Forms and Inbox
Show questions only for certain answers
Add rules to questions and steps so a form asks follow-up questions only when they apply.
View as MarkdownA rule shows a question or a whole step only when earlier answers match, so a visitor never sees questions that do not apply to them. A roofing job can ask for the roof area, a painting job for the rooms, and a visitor who picks neither sees neither.
Add a rule to a question
- On the Build tab, click the question.
- In the Logic section, click Show only for certain answers. The section now reads Show this field if.
- Pick a question in Choose a question, a comparison, and (for is, is not and includes) an answer in Choose an answer, or type it in Answer for questions without options.
- To combine conditions, click Add condition and choose whether all of these match (and) or any of these match (or).
- Save and Publish.
Always show removes the rule. A question with a rule shows "Shown if ..." with the rule in words in the middle of the editor.
Add a rule to a step
Click the step's title above its questions; the step settings open on the right. In Logic, click Show only for certain answers; the section reads Show this step if. A step rule hides the whole step and all its questions. In the Steps list, a branch icon marks a step that is "Shown only when its rule matches".
Comparisons
The comparisons you can pick depend on the question:
| Comparison | Shown when | Offered for |
|---|---|---|
| is | The answer is exactly this value. | Every question type except Choice cards with several answers, Consent, File upload and Address. |
| is not | The answer is anything else, or there is no answer. | Same as is. |
| includes | The visitor ticked this option, among others. | Choice cards with Allow several answers. |
| is answered | The question has an answer. | Every question type. |
| is not answered | The question has no answer. | Every question type. |
A Consent box that is not ticked counts as not answered. For Choice cards and Dropdown you pick from the options; for other questions you type the value to compare with.
Which questions a rule can use
A rule can only use a question that comes before it:
- A question's rule can use questions in earlier steps and questions above it in the same step.
- A step's rule can use questions in earlier steps.
Headings and paragraphs have no answer and cannot be used. When there is nothing earlier to use, the section says "Add a question before this one to show it only for certain answers." (or, for a step, "Add a question in an earlier step to show this step only for certain answers.").
If you move a question below a question whose rule reads it, the editor marks the rule with "its rule uses a later question" and will not save until you fix it: move the question back, pick another question in the condition, or remove the condition. When you delete a question that rules read, the editor lists them first ("This rule reads it and loses that condition: ...").
How hidden questions behave
- A question that is hidden by its rule is skipped: the visitor does not see it, does not have to answer it even when it is Required, and it is not stored.
- If a visitor answers a question and then changes an earlier answer so that it is hidden again, that answer is dropped. Borkol checks this again when the form is sent, so a hidden answer never reaches your inbox.
- A rule that uses a hidden question sees no answer. A follow-up question that depends on a hidden question is therefore hidden too.
Try your rules in Preview: questions appear and disappear as you answer.