Advanced Form Logic: Building Smart Survey Forms

Creating effective survey forms requires more than just listing questions. Learn how to build intelligent forms that adapt to user responses and ensure data quality.

Understanding Form Logic

Form logic allows your surveys to:

• Show or hide questions based on previous answers
• Skip irrelevant sections
• Validate data in real-time
• Calculate values automatically

Conditional Logic Examples

Show/Hide Questions

If "Property Type" = "Commercial"
  Show "Business Registration Number"
  Show "Number of Employees"
Else
  Hide these questions

Skip Patterns

If "Has observed wildlife" = "No"
  Skip to "Environmental Conditions" section

Calculated Fields

Total Area = Length × Width
BMI = Weight / (Height × Height)

Validation Rules

Ensure data quality with:

• Range checks: Values must fall within acceptable limits
• Pattern matching: Text must match expected formats
• Required fields: Essential data cannot be skipped
• Cross-field validation: Relationships between fields

Best Practices

1. Start simple - Add complexity gradually
2. Test thoroughly - Check all logic paths
3. Consider edge cases - What if users go back?
4. Document your logic - Help future maintainers

Real-World Example

Here's a complete example for an environmental survey:

1. Site identification (always shown)
2. Vegetation assessment (if site has vegetation)
3. Wildlife observations (conditional on previous)
4. Water quality (if water body present)
5. Summary and photos (always shown)

Conclusion

Well-designed form logic improves data quality and user experience. Take time to plan your forms carefully for the best results.