Conditional fields allow you to create smarter, more dynamic forms by showing (or hiding) questions based on how someone answers a previous question. This means:
Forms feel shorter and easier to complete
You reduce incomplete or unnecessary data
Documentation becomes more streamlined and efficient
Whether you're building a parent-facing form (like a field trip permission slip) or a form used during an encounter, conditional logic helps you collect exactly the information you need, no more, no less.
When should you use conditional fields?
Conditional fields are especially helpful when:
A follow-up question only applies to certain responses
You want to skip unnecessary sections
You're collecting consent or additional details only if someone opts in
You're customizing forms for different scenarios within a single template
Example:
If a parent indicates their student is not attending a field trip, there’s no need to ask for a t-shirt size or consent signature. Conditional fields make that automatic.
How to set up conditional fields
Let’s walk through an example using a Washington D.C. field trip form.
Step 1: Start with a trigger question
Create a clear, concrete question that will determine whether follow-up questions should appear.
Example:
Will your student be attending the Washington D.C. field trip?
Yes
No
💡 Tip: Place this question at the top of your form. This ensures it can act as the trigger for any conditional questions that follow.
Step 2: Add the questions you want to make conditional
In this example, we have two additional questions:
T-shirt size
Consent agreement
We only want these to appear if the parent selects Yes.
Step 3: Add a conditional rule
Open the question you want to make conditional (e.g., T-shirt size).
Select Add Conditional.
In the Field Option dropdown, choose the trigger question:
Will your student be attending the Washington D.C. field trip?
Select the value that should trigger this question to appear:
Choose Yes
Click Confirm
You will now see a verification message showing that:
This field will only display if the student is attending the Washington D.C. field trip (Yes).
Repeat these same steps for any additional conditional fields (like the consent question).
How to verify or remove a conditional
You can view the conditional rule directly within the question settings.
If you decide to remove the logic later, simply delete the conditional from the question.
This gives you full flexibility to adjust your form at any time.
Important requirements & limitations
Conditional logic can only be applied when the trigger question has defined answer choices, such as:
Yes/No
Multiple choice
It cannot be used with:
Free text fields
Open-ended responses without set answer options
Because the system needs a specific, selectable value (like "Yes") to trigger the condition.
Best practices for building conditional forms
To get the most out of this feature:
✔ Start with your trigger question
Place it early in the form so dependent questions flow naturally.
✔ Use clear, specific answer options
Avoid ambiguous wording so your conditional logic behaves exactly as expected.
✔ Keep it simple
Try not to over-layer conditions. Clear, intentional branching creates the best user experience.
✔ Preview your form
Test each answer path to ensure questions appear (or stay hidden) as intended.
Where can conditional fields be used?
Conditional logic works for anywhere a form template is used including parent-facing forms as well as forms that compose encounters.
This flexibility opens up many possibilities for customizing workflows across the platform.
Why this matters
Conditional fields help you:
Reduce form fatigue
Improve completion rates
Collect cleaner, more relevant data
Create a more professional, intuitive experience
If you have questions or would like help setting up your form templates, please reach out to the August Schools Support Team via live chat or email at [email protected]