# Show questions only for certain answers

A 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

1. On the **Build** tab, click the question.
2. In the **Logic** section, click **Show only for certain answers**. The section now reads **Show this field if**.
3. 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.
4. To combine conditions, click **Add condition** and choose whether **all of these match** (and) or **any of these match** (or).
5. **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.