Smart forms, smarter choices: Introducing Choice-Based Field Rules

Have you ever filled out a form and thought, Why am I scrolling through all these irrelevant choices? 

Imagine you are ordering a pizza online. You select your base: Thin Crust, and suddenly, instead of getting relevant topping choices like mozzarella, olives, and pepperoni, you're bombarded with options like sushi-grade tuna, saffron, miso paste, and even BBQ ribs! 

While an experimental pizza might be fun for some, for most, it just creates frustration and decision fatigue. You don’t need to sift through an endless, unrelated list just to find your favorite extra cheese or jalapeños. 

This is exactly what happens when your forms do not tailor choices based on your respondent's input. Forms should guide users, not overwhelm them. 

With Choice-Based Field Rules, your form works like a smart pizza builder, offering the right options at the right time. Select "Thin Crust"? You see toppings that go well with it. Choose "Stuffed Crust"? Extra garlic butter drizzle or cheesy bites are recommended. No confusion. No clutter. Just the choices your respondents need! 

What are Choice-Based Field Rules? 

Think of them as the brains behind a form that filters out unnecessary choices and displays only the relevant ones based on respondent selection. 

Let’s say your company has an Office Supplies Request Form. You have got a field for Department with choices like Marketing, Finance, Sales, and another field for Supplies.

Without Choice-Based Field Rules 

The Supplies list is the same for everyone. Whether your respondents are in Marketing or Finance, they are forced to scroll through every possible office supply. Marketing sees calculators, Finance sees promotional flyers, and everyone has to dig through endless options. 

With Choice-Based Field Rules 

Respondents select Marketing, and they will only see Markers, Sticky Notes, Brochures, and Business Cards (all items relevant to a marketer’s needs). Respondents select Finance, and the list refines itself to Calculators, Deposit Slips, and Check Protectors (essential tools for financial tasks). 

Less scrolling, faster decisions, happier users! 

Why you'll love Choice-Based Field Rules 

One list, endless possibilities 

Having just one master list of pizza toppings can adapt based on the chosen crust. No need for separate lists for Thin Crust, Deep Dish, or Stuffed Crust. Just one dynamic picklist that updates automatically! 

Breaking the myths: Common misconceptions about Choice-Based Field Rules 

"I can just create more than one choice list instead. 

A Marketing Equipment List 
A Finance Equipment List 
A Sales Equipment List "

Sure, but that means managing multiple lists for every department, updating them separately, and risking inconsistencies. With Choice-Based Field Rules, one list does it all. 

“It’s too complicated to set up.” 

Not at all! And once configured, it works automatically, adapting to users' selections with no extra effort on your part. 

How Choice-Based Field Rules work 

Choice-Based Field Rules link two or more fields in a form so that the selection in a Primary Field determines what appears in the Dependent Field. 

• Primary Field: The field that dictates the choices available in the next field.
• Dependent Field: The field that dynamically updates based on the selection in the primary field. 

For example, if you select a Car Brand (Primary Field), the Car Model (Dependent Field) changes only to show models from that brand. 

Learn step by step about configuring Choice- Based Field Rules

Where can you use Choice-Based Field Rules? 

The use-cases are endless! 

E-Commerce order forms 

Selecting a product category automatically updates the available brands and models. 

University applications 

Choosing a major filters out irrelevant elective subjects. 

Healthcare forms 

Selecting a medical specialty narrows down the available tests and treatments. 

HR Onboarding

Selecting a job role updates training materials and equipment allocation. 

Whether you’re designing a form for internal processes, customer interactions, or data collection, Choice-Based Field Rules bring intelligence to your forms, making them work for you, instead of making users work harder.