Show or hide questions with conditions

A condition is a rule that decides whether something appears. In Fillfold you can use one to show a question only when it applies, to end the form early, or to print a part of the PDF only in some cases. Your client then sees a shorter form that fits their situation.

Showing a question only in some cases

Example: you ask "Is there a garden?" with a Yes / No question, and you only want to ask for the garden size when the answer is yes.

1. On the Questions tab, click the question to show or hide (here, the garden size).
2. In the panel on the right, find Show this only if… and click Add a condition.
3. In the first list, choose the question to check ("Is there a garden?").
4. Choose the comparison, here is.
5. Choose or type the value, here Yes.

A small branch icon now marks the question in the list, meaning it Has a condition.

Combining several rules

Click Add another condition to add a rule (up to 6). A list then lets you choose how they combine: all of these (AND) means every rule must be met, any of these (OR) means one is enough.

The comparisons offered depend on the question you check:

• most types: is, is not, is answered, is not answered;
• text, email and checkboxes: contains as well;
• numbers, amounts and calculations: is greater than, is less than as well;
• dates: is before, is after, is on, is not on, is answered, is not answered, compared with today's date or with a date you pick.

Ending the form early

Under Jump to the end after this question if…, click Add an end condition. When the rule is met, everything below is skipped and the form is sent. This suits an eligibility question: "Are you over 18?" answered No ends the form politely.

Hiding a part of the PDF

Conditions also work in the document. In the document editor, each block has its own Show this only if… link, with the same rules. For example, print a paragraph about pets only when the client answered Yes to "Do you have pets?". See design the PDF.

Good to know

• A condition can only look at a question placed above it. If you move a question below the one that checks it, that rule is removed.
• Headings, info texts and line items cannot be checked by a condition.
• A hidden question is not required, even if it is marked Required, and its answer is not kept.
• A rule that looks at a hidden question is never met. Chains of conditions therefore stay consistent.
• Test every path in the Preview tab before you publish. Answers typed there are never saved or sent.

Conditions often go with totals: see calculations and totals, or start from a template that already uses them, such as the parent permission slip, which asks for details only when the parent answers Yes to allergies or medical needs.