Flip switch

What it is

The Flip switch is a classic custom control for a Yes/No (two options) column. It shows both option labels, for example No and Yes, on a single switch, and a click flips the value to the other side. It reads its labels from the column's own option names, so a column with the options Enabled and Disabled shows those words.

When to use it

Rarely, and only to keep an existing form working. Microsoft deprecated the Flip Switch together with several other older controls, and recommends the Toggle control as its replacement. For a new form, use the Toggle switch or the default Yes/No control, which also meet current accessibility standards.

Licensing and configuration

No extra licence. In the older form editor you select the column, open the Controls tab, choose Add Control and pick Flip Switch. Microsoft's deprecation notice says the control could no longer be added to forms from April 2021 and that existing instances would keep working until April 2022. How current environments treat existing instances is not documented in the deprecation notice, so test before you rely on it.

Pitfalls

• A form that still uses the control may break or fall back to a standard control after a future release. Plan to replace it.
• The labels come from the column definition. Long option names do not fit on the switch.
• The control only suits columns with exactly two options. It does nothing useful for a Choice column with three or more values.
• Replacing it with a Toggle does not change the stored value, so existing rows and charts keep working.

Try it in the demo

1. Open the Accelerator form at the deep link and scroll to the Custom controls section.
2. Find the Flip switch and click it. The thumb moves to the other side.
3. Notice that the form now shows Unsaved after the record name. Press Ctrl+S to save, or leave without saving to discard.

The demo draws this control for illustration. In a real environment it may no longer be available to add.