, OPTIS stops accepting more input and shows a message under the field, e.g. Max character: 50.
Character counter (optional) - turn on Character count for text box in Settings > General Settings > Option type setting > Text input to also show a running count (e.g. 12/50 characters) under the field. See Limit Characters for Text Input.
Charge an extra fee (price add-on)
Charge more when a customer fills in this field. Available on the Advanced plan and above; Upsell product needs Platinum.
Extra fee - adds a fixed amount to the price. See Manage add-on (additional fee for option).
How the price add-on looks on the storefront:
Upsell product - links the fee to a Shopify variant's price and stock. See How to Use "Upsell product"?.
Show or hide with Visibility (conditional logic)
Show or hide the Text area based on another option - for example, only show a "Message" field when the customer answers "Yes" to "Would you like to leave a message?".
Available on the Advanced plan and above. See How to set up Conditional logics?
Option width
In the Display tab, set Option width (25%, 33%, 50%, 67%, 75% or 100%) to control how much horizontal space the Text area takes.
Related guides
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